Numbers 11

King James Version

Full text for Numbers Chapter 11

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.

2And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched.

3And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.

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?

5We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:

6But now our soul [is] dried away: [there is] nothing at all, beside this manna, [before] our eyes.

7And 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.

9And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.

10Then 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.

11And 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?

12Have 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?

13Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.

14I am not able to bear all this people alone, because [it is] too heavy for me.

15And 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.

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.

17And 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.

18And 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.

19Ye 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?

21And 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.

22Shall 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?

23And 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.

25And 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.

26But 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.

27And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp.

28And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, [one] of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.

29And 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!

30And 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.

32And 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.

33And 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.

34And 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The Israelites complained about their hardships and the lack of meat, despising the manna provided by God. The LORD's anger was kindled, first with fire, then by promising meat for a month as a judgment. Moses, overwhelmed by the people's demands, received divine assistance as the Spirit was placed upon seventy elders to help bear the burden. Ultimately, the LORD sent vast quantities of quails, but while the people consumed them, a severe plague struck them for their lusting and complaining.

Medium Summary

Numbers 11 opens with the Israelites complaining, which displeased the LORD, leading to a consuming fire at Taberah. Subsequently, a "mixt multitude" and the Israelites themselves wept for meat, longing for the food of Egypt and expressing contempt for the manna. Moses, deeply distressed by the people's incessant demands and his overwhelming responsibility, cried out to the LORD, even wishing for death. In response, the LORD commanded Moses to gather seventy elders, upon whom He would place a portion of Moses' spirit to help bear the burden of the people. The LORD also promised to provide flesh for a full month, but as a judgment, indicating it would become loathsome to them. Moses expressed doubt regarding the immense provision, but the LORD affirmed His limitless power. The Spirit was indeed given to the seventy elders, who prophesied, including two who remained in the camp. Finally, the LORD sent a great wind that brought an abundance of quails, yet while the people were still consuming the meat, the LORD struck them with a severe plague at a place named Kibrothhattaavah, meaning "graves of lust."

Long Summary

Numbers chapter 11 begins with the people of Israel complaining, which ignited the LORD's anger, resulting in a fire that consumed the outer parts of the camp, a place subsequently named Taberah. Following this, a "mixt multitude" among the Israelites, joined by the Israelites themselves, fell into a deep longing for the diverse foods of Egypt, expressing dissatisfaction and contempt for the manna that had sustained them. They wept, demanding flesh to eat, remembering the fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic of their former bondage. Moses, hearing their widespread lamentation and feeling the immense burden of leading such a discontented people, became greatly displeased and cried out to the LORD. He questioned why he had been afflicted with such a heavy responsibility, feeling unable to bear the entire nation alone, and even requested death if he had found favour in God's sight, rather than witnessing his own wretchedness. The LORD responded to Moses' plea by instructing him to gather seventy elders of Israel, men known to him, to the tabernacle. There, the LORD promised to descend, speak with Moses, and take of the spirit that was upon Moses to place it upon these seventy elders, enabling them to share the burden of the people. Furthermore, the LORD commanded Moses to tell the people to sanctify themselves, for they would eat flesh for a whole month, not as a blessing, but as a judgment for their despising the LORD and longing for Egypt. Moses, despite the divine promise, expressed human doubt regarding how such a vast multitude of six hundred thousand footmen could be supplied with meat for a month, questioning if all flocks, herds, or even the fish of the sea would suffice. The LORD rebuked Moses' doubt, asking if His hand was "waxed short," assuring him that His word would come to pass. Moses then gathered the seventy elders, and the LORD descended in a cloud, speaking to Moses and imparting a portion of his spirit to the elders, who immediately began to prophesy. Notably, two men, Eldad and Medad, though listed among the elders, remained in the camp and also prophesied, prompting Joshua to suggest forbidding them. Moses, however, responded with a magnanimous spirit, expressing a wish that all the LORD's people were prophets and had the LORD's spirit upon them. Subsequently, a wind from the LORD brought an immense quantity of quails from the sea, falling around the camp to a depth of two cubits. The people diligently gathered the quails for a day and a night, with even the least gathering ten homers. However, while the flesh was still between their teeth, the LORD's wrath kindled against them, and He struck them with a very great plague, leading to the naming of the place Kibrothhattaavah, "graves of lust," where the people who lusted were buried. The chapter concludes with the people journeying from Kibrothhattaavah to Hazeroth.

Core Concepts

  • Complaint and Divine WrathThe Israelites' repeated complaining about their circumstances and food displeased the LORD, leading to immediate manifestations of divine anger, such as consuming fire and later a devastating plague. This highlights the seriousness of murmuring against God's provision and leadership.
  • Manna's Despised ProvisionDespite being miraculous sustenance, the manna became despised by the people, who longed for the varied diet of Egypt. This illustrates a spiritual discontent and a lack of appreciation for God's daily grace, preferring past comforts over present divine provision.
  • Moses' Burden and IntercessionMoses is shown as a leader overwhelmed by the immense responsibility and the people's constant demands, leading him to a desperate plea to the LORD. He also acts as an intercessor, praying for the people when they face divine judgment.
  • Shared Leadership and the SpiritThe LORD institutes a system of shared leadership by commanding Moses to gather seventy elders, upon whom a portion of Moses' spirit is placed. This empowers them to prophesy and helps Moses bear the heavy burden of governing the people.
  • Lust for Flesh and JudgmentThe people's intense craving for meat, expressed as "lusting," leads to a severe divine judgment. The LORD provides an overwhelming abundance of quails, but simultaneously strikes the people with a great plague while they are consuming the meat, resulting in the place being named Kibrothhattaavah ("graves of lust").
  • Divine OmnipotenceMoses' doubt about how such a vast multitude could be fed with meat for a month is met with the LORD's rhetorical question, "Is the LORD'S hand waxed short?" This powerfully reaffirms God's limitless ability to fulfill His promises and judgments, regardless of human limitations or understanding.