Numbers 11

1 Soon the people [as murmurers, speaking evil] began to complain [to grumble, express discontent] about their hardship [adversity, affliction] in the hearing [in the ears] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], and when He heard [listened, gave attention] them, His anger [wrath, strong emotion] was kindled [incensed, furious], and fire [burning, flame] from the LORD [the supreme God] blazed [burned, consumed] among them and consumed [devoured, ate] the outskirts [the edge, the border] of the camp [the encampment, the group of people]. word study 2 And the people [a nation, a multitude] cried out [to cry, expressing distress] to Moses [the Israelite leader], and he prayed [to intercede, to ask for guidance] to the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God], and the fire [burning, flame] died down [was quenched, subsided, stopped burning]. word study 3 So that place [location, region] was called [named, designated] Taberah [burning], because [for, since] the fire [flame, divine presence] of the LORD [Yehovah, God] had burned [been kindled, consumed] among them [in their midst, internally]. word study 4 Meanwhile, the rabble [a crowd of mixed people, the disorderly gathering] among them had a strong craving [lusted exceedingly, intense food cravings] for other food, and again the Israelites [sons of Israel, descendants of Jacob] wept [cried, shed tears] and said, “Who [what person, which one] will feed us meat [flesh to eat, animal food]? word study 5 We remember [to recall, bring to mind] the fish [which we ate freely, for nought] we ate freely [without cost, in abundance] in Egypt [the land of the Nile, a place of slavery], along with the cucumbers [and the melons], melons [a type of fruit], leeks [a type of grass or plant], onions [a type of food], and garlic [a pungent plant]. word study 6 But now [at this time, in this present moment] our appetite [soul, the essence of our being] is gone; there is [exists, is present] nothing [not anything, an absence of all things] to see but [except, other than] this manna [a special gift from God, a divine provision]!” word study 7 Now the manna [like small white seeds, resembling coriander seed] resembled coriander seed [a plant with seeds used to describe the taste of manna], and its appearance [aspect, color] was like that of gum resin [bdellium, a fragrant gum, possibly amber]. word study 8 The people [went about, traveled] walked around and gathered [collected, picked up] it, ground [crushed, pulverized] it on a handmill [millstone, grinding stone] or crushed [beat, pounded] it in a mortar [grinding vessel], then boiled [cooked, ripened] it in a cooking pot [cauldron, vessel] or shaped [formed, made] it into cakes [buns, flatbread]. It tasted [had a flavor, was perceived] like pastry [sweet bread, cake] baked [cooked, prepared] with fine [fresh, pure] oil [olive oil, anointing oil]. word study 9 When the dew [moisture that covers plants and grass overnight] fell [descended, came down] on the camp [encampments in the wilderness, a group of people] at night [the time of darkness, a period of rest], the manna [a special food God provided, heavenly bread] would fall [come down, descend] with it [accompanied by, together with]. word study 10 Then Moses [the Israelite leader] heard the people [nation, community] of family after family [clans, tribes] weeping [crying, shedding tears] at the entrances [doorways, gates] to their tents [nomadic homes, tabernacles], and the anger [wrath, fury] of the LORD [Yehovah, God] was kindled [ignited, burned] greatly [exceedingly, very much], and Moses was also [likewise, similarly] displeased [grieved, distressed]. word study 11 So Moses [the Israelite leader, God’s servant] asked the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], “Why have You brought this trouble [affliction, evil] on Your servant [one who serves God]? Why have I not found favor [graciousness, kindness] in Your sight [before Your eyes, in Your presence], that You have laid [appointed, placed] upon me the burden [responsibility, weight] of all [everything, every person] these people [the nation of Israel, God’s chosen ones]? word study 12 Did I [as a father, conceive and give birth to] conceive all these people? Did I give them birth [bring them forth, beget them], so that You should tell me, ‘Carry them in your bosom [like a nurse, with tender care], as a nurse [faithful one, supporter] carries an infant [a suckling child],’ to the land [the promised earth, a place of inheritance] that You swore [made an oath, promised] to give their fathers [ancestors, forefathers]? word study 13 Where [from what source, whence] can I get meat [flesh, animal food] for all [every single one] these people [this nation, crowd]? For they keep crying out [weeping, lamenting] to me [saying, begging], ‘Give us meat [flesh, food] to eat [consume, devour]!’ word study 14 I [alone, by myself] cannot carry [bear, lift, support] all [every single one, the entire nation] these people [this congregation, the community] by myself [alone, without help]; it is [has become, proves to be] too [exceedingly, overwhelmingly] burdensome [heavy, severe, a heavy load] for me [on my own, by my strength]. word study 15 If this is how [in this manner, thus] You are going to treat me, please [I pray, I beseech] kill me right now [out of hand, at once]—if I have found [attained, discovered] favor [graciousness, kindness] in Your eyes [sight, presence]—and let me not see [look upon, behold] my own wretchedness [misery, affliction, bad condition].” word study 16 Then the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said to Moses, “Bring Me seventy of the elders [respected leaders, officials] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] known to you as leaders [those who guide and direct] and officers [officials, overseers] of the people. Bring them to the Tent [a portable place of worship, the tabernacle] of Meeting [a sacred appointed time, a gathering place] and have them stand [present themselves, take their position] there with you [in your presence, together]. word study 17 And I will come down [to a lower place, descend] and speak [communicate, converse] with you there, and I will take [set aside, reserve] some of the Spirit [breath of life, divine energy] that is on you and put that Spirit [divine presence, power] on them. They will help you bear [lift, carry] the burden [weight, responsibility] of the people, so that you do not have to bear [carry, endure] it by yourself [alone, unassisted]. word study 18 And say to the people: Consecrate [set apart, sanctify] yourselves for tomorrow, and you will eat meat [flesh, the body of an animal], because you have cried out [wept, lamented] in the hearing [ears, presence] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], saying: ‘Who [what person, which one] will feed us meat [give us flesh to eat]? For we were better off [it was well with us, we had it good] in Egypt [the land of bondage, a place of slavery]!’ Therefore the LORD [Yehovah, the God of Israel] will give you meat [provide you with flesh, grant your request], and you will eat [consume, devour]. word study 19 You will eat it [as a gift from God, for a longer period] not for [just] one [single] or two days, nor for [approximately] five [or a few] or ten [or several] or twenty days, word study 20 but for a whole month [a complete lunar cycle, thirty days]—until it comes out [is emitted, goes forth] of your nostrils [face, nose] and makes you nauseous [loathsome, disgusting]—because you have rejected [spurned, despised] the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God], who is among you [in your midst, present with you], and have cried out [wept, lamented] before Him, saying, ‘Why did we ever leave [come out, depart from] Egypt [the land of bondage, oppression]?’” word study 21 But Moses [the Israelite leader] replied, “Here I am among [in the midst of, surrounded by] 600,000 men [foot soldiers, warriors] on foot [as infantry, without horses], yet You say [declare, promise], ‘I will give [provide, supply] them meat [flesh, animal food], and they will eat [consume, devour] for a month [a lunar cycle, thirty days].’ word study 22 If all our flocks [sheep and goats, or even the entire nation] and herds [domesticated cattle, or livestock] were slaughtered [killed, or sacrificed] for them, would they have enough [be satisfied, or find sufficiency]? Or if all the fish [sea creatures, or aquatic animals] in the sea [a large body of water] were caught [gathered, or collected] for them, would they have enough [be sufficient, or fulfill their needs]?” word study 23 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] answered Moses, “Is the LORD’s [Yehovah’s] arm [hand] too short [to be limited, waxed short]? Now [at this time, presently] you will see [behold, perceive] whether or not [if] My word [divine message, promise] will come to pass [be fulfilled, happen].” word study 24 So Moses [the leader of Israel] went out and relayed to the people [the nation of Israel] the words [divine message, instructions] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], and he gathered [assembled, brought together] seventy of the elders [respected leaders, wise men] of the people and had them stand [positioned, stationed] around [surrounding, encircling] the tent [the tabernacle, a place of worship]. word study 25 Then the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] came