Numbers 11

Numbers 11:1

COmplained] Of what they complained of, whether the barrennesse of the wildernesse, or of wearisomnesse of their way, by journeying three dayes together, with their little ones, or of want of flesh, (for that is here thought to be their sinne, though particularly set down afterwards, vers. 4) it is not very cleare; but that their complaining was wicked is plaine by their punishment, which was an hot vengeance from the Lord, for breaking of his Law; which being published by fire, the transgression of it was punished by fire.

uttermost part] There (it is like) the murmuring began, among the mixed multitude; therefore there God first beginneth the punishment with them.

Numbers 11:3

The name of the place Taberah] But vers. 34. it hath another name given unto it, for it is not strange that one place hath severall names, upon severall occasions; as this from the punishment is called Taberah, that is, burning, and from the cause and the effect Kibroth Hattaavah, that is, the graves of concupiscence; which sheweth, that the burning was not an utter consuming, for so there would be no use of graves; but a dead blasting as by lightening: or some might be utterly consumed by fire, and others so killed that their bodies might be reserved for buriall afterwards. Yet some conceive that this Taberah, or burning, was in the three dayes journey before their coming to Kibroth Hattaavah, and so they presuppose a double murmuring, out of vers. 4. whereas others take both their murmurings to be one, as Psal. 78. vers. 19, 20, 21. is the place one; the difference is not of any great moment, nor is there any more then twilight, or probable conjecture to clear it, which may vary the resolution, according to the capacitie, or affection of the reader.

Numbers 11:4

mixt multitude] Consisting of Israelites, and those strangers that came out of Egypt with them, Exodus 12:38.

who shall give us flesh] They had herds and flocks, but not enow to give them milk, and furnish them with flesh; having besides their own great multitude a mixed multitude of Egyptians, and other people, Exodus 12:38. see vers. 22. of this Chapter.

Numbers 11:6

dryed away] The vehemence of their concupiscence to flesh, made them fret, and pine away; as Amnons lust to Tamar made him leane from day to day, 2 Samuel 13:4.

Numbers 11:7

Manna] See Annot. on Exodus 16:15.

Bdelium] (As some take it) is a white Pease; others say it is yellow; but it is an odoriferous, or sweet smelling white gum of a tree in Arabia, so called, Plin. Nat. Hist. lib. 12. cap. 9. See Annot. on Genesis 2:12.

Numbers 11:12

conceived] Am I their parent? are they begotten, or conceived by me? that none may have the care of them but I?

Numbers 11:14

beare all] The burden of government of them, or provision for them.

Numbers 11:15

kill me] I had rather die then see my griefe and misery thus daily increase by their rebellions; which maketh the condition of Governours many times more capable of pitie, then of envie.

Numbers 11:16

gather unto me seventie] Moses had before, by the advise of Jethro, Exod. 18. taken up some subordinate assistants in Government under him; reserving matter of the worship of God, and greater causes to himselfe; now these prove too many, and too heavy for him, therefore he hath other assistants assigned him by God.

Numbers 11:17

take of the spirit] By the spirit is meant the gifts of the spirit; 1 Corinthians 14:32. & vers. 25. of this Chapter; and taking of the same spirit, is not meant taking away from one to give to another, but a communication of the same graces, and of the spirit in Moses, or his spirituall gifts; whereby he had not the lesse; as a candle which lighteth another hath not the lesse either heat, or light, then it had before.

upon them] He will first put gifts upon them, before he put them upon an office; yet these seventie Elders afterwards were a setled councell, for the Government of the people in the Land of Canaan, and were called the Sanhedrim, or Synedrion; yet they that suceeded, did not succeed them in gifts; nor did these first seventie alwayes enjoy them.

Numbers 11:18

sanctifie your selves] By this is meant, that they should doe their parts, for an holy preparation of themselves to receive both abilitie, and authoritie to governe the people.

wept in the eares] The weeping of the eyes is most apparent to the eye; but weeping with a noise (as there might be) was to be perceived by the eare: but this is a speech after the manner of men, for God hath neither eares, nor eyes, nor any such carnall parts as we have, since he is a most pure spirituall essence.

