Números 11
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Números 11
NJB (MT versing) The People Complain The People Complain Israel's Complaining in the Wilderness The Place Named Taberah Taberah 11:1-3 11:1-3 11:1-3 11:1-3 11:1-3 Moses Chooses Seventy Leaders Kibroth-hattaavah, the People Complain 11:4-6 11:4-9 11:4-6 11:4-6 11:4-6 11:7-9 11:7-9 11:7-9 11:7-9 The Complaint of Moses The Prayer of Moses 11:10-15 11:10-15 11:10-15 11:10-15 11:10-11a 11:11b-15 Seventy Elders to Assist The Seventy Elders Yahweh Replies 11:16-23 11:16-23 11:16-23 11:16-20 11:16-17 11:18-20 11:21-22 11:21-23 11:23 The Spirit Given to Elders 11:24-25 11:24-25 11:24-25 11:24-25 11:24-25 11:26-30 11:26-30 11:26-30 11:26-27 11:26-30 11:28 11:29-30 The Quail and the Plague The Lord Sends Quail The Lord Sends Quail The Quails 11:31-35 11:31-35 11:31-35 11:31-34 11:31-33 11:34 11:35 11:35 Etc.
Números 11:1-3
11:1 "those who complain" The book of Numbers could be called "the book of griping"! It is a recurrent theme (cf. Num. 14:2; 16:11,41; 17:5,10; 1 Cor. 10:10). It demonstrates a lack of faith in YHWH's presence and leadership Moses and Aaron ▣ "in the hearing of the Lord" This phrase, like v. 18 (i.e., "in the ears of the Lord"), is very anthropomorphic. See SPECIAL TOPIC: GOD DESCRIBED AS HUMAN. One wonders if this verse implies they were grumbling in their tents (cf. Num. 11:10) they were grumbling near the Tabernacle or at a worship service ▣ "His anger. . .the fire of the Lord" This is another anthropomorphic reference. YHWH was serious about His covenant requirements. Violating His revealed will resulted in judgment (Num. 11:10,33). See SPECIAL TOPIC: FIRE. ▣ "the outskirts of the camp" Possibly "the rabble" of v. 4 lived farthest from the Tabernacle. YHWH's judgment started with this "mixed multitude" (cf. Exod. 12:38), who were probably not Israelite or perhaps only half-Israelite. 11:2 "Moses prayed to the Lord" Moses was often called on to intercede between YHWH and His disobedient covenant people. See SPECIAL TOPIC: INTERCESSORY PRAYER. 11:3 "Taberah" This place name (BDB 129) is related to the VERB "to burn" (BDB 128). It occurs only here and Deut. 9:22.
Números 11:4-6
11:4 "the rabble" This DESCRIPTIVE NOUN (BDB 63, very rare, only here in the OT, from the word "gather" or "assembly") describes the non-Israelite or half-Israelite people who left Egypt during the exodus (cf. Exod. 12:38). They were the source of much of Israel's problems. ▣ "had greedy desires" "yielded to intense craving" NRSV, TEV, Peshitta "had a strong craving" "pains of hunger" "felt a gluttonous craving" "began to be greedy for better things" "craved with desire" The MT has a VERB and a NOUN from the same root, "desired a desire" (BDB 16, KB 20, Hithpael PERFECT). It was not just food (cf. Num. 11:5) they desired but a return to Egypt (cf. Exod. 16:3). It was a gesture of lack of trust in YHWH! 11:6-9 "manna" See SPECIAL TOPIC: MANNA. 11:6 "our appetite is gone" This is literally "but now our soul is dried up." This is a usage of nephesh (BDB 659), used of one's appetite, because its etymology is from the word "throat."
