111 And the people is evil, as those sighing habitually in the ears of Jehovah, and Jehovah heareth, and His anger burneth, and the fire of Jehovah burneth among them, and consumeth in the extremity of the camp. 2 And the people cry unto Moses, and Moses prayeth unto Jehovah, and the fire is quenched; 3 and he calleth the name of that place Taberah, for the fire of Jehovah hath 'burned' among them.
4 And the rabble who 'are' in its midst have lusted greatly, and the sons of Israel also turn back and weep, and say, 'Who doth give us flesh? 5 We have remembered the fish which we do eat in Egypt for nought, the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick; 6 and now our soul 'is' dry, there is not anything, save the manna, before our eyes.' 7 And the manna is as coriander seed, and its aspect as the aspect of bdolach; 8 the people have turned aside and gathered 'it', and ground 'it' with millstones, or beat 'it' in a mortar, and boiled 'it' in a pan, and made it cakes, and its taste hath been as the taste of the moisture of oil. 9 And in the descending of the dew on the camp by night, the manna descendeth upon it. 10 And Moses heareth the people weeping by its families, each at the opening of his tent, and the anger of Jehovah burneth exceedingly, and in the eyes of Moses 'it is' evil. 11 And Moses saith unto Jehovah, 'Why hast Thou done evil to Thy servant? and why have I not found grace in Thine eyes—to put the burden of all this people upon me? 12 I—have I conceived all this people? I—have I begotten it, that Thou sayest unto me, Carry it in thy bosom as the nursing father beareth the suckling, unto the ground which Thou hast sworn to its fathers? 13 Whence have I flesh to give to all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give to us flesh, and we eat. 14 I am not able—I alone—to bear all this people, for 'it is' too heavy for me; 15 and if thus Thou art doing to me—slay me, I pray Thee; slay, if I have found grace in thine eyes, and let me not look on mine affliction.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 11:1-15
Commentary on Numbers 11:1-3
(Read Numbers 11:1-3)
Here is the people's sin; they complained. See the sinfulness of sin, which takes occasion from the commandment to be provoking. The weakness of the law discovered sin, but could not destroy it; checked, but could not conquer it. They complained. Those who are of a discontented spirit, will always find something to quarrel or fret about, though the circumstances of their outward condition be ever so favourable. The Lord heard it, though Moses did not. God knows the secret frettings and murmurings of the heart, though concealed from men. What he noticed, he was much displeased with, and he chastised them for this sin. The fire of their wrath against God burned in their minds; justly did the fire of God's wrath fasten on their bodies; but God's judgments came on them gradually, that they might take warning. It appeared that God delights not in punishing; when he begins, he is soon prevailed with to let it fall.
Commentary on Numbers 11:4-9
(Read Numbers 11:4-9)
Man, having forsaken his proper rest, feels uneasy and wretched, though prosperous. They were weary of the provision God had made for them, although wholesome food and nourishing. It cost no money or care, and the labour of gathering it was very little indeed; yet they talked of Egypt's cheapness, and the fish they ate there freely; as if that cost them nothing, when they paid dearly for it with hard service! While they lived on manna, they seemed exempt from the curse sin has brought on man, that in the sweat of his face he should eat bread; yet they speak of it with scorn. Peevish, discontented minds will find fault with that which has no fault in it, but that it is too good for them. Those who might be happy, often make themselves miserable by discontent. They could not be satisfied unless they had flesh to eat. It is evidence of the dominion of the carnal mind, when we want to have the delights and satisfaction of sense. We should not indulge in any desire which we cannot in faith turn into prayer, as we cannot when we ask meat for our lust. What is lawful of itself becomes evil, when God does not allot it to us, yet we desire it.
Commentary on Numbers 11:10-15
(Read Numbers 11:10-15)
The provocation was very great; yet Moses expressed himself otherwise than became him. He undervalued the honour God had put upon him. He magnified his own performances, while he had the Divine wisdom to direct him, and Almighty power to dispense rewards and punishments. He speaks distrustfully of the Divine grace. Had the work been much less he could not have gone through it in his own strength; but had it been much greater, through God strengthening him, he might have done it. Let us pray, Lord, lead us not into temptation.