21 And Moses saith, 'Six hundred thousand footmen 'are' the people in whose midst I 'am'; and Thou, Thou hast said, Flesh I give to them, and they have eaten, a month of days! 22 Is flock and herd slaughtered for them, that one hath found for them?—are all the fishes of the sea gathered for them—that one hath found for them?' 23 And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'Is the hand of Jehovah become short? now thou dost see whether My word meeteth thee or not.'

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 11:21-23

Commentary on Numbers 11:16-23

(Read Numbers 11:16-23)

Moses is to choose such as he knew to be elders, that is, wise and experienced men. God promises to qualify them. If they were not found fit for the employ, they should be made fit. Even the discontented people shall be gratified too, that every mouth may be stopped. See here, I. The vanity of all the delights of sense; they will cloy, but they will not satisfy. Spiritual pleasures alone will satisfy and last. As the world passes away, so do the lusts of it. 2. What brutish sins gluttony and drunkenness are! they make that to hurt the body which should be its health. Moses objects. Even true and great believers sometimes find it hard to trust God under the discouragements of second causes, and against hope to believe in hope. God here brings Moses to this point, The Lord God is Almighty; and puts the proof upon the issue, Thou shalt see whether my word shall come to pass or not. If he speaks, it is done.