Numbers 11:20

a whole moneth] Hebr. a moneth of dayes. That is, an intire moneth, not abating or wanting one day.

at your nostrils] The offensivenesse of it shall fume out of your stomach, with an unsavoury sent at your nostrils.

despised the Lord] By contempt of the Manna, which in a misaculous manner he bestowed on you.

Numbers 11:21

And Moses said] A little before, vers. 15. his passion was too strong; now his faith was too weake; the worthiest of Gods servants are subject to faults and failings in this life.

Numbers 11:24

gathered the seventie] There were wanting two of this number (as is plaine by vers. 26.) yet the full number is noted, the name of the whole given to the greater part: See Annot. on Chap. 14. vers. 33.

Numbers 11:25

And tooke] See vers. 17.

and did not cease] Their gifts did not cease, or depart from them; nor they cease, upon all fit opportunities, to make use of them; yet some hold, they had not this assistance of the Spirit in the Land of Canaan.

Numbers 11:26

written] That is, inrolled or written in some book, as men fit for the imployment forementioned.

but went not out] That is, not out of their Camps, or Tents, unto the Tabernacle of the Congregation, as was required, vers. 16.

Numbers 11:28

forbid them] Besides the sixtie eight which prophesied in Moses his presence, and were joyned to him, there were two more, who out of Moses his sight, and without his knowledge, prophesied; which Joshua suspecting to be prejudiciall to the right and reputation of Moses, he desires they may be silenced. Such blind zeale was in the Apostles, Mark 9:38. Luke 9. 49. John 3:26.

Numbers 11:30

into the camp] Out of the Tabernacle, into some of the Tents about it.

and the Elders] Who were enabled by the same Spirit, and called by the same authoritie to be Assistants in government to Moses; See Annot. on vers. 17.

Numbers 11:31

a wind] A South wind, Psalms 78:26. which sheweth that it was a miraculous wind, for though Quailes flie with the wind, yet not with such a wind, but with the North wind, as Pliny observeth, lib. 10. cap. 25.

Quailes] This is the second time that they were fed with flesh in a miraculous manner. Of the former time, see Exodus 16:13, &c.

a dayes journey] In circuit or compasse about the Camp, not a dayes journey by distance from the Camp.

Numbers 11:32

stood up] Or, rose up. Whereby is not alwayes meant an upright posture of the body, which was not sutable to this action; for the fowle was but two cubits high above the earth; so that they must rather stoope down, then rise up to take them; but by this word is sometimes noted a rising up from what was in doing before, and a ready addresse to some other action; so here.

night, and all] The same men (though never so fleshly minded) could not endure so long labour; yet some might be so greedy, as to defraud themselves of their naturall rest, to be plentifully furnished for their lust; but it is like that when some were weary, others came in their stead, and so the gathering continued all the while.

ten homers] Or heapes, for so the word is sometimes taken, as Exodus 8:14. G. pag. 74.

spread them] As in their coming, so in their keeping there was an extraordinary providence of God; for if they were killed when they were spread round about the Campe, it was strange that they were preserved sweet, untill they were to be eaten; if kept alive in pens or cages, it was more strange, that they were supplyed with sufficient provision to nourish them; unlesse we say they were every day furnished with new store (as with Manna) except the Sabbath, Exodus 16:18, &c. which seemeth not to be so in this place.

Numbers 11:33

And while] This was at the moneths end; for so long God promised to feed them with flesh, vers. 20.

plague] God sometimes granteth mens desires in judgement; Hosea 13:11. and sometimes denyeth them in mercy, 2 Corinthians 12:9. This plague is thought to be the burning vengeance, as vers. 3. the same punishment for the same murmuring, whereof in the beginning of the Chapter the sinne is set down in generall, and the plague in particular.