Números 11
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1 El pueblo se quejaba con amargura a oídos de Jehová. Jehová lo oyó y se encendió su ira; un fuego de Jehová ardió entre ellos y consumió un extremo del campamento. 2 El pueblo clamó a Moisés, y Moisés oró a Jehová; entonces el fuego se apagó. 3 Aquel lugar fue llamado Tabera, porque el fuego de Jehová había ardido entre ellos. 4 La gente que se había mezclado con ellos tuvo un deseo intenso, y los hijos de Israel también volvieron a llorar y dijeron: «¡Quién nos diera carne para comer! 5 Recordamos el pescado que comíamos gratis en Egipto, los pepinos, los melones, los puerros, las cebollas y los ajos. 6 Pero ahora se nos seca el alma; no hay nada más: nuestros ojos solo ven maná». 7 El maná era como la semilla de cilantro, y su aspecto era como el del bedelio. 8 El pueblo recorría el lugar para recogerlo; lo molían en molinos o lo machacaban en un mortero, lo cocían en una olla y hacían tortas con él. Su sabor era como el del aceite fresco. 9 Cuando el rocío descendía de noche sobre el campamento, el maná descendía sobre él. 10 Moisés oyó al pueblo llorar por familias, cada uno a la entrada de su tienda. La ira de Jehová se encendió mucho, y a Moisés le pareció mal. 11 Moisés dijo a Jehová: «¿Por qué has tratado mal a tu siervo? ¿Por qué no he hallado gracia ante tus ojos, para que pongas sobre mí la carga de todo este pueblo? 12 ¿Acaso yo concebí a todo este pueblo? ¿Lo traje yo al mundo, para que me digas: “Llévalo en tus brazos, como un cuidador lleva a un niño de pecho, hasta la tierra que juraste dar a sus padres”? 13 ¿De dónde conseguiré carne para dar a todo este pueblo? Porque lloran ante mí y dicen: “Danos carne para comer”. 14 No puedo llevar yo solo a todo este pueblo, porque la carga es demasiado pesada para mí. 15 Si vas a tratarme así, por favor, mátame de una vez, si he hallado gracia ante tus ojos, para que no vea mi desgracia». 16 Jehová dijo a Moisés: «Reúne para mí a setenta hombres de los ancianos de Israel, a quienes tú conozcas como ancianos del pueblo y sus oficiales. Llévalos a la tienda de reunión y que se presenten allí contigo. 17 Descenderé y hablaré allí contigo. Tomaré del Espíritu que está sobre ti y lo pondré sobre ellos; llevarán contigo la carga del pueblo y no la llevarás tú solo. 18 Al pueblo le dirás: “Conságrense para mañana y comerán carne, porque han llorado a oídos de Jehová, diciendo: ‘¡Quién nos diera carne para comer! ¡Mejor nos iba en Egipto!’. Jehová les dará carne y comerán. 19 No comerán solo un día, ni dos días, ni cinco días, ni diez días, ni veinte días, 20 sino un mes entero, hasta que les salga por las narices y les cause repugnancia, porque han rechazado a Jehová, que está en medio de ustedes, y han llorado delante de él, diciendo: ‘¿Por qué salimos de Egipto?’”». 21 Moisés dijo: «El pueblo en medio del cual estoy tiene seiscientos mil hombres de a pie, y tú dices: “Les daré carne y comerán un mes entero”. 22 Si se degollara para ellos ganado menor y mayor, ¿les alcanzaría? Si se reunieran para ellos todos los peces del mar, ¿les alcanzaría?». 23 Jehová dijo a Moisés: «¿Acaso se ha acortado la mano de Jehová? Ahora verás si se cumple mi palabra o no». 24 Moisés salió y comunicó al pueblo las palabras de Jehová. Reunió a setenta hombres de los ancianos del pueblo y los puso alrededor de la tienda. 25 Jehová descendió en la nube y le habló. Tomó del Espíritu que estaba sobre él y lo puso sobre los setenta hombres, los ancianos. Cuando el Espíritu reposó sobre ellos, profetizaron, pero no volvieron a hacerlo. 26 En el campamento habían quedado dos hombres: uno se llamaba Eldad y el otro Medad. El Espíritu reposó sobre ellos; estaban entre los inscritos, pero no habían salido hacia la tienda, y profetizaron en el campamento. 27 Un joven corrió a informar a Moisés y dijo: «¡Eldad y Medad están profetizando en el campamento!». 28 Josué hijo de Nun, ayudante de Moisés y uno de sus escogidos, tomó la palabra y dijo: «Moisés, señor mío, ¡detenlos!». 29 Moisés le dijo: «¿Tienes celos por mí? ¡Ojalá todo el pueblo de Jehová fuera profeta y Jehová pusiera su Espíritu sobre ellos!». 30 Moisés regresó al campamento, él y los ancianos de Israel. 31 Surgió un viento de parte de Jehová; trajo codornices desde el mar y las dejó caer sobre el campamento, como a un día de camino a un lado y como a un día de camino al otro, alrededor del campamento, y como a un metro sobre la superficie del suelo. 32 El pueblo estuvo levantado todo aquel día, toda la noche y todo el día siguiente recogiendo codornices. El que menos recogió reunió unas cincuenta canastas, y las extendieron por todo el contorno del campamento. 33 La carne aún estaba entre sus dientes, antes de que la masticaran, cuando la ira de Jehová se encendió contra el pueblo y Jehová hirió al pueblo con una plaga muy grave. 34 Aquel lugar fue llamado Kibrot-hataava, porque allí sepultaron a la gente que se había dejado llevar por el deseo. 35 De Kibrot-hataava el pueblo partió hacia Hazerot y se quedó en Hazerot.
