Numbers 11: Complaints, seventy elders, and the quail
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What happens?
The people complain, and fire from Yahweh burns at the edge of the camp until Moses prays, so the place is called Taberah. Then they weep for meat, and Moses tells Yahweh the people are too heavy for him to carry alone. Yahweh puts some of the Spirit that is on Moses on seventy elders, and they prophesy, as do Eldad and Medad in the camp. A wind brings quail, and while the meat is still in their mouths a great plague strikes the people, and the place is called Kibroth-hattaavah.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. God's own words are in 6 of the 35 verses: his answer to Moses in verses 16 to 20 and his question in verse 23. In verses 18 and 20 Yahweh repeats what the people have said. The people speak in verses 4 to 6. Moses speaks to Yahweh in verses 11 to 15 and 21 and 22, and to Joshua in verse 29. A young man speaks in verse 27, and Joshua in verse 28. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1The people were complaining in the ears of Yahweh. When Yahweh heard it, his anger burned; and Yahweh’s fire burned among them, and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.
In plain English: The people complained about their hardships (or: complained, and it was evil) in Yahweh's hearing (literally: in the ears of Yahweh). When Yahweh heard it, his anger burned. Yahweh's fire burned among them and consumed some of the outer edges of the camp.
The Hebrew words: "Complaining" is a word that the dictionary gives as "to mourn, i.e. complain". It is in only 2 verses of the Bible, this one and . The verse says literally that the people were "like those complaining evil in the ears of Yahweh".
What changes: "Evil" can go with the complaint: they complained about their hardships. Or it can say how the complaint sounded to Yahweh: it was evil in his ears. The text does not say what they complained about.
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2The people cried to Moses; and Moses prayed to Yahweh, and the fire abated.
In plain English: The people cried out to Moses. Moses prayed to Yahweh, and the fire died down.
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3The name of that place was called Taberah, because Yahweh’s fire burned among them.
In plain English: So that place was called Taberah, because Yahweh's fire had burned among them.
Good to know: The text itself explains the name: Taberah sounds like the Hebrew word for "burned" (ba'ar) in "Yahweh's fire had burned among them". The place is named again in .
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4The mixed multitude that was among them lusted exceedingly; and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, “Who will give us meat to eat?
In plain English: The mixed crowd (the rabble) who were among them had a strong craving, and the Israelites also wept again and said, "Who will give us meat to eat?
The Hebrew words: "The mixed multitude" is asafsuf, a word found only in this verse. The dictionary gives it as "gathered up together, i.e. a promiscuous assemblage (of people)": a mixed crowd. "Lusted exceedingly" is literally "craved a craving", and the word for "craving" is ta'avah.
Good to know: says that "a mixed multitude" went up with Israel out of Egypt, using a different Hebrew word. The text does not say if these are the same people.
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5We remember the fish, which we ate in Egypt for nothing; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic;
In plain English: We remember the fish we ate in Egypt for nothing, and the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic.
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6but now we have lost our appetite. There is nothing at all except this manna to look at.”
In plain English: But now we have lost our appetite (literally: our soul is dried up). There is nothing at all to look at except this manna."
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7The manna was like coriander seed, and it looked like bdellium.
In plain English: The manna was like coriander seed, and it looked like bdellium (a gum, or: a pearl).
Good to know: Bdellium is named in only 2 verses of the Bible: here and , in the land around Eden. It is not certain what it was. The dictionary gives it as "a (fragrant) gum (perhaps amber); others a pearl". also describes the manna.
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8The people went around, gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes of it. Its taste was like the taste of fresh oil.
In plain English: The people went around and gathered it. They ground it in hand mills or pounded it in mortars, boiled it in pots, and made cakes of it. It tasted like cakes made with oil (this Bible: like fresh oil).
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9When the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna fell on it.
In plain English: When the dew fell on the camp at night, the manna fell with it.
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10Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, every man at the door of his tent; and Yahweh’s anger burned greatly; and Moses was displeased.
In plain English: Moses heard the people weeping, family by family, each man at the entrance of his tent. Yahweh's anger burned very hot, and Moses was troubled (literally: it was evil in Moses' eyes).