Números 11:10-15
11:10-15 Moses grows weary of leading Israel. He appeals to YHWH for either help or death (Num. 11:15, emphatic in Hebrew). Moses reminds YHWH that the exodus was His prophecy and plan (i.e., Gen. 15:12-22). Moses' exasperation with the people will become the source of his public disobedience to YHWH that will result in his not being allowed to enter Canaan (cf. Numbers 20; 27:14; Deut. 1:37; 3:26-27; 34). 11:11 "Your servant" This was an honorific title. See SPECIAL TOPIC: MY SERVANT. 11:12 This verse has feminine imagery to refer to YHWH (cf. Deut. 32:11,18b; Isa. 42:14; 49:15; 66:9-13; Hos. 11:4b,c, with one change in Hebrew text; see note online). See full note at Deut. 32:11 and the SPECIAL TOPIC: HUMAN SEXUALITY. ▣ "to the land which You did swear to their fathers" The first mention of this promise is to Abraham in Genesis 12 (cf. Exod. 13:5,11). See SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS. 11:13 This verse clearly states the large number of people involved in the exodus. The exact number is uncertain because of the many connotations of "thousand" (see SPECIAL TOPIC: THOUSAND), but it was a large number, too large for the desert/wilderness to naturally sustain. 11:15 NASB, NKJV, JPSOA "let me not see my wickedness" "and do not let me see my misery" "so that I won't have to endure your cruelty any longer" "be spared the sight of my misery" "spare me this trouble afflicting me" "so that I may not see my suffering" Some scholars think that the Masoretic scholars changed this phrase from "that I may not see Your evil (i.e., judgment)." This was done because the Masoretes did not want to assert that "evil" came from YHWH. The Jerusalem Targum asserted "the evil" was not from YHWH but referred to "the evil people."
Números 11:16-23
11:16-18 YHWH provides some gifted (Num. 11:17) helpers (i.e., the seventy elders, cf. Exod. 18:25). For the biblical use of the number 70 see SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE, #8. 11:17 NASB, NKJV, LXX "of the Spirit" NRSV, TEV, NJB, REB "of the spirit" "the spirit" This is the term ruah (see SPECIAL TOPIC: SPIRIT IN THE BIBLE), which has a wide semantical field. In the OT the term is a way of referring to YHWH's active will to accomplish His purposes. But in the NT, the full personality of the Spirit is revealed. See Special Topics: SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PERSONHOOD OF THE SPIRIT SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TRINITY YHWH gifted certain artisans with the Spirit to make Aaron's priestly garments ‒ Exod. 28:3 make the gold and silver pieces for the Tabernacle ‒ Exod. 31:3; 35:31 Joshua's leadership ‒ Deut. 34:9 military boldness ‒ Jdgs. 6:34; 11:29; 13:25 This "spirit" is described as in wisdom in understanding in knowledge in all craftsmanship ▣ Obviously there is a spiritual giftedness involved in leadership of God's people. It is not just human talent but spiritual provision! 11:18 The particular issue of this chapter is "meat." YHWH will show His character (see SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (OT) VIII. B. 4). His provision is a natural, annual occurrence (i.e., migration of quail) but with supernatural timing, intensity, and locality (see notes on the plagues of Egypt online). ▣ "For we were well-off in Egypt" This is, of course, a false statement since they were mistreated slaves in Egypt. How the mind and time do trick the mind! It is possible that the rabble (Num. 11:4) were not poor slaves but members of Egyptian society who left Egypt with Israel for unknown reasons, possibly the miracles of the plagues. ▣ "Consecrate yourselves" This is a Hithpael IMPERATIVE (BDB 872, KB 1073). JPSOA translation footnote has "i.e., as for a sacrificial meal." This is a reverse sacrifice. Usually Israelites give YHWH sacrificial gifts (i.e., peace offering) but here YHWH gives meat to them! 11:20 YHWH was tired of their griping and bad attitude. He gave them what they wanted until they were sick (figuratively and literally) of it! 11:21 "600,000" The number seems far too large (cf. Exod. 12:37). It is not a question of God's ability but of the size of contemporary armies. If Israel was this large, why were they afraid? Most scholars attribute the number hyperbole to the term "thousand," which could denote a much smaller military unit, similar to the Roman legions, centurions. See SPECIAL TOPIC: THOUSAND (eleph). 11:22 Most herdsmen are very reluctant to kill their animals. The statement about "fish" is obviously hyperbolic, for effect. 11:23 The question, "Is the Lord's power limited?" is a Hebrew anthropomorphic idiom, "Is the Lord's hand too short" (cf. Isa. 50:2; 59:1). "Hand" was used as a symbol of power. See SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND. Questioning the numbers of Scripture is not doubting YHWH's power but trying to address the historical setting. This verse is relating to the month's provision of quail (i.e., Num. 11:18-20).
