Numbers 11

Verses 1-3

1. “And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.
2. And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched.
3. And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.”

The ‘people complained’. The sequence of events in Numbers is in real time, with things happening very quickly. So, we can assume from the text that a number of Hebrews were murmuring behind Moses’ back, since that awful time he was on mount Sinai receiving the decalogue, and later condemned the people for making a golden calf (Exodus 31,32), just three months after leaving Egypt. The present bitter complaints, then, come about 18 months afterwards, and three days after moving camp (see last chapter).

Judaism teaches that a group of miscellaneous Egyptians* tagged-along with the Hebrews, and it was these, supposedly, who caused embers of complaint to burn more fiercely. (*erev rav – ‘mixed multitude’, v 4). However, I am not fully convinced by this, for the text says “the people”, ʿam, complained, which does not talk about mixed groups (e.g. foreign) but appears to talk about the tribes of Hebrews, who huddled together (ʿāmam, the verb of ʿam) conspiratorially. (See verse 4).

God knew their thoughts and after so much superficial obedience by these complainers, He was justifiably angry. Literally, he sent what might be called darts of fire amongst people (like ground-level lightning) and those on the outer edges of the huge camp were killed. Naturally, the people who obeyed the Lord were terrified and called on Moses, who asked God to stop sending fire upon them. God stopped, probably because He had now proved to the people He was not a distant God, but One Who was interwoven with their everyday lives and expected obedience. Moses named the place of the killing Taberah, which memorialised that God’s fire burned in that place. (taḇʿērâ – ‘burning’; a place in the Paran desert).

Many Christians think that this kind of response from God was just for the ‘old days’, but this is a mistaken notion. God can and does strike hard when people deliberately forsake Him and His commands regularly – and, sometimes, instantly. Remember, then, that He KNOWS our every thought, sees our every act, and hears our every utterance (even in secret)… He is not always tolerant.

Verses 4-9

4. “And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
5. We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:
6. But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.
7. And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium.
8. And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.
9. And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.”

It is true that a rag-tag body of men and women went with the Hebrews when they left Egypt. And it was these who began a complaint about not having meat to eat. (“mixt multitude”, 'ăsap̄sup̄ - rabble, camp followers. Could also include some Hebrews). This small group “fell a lusting” this lust was not sexual but simply about wanting a more varied diet! God was providing sufficient manna for them all to live, but the rabble wanted meat, and began to spread discontent. We see this today in illegal migrants, who are given everything, including food, but throw away the food because they want something else! Those with nothing to offer often demand much, without reason.

Manipulated by the rabble, the Hebrews also complained, wanting meat. They remembered having a more varied diet (though in slavery) of fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now, they cried, they feel dried up by having only manna to eat; it looked like coriander seed, the colour of bdellium. (coriander seed – seeds with furrows and stripes. Bdellium – fragrant gum resin, sometimes called false myrrh, a semi-transparent brownish colour). God saved them from slavery, protected them from enemies, and provided manna, yet the people complained! Every day they gathered plentiful supplies of manna and never went hungry. They could grind it, bake it, make cakes, and the taste was of ‘fresh oil’ – wild olive oil, its cultivated version favoured by Mediterranean peoples today. At times it was also perfumed. The manna fell from God on top of the dew at night.

Verses 10-15

10. “Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased.
11. And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?
12. Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers?
13. Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.
14. I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.
15. And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.”

It looks like Moses was not aware of this murmuring until he heard them crying in their tents. Both God and Moses were angry by this unjust emotional disturbance. Moses called on God, asking Him why he was being pestered by such murmurings. He asked why he was left alone amongst the people to bear the burden of rule, implying that he was feeling the burden heavily. He further added that he did not seek the role which meant supporting them all on their long journey. He then asked God where he was supposed to find meat for the mass of people. Moses confessed he felt overwhelmed by his task. Then he asked God to end his life if it would satisfy the Lord. Even today, men called by God can feel a similar strain – though not for a few million people! They need support but should also be encouraged to complete the task given to them.

Verses 16-20

16. “And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.
17. And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.
18. And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat.
19. Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days;
20. But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?”