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11Moses said to Yahweh, “Why have you treated your servant so badly? Why haven’t I found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me?
In plain English: Moses said to Yahweh, "Why have you treated your servant so badly? Why have I not found favor with you, that you put the burden of all these people on me?
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12Have I conceived all this people? Have I brought them out, that you should tell me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a nursing infant, to the land which you swore to their fathers’?
In plain English: Did I conceive all these people? Did I give birth to them (this Bible: bring them out), that you should tell me, 'Carry them in your arms (literally: in your bosom), as a nurse carries a nursing baby,' to the land you swore to their fathers?
The Hebrew word: "Nurse" here is omen, from the word aman. The dictionary gives it as "to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse", and also "to trust or believe".
How it is translated: This Bible says "nurse" or a longer form in 3 of the 102 verses that use aman. Most often it says "believe" or a longer form (38 verses) or "faithful" (19).
Good to know: Moses speaks of the people as a baby that someone must carry, and asks whether he was the one who conceived and gave birth to them. The text gives his words and does not explain them further.
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13Where could I get meat to give all these people? For they weep before me, saying, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’
In plain English: Where am I to get meat to give all these people? They keep weeping to me and saying, 'Give us meat to eat.'
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14I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.
In plain English: I cannot carry all these people by myself. It is too heavy for me.
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15If you treat me this way, please kill me right now, if I have found favor in your sight; and don’t let me see my wretchedness.”
In plain English: If this is how you are going to treat me, please kill me right now (the Hebrew repeats the verb), if I have found favor with you, and do not let me see my misery."
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16Yahweh said to Moses, “Gather to me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; and bring them to the Tent of Meeting, that they may stand there with you.God speaks
In plain English: Yahweh said to Moses, "Gather to me seventy men from the elders of Israel, men you know to be elders of the people and officers over them. Bring them to the Tent of Meeting, and let them stand there with you.
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17I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit which is on you, and will put it on them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you don’t bear it yourself alone.God speaks
In plain English: I will come down and speak with you there. I will take some of the Spirit (or: the spirit) that is on you and put it on them. They will carry the burden of the people with you, so that you do not carry it alone.
The Hebrew word: "Spirit" is ruach, which the dictionary gives as "wind", "breath", and "spirit". In the same word is the "wind" from Yahweh that brings the quail.
How it is translated: In Numbers this Bible says "spirit" in 9 of the 12 verses that use ruach, and "wind" in 1, verse 31. In the whole Bible it says "spirit" in 197 of its 348 verses and "wind" in 91.
What changes: Hebrew has no capital letters. This Bible writes "Spirit", which reads it as God's Spirit. It can also be read as "the spirit" given to Moses for leading the people, now shared with the elders.
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18“Say to the people, ‘Sanctify yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, and you will eat meat; for you have wept in the ears of Yahweh, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt.” Therefore Yahweh will give you meat, and you will eat.God speaks
In plain English: "Say to the people, 'Make yourselves holy for tomorrow, and you will eat meat. You have wept in Yahweh's hearing and said, "Who will give us meat to eat? We were well off in Egypt." So Yahweh will give you meat, and you will eat.
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19You will not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days,God speaks
In plain English: You will eat it not for one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days,
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20but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils, and it is loathsome to you; because you have rejected Yahweh who is among you, and have wept before him, saying, “Why did we come out of Egypt?”’”God speaks
In plain English: but for a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils and you are sick of it, because you have rejected Yahweh, who is among you, and have wept before him, saying, "Why did we ever come out of Egypt?"'"
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21Moses said, “The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand men on foot; and you have said, ‘I will give them meat, that they may eat a whole month.’
In plain English: Moses said, "The people I am among are six hundred thousand men on foot, and you have said, 'I will give them meat, and they will eat for a whole month.'
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22Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to be sufficient for them? Shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to be sufficient for them?”
In plain English: Could enough flocks and herds be killed for them to be enough for them? Could all the fish of the sea be gathered for them to be enough for them?"
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23Yahweh said to Moses, “Has Yahweh’s hand grown short? Now you will see whether my word will happen to you or not.”God speaks
In plain English: Yahweh said to Moses, "Is Yahweh's hand too short? Now you will see whether my word comes true for you or not."