down [from heaven, to a lower place] in the cloud and spoke [communicated, gave a message] to him, and He took [removed, set aside] some of the Spirit [the breath of life, the divine presence] that was on Moses [as a leader, with authority] and placed [gave, bestowed] that Spirit on the seventy elders [respected leaders, wise men]. As the Spirit [the divine presence, the wind] rested [settled, came to stay] on them, they prophesied [spoke under divine inspiration, foretold the future]—but they never did so [prophesied, spoke on behalf of God] again. word study 26 Two men [a pair of individuals], however, had remained [were left behind, spared] in the camp [the Israelite encampment, a group of people]—one named Eldad [God has loved, a prophetic leader] and the other Medad [love, a recipient of prophetic power]—and the Spirit [the divine breath, the wind of God] rested [settled down, remained] on them [upon these two men]. They were among those listed [written, recorded, enrolled as leaders], but they had not gone out [did not leave, did not depart] to the tent [the tabernacle, the sacred dwelling], and they prophesied [spoke under divine inspiration, declared God’s message] in the camp [the gathering of God’s people]. word study 27 A young man [youth, from infancy to adolescence] ran [to run or rush, often used to describe someone moving quickly] and reported [to tell or declare something openly] to Moses [the Israelite leader], “Eldad [God has loved] and Medad [love] are prophesying [to speak or sing under the influence of the divine spirit] in the camp [a group of people, the Israelites’ encampments].” word study 28 Joshua [a leader and servant] son of Nun, the attendant [minister, one who serves] to Moses since [from his] youth [young men, a stage of life], spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord [master, one in authority], stop [restrain, hold back] them!” word study 29 But Moses replied, “Are you [moved by envy, zealous] jealous on my account [for my sake, because of me]? I wish that all [every one of] the LORD’s [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] people [nation, community] were prophets [speakers for God, having the divine message] and that the LORD [the supreme God, ruler of all] would place [give, put, set] His Spirit [breath of life, divine presence] on them [upon, over, among]!” word study 30 Then Moses [the leader of Israel, born to Amram and Jochebed] returned [gathered, went back] to the camp [the Israelites’ encampments in the wilderness, a group of people], along with [together, he and] the elders [old, elderly, respected leaders] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants]. word study 31 Now a [divine, sent by God] wind [spirit, breath of life] sent by the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] came up, drove in [brought, let fall] quail [a type of bird, slow in flight] from the sea [a large body of water, the west], and brought them near the camp [a group of people, an army], about two [a unit of measurement, the length of a forearm] cubits [a standard of length] above the surface [face, presence] of the ground [land, earth], for a day’s [a literal 24-hour period, a figurative space of time] journey [way, path] in every direction around [surrounding] the camp [the Israelites’ encampments]. word study 32 All that day [continuously] and night, and all the next day [the morrow], the people [Amaw, the nation of Israel] stayed up [rose up, stood] gathering [collecting, bringing together] the quail [a type of bird, slow in flight]. No one gathered less [diminished, made smaller] than ten homers [a dry measure, about 65 gallons], and they spread [expanded, laid out] them out all around [surrounding, encompassing] the camp [the Israelite encampment, a group of people]. word study 33 But while the meat [flesh, body] was still [yet, continuing] between their teeth, before [ere, prior to] it was chewed [cut, destroyed], the anger [wrath] of the LORD [Yehovah, God] burned [was incensed, furious] against the people [nation, Amaw], and the LORD [Yehovah, God] struck them with a severe [very great, exceeding] plague [wound, blow]. word study 34 So they called [named, designated] that place Kibroth-hattaavah [graves of lust, a place of craving], because there [in that location, at that time] they buried [interred, laid to rest] the people [nation, community] who had craved [lusted, intensely desired] other food [meat, sustenance]. word study 35 From Kibroth-hattaavah [graves of lust, a place of craving] the people [a nation, a community] moved on [set out, journeyed] to Hazeroth [a settlement, a place of rest], where they remained [abode, stayed] for some time [a period, a season]. word study