Then we see another early command that continues – the election of 70 elders to help rule the emerging Israel (the same number who entered Egypt in the first place). The elders had to be KNOWN as elders (including abilities and good character), who themselves were subject to their superiors (chiefs, princes, etc). The 70 were to gather with Moses to hear what God had to say. The knowledge of the lives of the elders is similar to what modern pastors should be – proven as suitable shepherds of the flock of Christ, with relevant good character and spiritual abilities. Later, 70 men constituted the ruling Sanhedrin, and Jesus chose 70 men as disciples. Today, as is has been for centuries, such men are given eldership* roles traditionally, simply because they attended a Bible college and were ‘ordained’. This is not God’s plan or wish. (*Elders are the same as pastors).

God said He would “come down and talk with thee”.  The same elders had already heard the thunderous proclamations of Jehovah on Mount Sinai. Now they would hear God speak to them personally. As they walked through the camp they must have been filled with trepidation and even fear. God made a remarkable statement – that the Spirit given to Moses would also be given to the 70, so they could help rule Israel with the same honour and holiness. They already had experience leading men by their hundreds or thousands. They would now prove themselves to be God’s men, as they helped rule by a theocracy, using God-given spiritual wisdom.

God grimly said that the people were to prepare themselves spiritually for the coming deluge of meat… they wanted meat? The let them have it, in such quantity they would again complain - of having too much! The people would be overcome by meat for a month, until it came back out through their noses! There would be so much meat, they would become sick of it. This was a penalty for moaning about poor treatment, when God had delivered them from crippling slavery. It is a fact that men will complain about almost anything, and God will be silent for a while. Then, He will respond, and not always in a way we hoped for.

Verses 21-25

21. “And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month.
22. Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them?
23. And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD’S hand waxed short? Thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.
24. And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the LORD, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle.
25. And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.”

Sadly, even Moses was caught in a trap of complaint. He replied to the Lord that he was amongst over 600,000 fighting men – how was God going to provide meat for them all? In that moment even Moses crumbled spiritually. Would people be forced to kill their cattle and sheep? Or, would the sea be drained dry to gather in all the fish? God replied without anger, but He was being tested foolishly by Moses. God asked if Moses thought He had run out of Heavenly power – but, He would show His hand shortly. Moses went out (of the first holy room) to relate God’s words to the people. The 70 elders were made to stand around the Tabernacle. Then, God came down in a cloud and gave the 70 the same spirit as Moses had. Immediately, each of the 70 began to prophesy non-stop, a living proof that God had come to them. Was this cloud the one that rested above the Tabernacle? Possibly – I cannot tell.

Verses 26-29

26. “But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp.
27. And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp.
28. And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.
29. And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!”

Two of the elders, named Eldad and Medad, came to the notice of people living around them, because they were prophesying. A young man ran to tell Moses. Joshua, the next leader after Moses, heard about it, too, and urged Moses to silence them. Moses replied that there was no need to protect him from a rival – rather, he wished there were many more prophets in Israel, filled with the spirit. Today, many Christians act and speak as though the Spirit was not in them, whilst others pretend to be filled with the Spirit!

Verses 30-35

30. “And Moses gat him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel.
31. And there went forth a wind from the LORD, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth.
32. And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp.
33. And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.
34. And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted.
35. And the people journeyed from Kibrothhattaavah unto Hazeroth; and abode at Hazeroth.”

Moses and the elected elders walked into the midst of the staggeringly-big camp, because God was about to bring about a miracle. In this instance God used existing components – wind and quails. He then caused the birds to drop from the sky in two huge piles, either side of the Tabernacle, about a day’s journey each side. They were slow to move because of their weight, but it was God Who caused them to come and fall, in such numbers as to make a pile over three feet in height, over a huge area.

The pile was so extensive the people spent all that day, plus the night and the following day, collecting the birds. But, God was not yet finished with the people – on that second day He showed the discontented Hebrews what He thought of their defiant complaints. That day He brought a plague upon them all, so great that it killed many, even as they sat eating meat. We do not know what the plague consisted of, but it was severe. It seems that God only struck the people who ‘lusted’ (for meat). The dead were buried at that campsite, and God named the place Kibrothhattaavah, which means ‘graves of lust’. It looks like God then raised the cloud, and the remaining people moved on to Hazeroth (Arabia), where they were allowed to stay, no doubt in subdued mood.

What God gives us is what He planned for us to have, whether it is money, job, car, home, or even illness. When we kick against His provision, we draw His anger, which is not always light. We must be thankful for what we are given, rather than always fight against it.

© August 2024

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