The People Grumble
Numbers 11, verse 1. Now the people were grumbling evilly before the Lord, and the Lord heard them and was provoked to anger. So the fire of the Lord burned among them and utterly destroyed part of the camp. Numbers 11, verse 2. Then the people cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the Lord; and the fire was quenched. Numbers 11, verse 3. So he called the name of the place Burning, because fire from the Lord burned among them. Numbers 11, verse 4. Now the mixed multitude among them hungered exceedingly; and sitting down, the children of Israel were also weeping, and said, “Who will give us meat to eat? Numbers 11, verse 5. We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt, and the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; Numbers 11, verse 6. but now our soul is dried up; there is nothing before our eyes except this manna.” Numbers 11, verse 7. Now the manna is like coriander seed, and its form is like the form of ice pellets. Numbers 11, verse 8. The people would go about and gather it, and grind it on millstones or beat it in the mortar, then cook it in pots, and make cakes of it; and its flavor was like the taste of a pastry prepared with oil and honey. Numbers 11, verse 9. And when the dew descended on the camp in the night, the manna descended upon it.
Seventy Elders
Numbers 11, verse 10. Then Moses heard the people weeping throughout their tribes, everyone at his door; and the anger of the Lord was greatly aroused; Moses also was displeased. Numbers 11, verse 11. So Moses said to the Lord, “Why have You maltreated Your servant? Why have I not found grace in Your sight, that You lay the wrath of this people on me? Numbers 11, verse 12. Did I conceive all these people? Did I beget them, that You should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a guardian carries a nursing child,’ to the land You swore to their fathers? Numbers 11, verse 13. Where am I to get meat to give to all these people? For they weep all over me, saying, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’ Numbers 11, verse 14. I am not able to bear this people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me. Numbers 11, verse 15. If You treat me like this, kill me here and now—if I find mercy in Your sight—and do not let me see my maltreatment.” Numbers 11, verse 16. So the Lord said to Moses, “Gather to Me seventy men from the elders of Israel, whom you yourself know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tabernacle of testimony, so they may stand there with you. Numbers 11, verse 17. Then I will descend and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit upon you and put Him upon them; and they shall help you bear the wrath of the people, that you yourself may not bear them alone. Numbers 11, verse 18. Then you shall say to the people, ‘Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat; for you have wept before the Lord, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt.” Therefore the Lord will give you meat to eat, and you shall eat. Numbers 11, verse 19. You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, Numbers 11, verse 20. but for a whole month you shall eat, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you disobeyed the Lord, who is among you, and have wept before Him, saying, “Why did we ever come up out of Egypt?”’” Numbers 11, verse 21. Then Moses said, “The people I am among are six hundred thousand men on foot; yet You are saying, ‘I will give them meat, so they may eat for a whole month.’ Numbers 11, verse 22. Shall sheep and oxen be slaughtered for them, to provide enough for them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to provide enough for them?” Numbers 11, verse 23. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Is the Lord's hand unable to provide for them? Now you shall know whether or not My word will overtake you.” Numbers 11, verse 24. So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord; and he gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people and placed them around the tabernacle. Numbers 11, verse 25. Then the Lord descended in the cloud and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit upon him, and put Him upon the seventy men of the elders; and when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, although they never did so again. Numbers 11, verse 26. But two men remained in the camp: the name of one was Eldad, and the name of the other, Medad, and the Spirit rested upon them. Now they were among those registered, but had not come to the tabernacle; yet they prophesied in the camp. Numbers 11, verse 27. So a young man ran and told Moses, and said, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” Numbers 11, verse 28. Then Joshua the son of Nun, who was near Moses, one of his choice men, answered and said, “Lord Moses, forbid them.” Numbers 11, verse 29. Then Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord's people might be prophets, when the Lord would put His Spirit upon them.” Numbers 11, verse 30. So Moses returned to the camp, both he and the elders of Israel.
The Quail
Numbers 11, verse 31. Now a wind went out from the Lord and brought birds from the sea that migrate together with quail, and cast them upon the camp, about a day's journey on this side and about a day's journey on the other side, all around the camp, and about two cubits above the surface of the ground. Numbers 11, verse 32. Then the people stayed up all that day, all night, and all the next day, and gathered the birds (he who gathered least gathered ten cors); and they spread the meat out to dry for themselves all around the camp. Numbers 11, verse 33. But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the Lord's anger was aroused against the people, and the Lord struck the people with a very great plague. Numbers 11, verse 34. So he called the name of that place Graves of Lust, because there they buried the people who lusted. Numbers 11, verse 35. Then the people broke camp to go to Hazeroth, and they camped at Hazeroth.