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Números 11:1
Nu 11:1-35. Manna Loathed.
1. When the people complained it displeased the Lord, &c.--Unaccustomed to the fatigues of travel and wandering into the depths of a desert, less mountainous but far more gloomy and desolate than that of Sinai, without any near prospect of the rich country that had been promised, they fell into a state of vehement discontent, which was vented at these irksome and fruitless journeyings. The displeasure of God was manifested against the ungrateful complainers by fire sent in an extraordinary manner. It is worthy of notice, however, that the discontent seems to have been confined to the extremities of the camp, where, in all likelihood, "the mixed multitude" [see on Ex 12:38] had their station. At the intercession of Moses, the appalling judgment ceased [Nu 11:2], and the name given to the place, "Taberah" (a burning), remained ever after a monument of national sin and punishment. (See on Nu 11:34).
Números 11:4
4. the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting--These consisted of Egyptians. [See on Ex 12:38.] To dream of banquets and plenty of animal food in the desert becomes a disease of the imagination; and to this excitement of the appetite no people are more liable than the natives of Egypt. But the Israelites participated in the same feelings and expressed dissatisfaction with the manna on which they had hitherto been supported, in comparison with the vegetable luxuries with which they had been regaled in Egypt.
Números 11:5
5. We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely--(See on Ex 7:17). The people of Egypt are accustomed to an almost exclusive diet of fish, either fresh or sun-dried, during the hot season in April and May--the very season when the Israelites were travelling in this desert. Lower Egypt, where were the brick-kilns in which they were employed, afforded great facilities for obtaining fish in the Mediterranean, the lakes, and the canals of the Nile.
cucumbers--The Egyptian species is smooth, of a cylindrical form, and about a foot in length. It is highly esteemed by the natives and when in season is liberally partaken of, being greatly mellowed by the influence of the sun.
melons--The watermelons are meant, which grow on the deep, loamy soil after the subsidence of the Nile; and as they afford a juicy and cooling fruit, all classes make use of them for food, drink, and medicine.
leeks--by some said to be a species of grass cresses, which is much relished as a kind of seasoning.
onions--the same as ours; but instead of being nauseous and affecting the eyes, they are sweet to the taste, good for the stomach, and form to a large extent the aliment of the laboring classes.
garlic--is now nearly if not altogether extinct in Egypt although it seems to have grown anciently in great abundance. The herbs now mentioned form a diet very grateful in warm countries where vegetables and other fruits of the season are much used. We can scarcely wonder that both the Egyptian hangers-on and the general body of the Israelites, incited by their clamors, complained bitterly of the want of the refreshing viands in their toilsome wanderings. But after all their experience of the bounty and care of God, their vehement longing for the luxuries of Egypt was an impeachment of the divine arrangements; and if it was the sin that beset them in the desert, it became them more strenuously to repress a rebellious spirit, as dishonoring to God and unbecoming their relation to Him as a chosen people.
Números 11:6-9
6-9. But now ... there is nothing ... beside this manna--Daily familiarity had disgusted them with the sight and taste of the monotonous food; and, ungrateful for the heavenly gift, they longed for a change of fare. It may be noticed that the resemblance of the manna to coriander seed was not in the color, but in the size and figure; and from its comparison to bdellium, which is either a drop of white gum or a white pearl, we are enabled to form a better idea of it. Moreover, it is evident, from the process of baking into cakes, that it could not have been the natural manna of the Arabian desert, for that is too gummy or unctuous to admit of being ground into meal. In taste it is said to have been like "wafers made with honey" (Ex 16:31), and here to have the taste of fresh oil. The discrepancy in these statements is only apparent; for in the latter the manna is described in its raw state; in the former, after it was ground and baked. The minute description given here of its nature and use was designed to show the great sinfulness of the people, in being dissatisfied with such excellent food, furnished so plentifully and gratuitously.
