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.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 11:4-9
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.