Números 11:24-25
11:25 "the Lord came down in the cloud" This special cloud was a physical symbol of YHWH's presence and guidance. ▣ "prophesied" This VERB (BDB 612, KB 659, Hithpael IMPERFECT with waw) denotes speaking under an ecstatic state. Saul ‒ 1 Sam. 10:5, 6, 10, 13 Saul's messengers ‒ 1 Sam. 19:20, 21, 23, 24 See SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHECY (OT). ▣ NASB, NRSV "But they did not do it again" Targum Onkelos, Vulgate "they did not cease to do it" "but not for long" "but only once" "but did not continue" "for the first and only time" "and they no longer added" "and then they ceased to complain" As you can see from the different translations, this is a difficult phrase. The REB catches the essence of the meaning. This was a one-time visible manifestation of YHWH's delegation of leadership, even to two persons outside the seventy elders.
Números 11:26-30
11:26-30 These men were part of the seventy elders, yet they remained in the camp, and also manifested the same charismatic sign. Joshua was bothered by this but Moses was not. Numbers 11:29 shows the humility and spirituality of Moses. It has always been questioned whether Moses spoke to YHWH in front of the ark in the Tabernacle in the midst of the camp, Exod. 25:8; Num. 2:2, 17; 5:3 at a special tent set up away from the camp; this option fits this context best (cf. v. 30), Exod. 33:7-11 It is never stated why these two of the seventy stayed in the camp. Obviously for whatever reason, it did not offend YHWH and they, too, participated in the blessing/responsibility of leadership. 11:29 This verse speaks to the essence of Exod. 19:5-6; Joel 2:28-32; and Eph. 5:18. All believers are meant to be God-called, God-gifted ministers (cf. Eph. 4:11-12). All humans were made in the image and likeness of God (Gen. 1:26-27). See SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN.
Números 11:31-35
11:31-35 These verses describe the coming of the quail and the people's gluttonous reaction. This is the second occurrence of YHWH providing quail (cf. Exodus 16; Ps. 78:20, 27; 106:13-15). 11:30 "a wind" This is one of the possible meanings of ruah (BDB 924; see SPECIAL TOPIC: SPIRIT IN THE BIBLE. ▣ "cubits" See SPECIAL TOPIC: CUBIT. There are two options: there were a lot of quail! the birds flew low to the ground and could easily be gathered (Rashi) 11:32 "homers" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ANE WEIGHTS AND VOLUMES. ▣ "they spread them out for themselves all around the camp" The VERB "spread out" (BDB 1008, KB 1474) is found in this verse in both the Qal IMPERFECT and INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE. The thrust is that every person gathered far more than they needed and did not trust YHWH's word of providing the birds for a full month (cf. v. 20). They apparently plucked, gutted, and laid out the carcasses to dry all around the camp. They were attempting to preserve the meat, not trusting YHWH's daily provision, just like the gathering of the manna (see SPECIAL TOPIC: MANNA). 11:33 This verse reflects YHWH's prediction in Num. 11:20, which may refer to some kind of plague (cf. Ps. 106:13-15). They were greedy, self-seeking people. 11:34 "Kibroth-hattaavah" This is a Hebrew phrase, "the graves of desire" (BDB 869, cf. Num. 33:16, 17; Deut. 9:22). What a tragedy; YHWH's wonderful provision turned into greed and selfishness which demanded a divine judgment. The rabble (v. 7) is being eliminated!