Números 11:10-15
10-15. Moses said unto the Lord, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant, &c.--It is impossible not to sympathize with his feelings although the tone and language of his remonstrances to God cannot be justified. He was in a most distressing situation--having a mighty multitude under his care, with no means of satisfying their clamorous demands. Their conduct shows how deeply they had been debased and demoralized by long oppression: while his reveals a state of mind agonized and almost overwhelmed by a sense of the undivided responsibilities of his office.
Números 11:16-17
16-17. the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders--(Ex 3:16; 5:6; 24:9; 18:21, 24; Le 4:15). An order of seventy was to be created, either by a selection from the existing staff of elders or by the appointment of new ones, empowered to assist him by their collective wisdom and experience in the onerous cares of government. The Jewish writers say that this was the origin of the Sanhedrin, or supreme appellate court of their nation. But there is every reason to believe that it was only a temporary expedient, adopted to meet a trying exigency.
Números 11:18-20
18-20. say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to-morrow, and ye shall eat flesh--that is, "prepare yourselves," by repentance and submission, to receive to-morrow the flesh you clamor for. But it is evident that the tenor of the language implied a severe rebuke and that the blessing promised would prove a curse.
Números 11:21-23
21-23. Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand ... Shall the flocks and herds be slain for them, to suffice them?--The great leader, struck with a promise so astonishing as that of suddenly furnishing, in the midst of the desert, more than two millions of people with flesh for a whole month, betrayed an incredulous spirit, surprising in one who had witnessed so many stupendous miracles. But it is probable that it was only a feeling of the moment--at all events, the incredulous doubt was uttered only to himself--and not, as afterwards, publicly and to the scandal of the people. (See on Nu 20:10). It was, therefore, sharply reproved, but not punished.
Números 11:24
24. Moses ... gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, &c.--The tabernacle was chosen for the convocation, because, as it was there God manifested Himself, there His Spirit would be directly imparted--there the minds of the elders themselves would be inspired with reverential awe and their office invested with greater respect in the eyes of the people.
Números 11:25
25. when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease--As those elders were constituted civil governors, their "prophesying" must be understood as meaning the performance of their civil and sacred duties by the help of those extraordinary endowments they had received; and by their not "ceasing" we understand, either that they continued to exercise their gifts uninterruptedly the first day (see 1Sa 19:24), or that these were permanent gifts, which qualified them in an eminent degree for discharging the duty of public magistrates.
Números 11:26-29
26-29. But there remained two of the men in the camp--They did not repair with the rest to the tabernacle, either from modesty in shrinking from the assumption of a public office, or being prevented by some ceremonial defilement. They, however, received the gifts of the Spirit as well as their brethren. And when Moses was urged to forbid their prophesying, his answer displayed a noble disinterestedness as well as zeal for the glory of God akin to that of our Lord (Mr 9:39).
Números 11:31-35
31-35. There went forth a wind from the Lord, and brought quails from the sea, &c.--These migratory birds (see on Ex 16:13) were on their journey from Egypt, when "the wind from the Lord," an east wind (Psa 78:26) forcing them to change their course, wafted them over the Red Sea to the camp of Israel.
let them fall a day's journey--If the journey of an individual is meant, this space might be thirty miles; if the inspired historian referred to the whole host, ten miles would be as far as they could march in one day in the sandy desert under a vertical sun. Assuming it to be twenty miles this immense cloud of quails (Psa 78:27) covered a space of forty miles in diameter. Others reduce it to sixteen. But it is doubtful whether the measurement be from the center or the extremities of the camp. It is evident, however, that the language describes the countless number of these quails.
as it were two cubits high--Some have supposed that they fell on the ground above each other to that height--a supposition which would leave a vast quantity useless as food to the Israelites, who were forbidden to eat any animal that died of itself or from which the blood was not poured out. Others think that, being exhausted with a long flight, they could not fly more than three feet above the earth, and so were easily felled or caught. A more recent explanation applies the phrase, "two cubits high," not to the accumulation of the mass, but to the size of the individual birds. Flocks of large red-legged cranes, three feet high, measuring seven feet from tip to tip, have been frequently seen on the western shores of the Gulf of Akaba, or eastern arm of the Red Sea [Stanley; Shubert].
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