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24Moses went out, and told the people Yahweh’s words; and he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them around the Tent.
In plain English: Moses went out and told the people Yahweh's words. He gathered seventy men from the elders of the people and placed them around the Tent.
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25Yahweh came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was on him, and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did so no more.
In plain English: Yahweh came down in the cloud and spoke to him. He took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did not do so again (or: and they did not stop).
The Hebrew words: "They did so no more" is literally "they did not add". The dictionary gives the word yasaf as "to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)".
What changes: Read as "they did not do it again", the elders prophesied only this once. Read as "they did not stop", the elders went on prophesying. The Hebrew allows both, and the text does not settle it.
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26But two men remained in the camp. The name of one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad; and the Spirit rested on them. They were of those who were written, but had not gone out to the Tent; and they prophesied in the camp.
In plain English: But two men had stayed in the camp. One was named Eldad and the other Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those whose names were written down, but they had not gone out to the Tent, and they prophesied in the camp.
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27A young man ran, and told Moses, and said, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!”
In plain English: A young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!"
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28Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his chosen men, answered, “My lord Moses, forbid them!”
In plain English: Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' servant from his youth (or: one of his chosen men), answered, "My lord Moses, stop them!"
The Hebrew word: "One of his chosen men" is mibbechurav, from a word the dictionary gives as "youth". It is in only 3 verses of the Bible; the other two are and , where this Bible says "youth".
What changes: Read as "from his youth", Joshua had served Moses since he was young. Read as "one of his chosen men", he was one of Moses' picked helpers. Joshua is already Moses' helper in .
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29Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all Yahweh’s people were prophets, that Yahweh would put his Spirit on them!”
In plain English: Moses said to him, "Are you jealous on my account? I wish that all Yahweh's people were prophets, and that Yahweh would put his Spirit on them!"
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30Moses went into the camp, he and the elders of Israel.
In plain English: Then Moses and the elders of Israel went back into the camp.
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31A wind from Yahweh went out and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, about a day’s journey on this side, and a day’s journey on the other side, around the camp, and about two cubits above the surface of the earth.
In plain English: A wind from Yahweh went out and brought quail from the sea. It let them fall by the camp, about a day's journey on this side and a day's journey on the other side, all around the camp, about two cubits above the ground (or: piled two cubits deep on the ground).
Good to know: "About two cubits above the surface of the earth" can be read two ways: the quail flew low, about two cubits above the ground, where they could be caught, or they lay on the ground piled about two cubits deep. The Hebrew allows both. Quail also came to the camp in , before Israel reached Sinai.
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32The people rose up all that day, and all of that night, and all the next day, and gathered the quails. He who gathered least gathered ten homers; and they spread them all out for themselves around the camp.
In plain English: The people were up all that day, all that night, and all the next day, gathering the quail. The one who gathered least gathered ten homers. They spread them out for themselves all around the camp.
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33While the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, Yahweh’s anger burned against the people, and Yahweh struck the people with a very great plague.
In plain English: While the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed (or: before it was used up), Yahweh's anger burned against the people, and Yahweh struck the people with a very great plague.
The Hebrew word: "Chewed" is karat, which the dictionary gives as "to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume".
How it is translated: In Numbers this Bible says "cut" in 8 of the 9 verses that use karat. This verse is the only one where it says something else.
What changes: Read as "before it was chewed", the plague came while they were still eating the first bites. Read as "before it was cut off" (used up), it came before the meat ran out, while the month of meat in was still going on.
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34The name of that place was called Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who lusted.
In plain English: So that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had the craving.
The Hebrew words: The text explains the name Kibroth-hattaavah: there they buried (qavar) the people who had the craving. Kibroth sounds like qever, which the dictionary gives as "a sepulchre", a grave, and hattaavah is "the craving" (ta'avah, the word in ).
Good to know: The place is named again in , with Taberah, and in the list of camps in .
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35From Kibroth Hattaavah the people traveled to Hazeroth; and they stayed at Hazeroth.
In plain English: From Kibroth-hattaavah the people traveled to Hazeroth, and they stayed at Hazeroth.
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