New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Numbers 11
1
The people weren't happy about the hard times they were having. The Lord heard what they were saying. It made him burn with anger. Then the Lord sent fire on them. It blazed out among the people. It burned up some of the outer edges of the camp.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Kings 1:12
Numbers 21:5
Psalm 106:18
Job 1:16
References Lord
Numbers 16:35
Exodus 16:9
Deuteronomy 9:22
Leviticus 10:2
Isaiah 30:33
Psalm 78:21
3
So that place was named Taberah. That's because fire from the Lord had blazed out among them there.
Reference
📍 Taberah
References Lord
Deuteronomy 9:22
4
Some people who were with them began to long for other food. Again the people of Israel began to cry out. They said, "We wish we had meat to eat.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Corinthians 10:6
Exodus 12:38
Psalm 106:14
Romans 13:14
1 Corinthians 15:33
References Israel
Nehemiah 13:3
5
We remember the fish we ate in Egypt. It didn't cost us anything. We also remember the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.
Reference
References Egypt
Exodus 16:3
6
But now we've lost all interest in eating. We never see anything but this manna!"
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 21:5
8
The people went around gathering it. Then they ground it in a small mill they held in their hands. Or they crushed it in a stone bowl. They cooked it in a pot. Or they made cakes out of it. It tasted like something made with olive oil.
Reference
Creation
Exodus 16:31
9
When the dew came down on the camp at night, the manna also came down.
10
Moses heard people from every family crying. They were sobbing at the entrances to their tents. The Lord burned with hot anger. So Moses became troubled.
Reference
References Lord
Psalm 78:21
11
He asked the Lord, "Why have you brought this trouble on me? Why aren't you pleased with me? Why have you loaded me down with the troubles of all of these people?
Reference
12
"Am I like a mother to them? Are they my children? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms? Do I have to carry them the way a nurse carries a baby? Do I have to carry them to the land you promised? You took an oath and promised the land to their people of long ago.
Reference
Kingdom
Isaiah 49:23
Parallel theme
Isaiah 40:11
Exodus 13:5
1 Thessalonians 2:7
Genesis 50:24
Genesis 26:3
13
"Where can I get meat for all of these people? They keep crying out to me. They say, 'Give us meat to eat!'
Reference
14
I can't carry all of these people by myself. The load is too heavy for me.
Reference
Parallel theme
Exodus 18:18
15
"Is this how you are going to treat me? If you are pleased with me, just put me to death right now. Don't let me live if I have to see myself destroyed anyway."
Reference
16
The Lord said to Moses, "Bring me 70 of Israel's elders. Bring men that you know are leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the Tent of Meeting. I want them to stand there with you.
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 46:27
Deuteronomy 1:15
References Israel
Ezekiel 8:11
References Lord
Exodus 24:1
Deuteronomy 16:18
Luke 10:17
Luke 10:1
References Moses
Exodus 24:9
Exodus 4:29
17
I will come down. I will speak with you there. I will take some of my Spirit that is on you. And I will put the Spirit on them. They will help you carry the people's load. Then you will not have to carry it alone.
Reference
18
"Tell the people, 'Set yourselves apart for tomorrow. At that time you will eat meat. The Lord heard you when you cried out. You said, "We wish we had meat to eat. We were better off in Egypt." " 'Now the Lord will give you meat. And you will eat it.
Reference
19
You will not eat it for just one or two days. You will not eat it for just five, ten or 20 days.
20
Instead, you will eat it for a whole month. You will eat it until it comes out of your nose. You will eat it until you hate it. " 'The Lord is among you. But you have turned your back on him. You have cried out while he was listening. You have said, "Why did we ever leave Egypt?" ' "
Reference
21
But Moses said, "Here I am among 600,000 men on the march. And you say, 'I will give them meat to eat for a whole month'!
Reference
22
Would they have enough if flocks and herds were killed for them? Would they have enough even if all of the fish in the ocean were caught for them?"
Reference
23
The Lord answered Moses, "Am I not strong enough? Now you will see whether what I say will come true for you."
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 50:2
Numbers 23:19
Luke 1:37
Matthew 19:26
References Lord
Isaiah 59:1
Genesis 18:14
Ezekiel 24:14
Word
Ezekiel 12:25
Matthew 24:35
Micah 2:7
24
So Moses went out. He told the people what the Lord had said. He gathered 70 of their elders together. He had them stand around the Tent of Meeting.
Reference
25
Then the Lord came down in the cloud. He spoke with Moses. He took some of his Spirit that was on Moses. And he put the Spirit on the 70 elders. When the Spirit came on them, they prophesied. But they didn't do it again.
Reference
26
Two men had remained in the camp. Their names were Eldad and Medad. They were listed among the elders. But they didn't go out to the Tent of Meeting. In spite of that, the Spirit came on them too. So they prophesied in the camp.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Jeremiah 36:5
27
A young man ran up to Moses. He said, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp."
28
Joshua spoke up. He was the son of Nun. Joshua had been Moses' helper from the time he was young. He said, "Moses! Please stop them!"
Reference
29
But Moses replied, "Are you jealous for me? I wish that all of the Lord's people were prophets. And I wish that the Lord would put his Spirit on them."
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Corinthians 14:5
James 5:9
Philippians 2:3
References Lord
Luke 10:2
Spirit
James 4:5
30
Then Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.
31
The Lord sent out a wind. It drove quail in from the Red Sea. It brought them down all around the camp. They were about three feet above the ground. They could be seen in every direction as far as a person could walk in a day.
Reference
32
The people went out all day and gathered quail. They gathered them all night and all the next day. No one gathered less than 60 bushels. Then they spread the quail out all around the camp.
Reference
33
But while the meat was still in their mouths, the Lord acted. Before the people could swallow it, his anger burned against them. He struck them with a terrible plague.
34
So the place was named Kibroth Hattaavah. That's where the bodies of the people who had longed for other food were buried.
Reference
📍 Kibroth-hattaavah
35
From Kibroth Hattaavah the people traveled to Hazeroth. And they stayed there.
Reference
📍 Locations
Chapter Summary
The book of Numbers chapter 11 speaks about the initial few complications facing Israel after they left Mount Sinai. There are murmuring Israelites about the hardship of the journey and their attitude towards the food offered to them. Moses complains about having to lead such a large group of people, and God rebukes the Israelites and provides them with quail to eat. God also provides Moses with seventy elders to assist him in the leadership of the Israelites.
The Bible begins the chapter by talking about the complaining of the people about the inconveniences of the journey. The text does not give much detail about what exactly the Israelites were complaining about except for their attitude of being discontent with the food provided. Lord became angry with them and caused a fire to break out at the edges of their camp.
The people of Israel began crying out to Moses and he prayed to the Lord. It was after Moses’ prayer that the fire stopped, and the place came to be known as Taberah, which means the place of burning. This was a display of the level of impatience and dissatisfaction that had overtaken the Israelites.
It was not long before the next complaint was brought by a section of the people. There is reference to the mixed multitude among the Israelites bringing up the issue of food before Moses. Their attitude inspired others to join them in complaining that they have grown tired of eating the same thing. They said they wanted meat to eat and reminded Moses of the fish they used to eat in Egypt. They gave details of the food they wanted which included cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.
The Israelites wanted to remember the good times they had in Egypt and forgot the misery they went through under the oppressive rule of the Egyptians. They continued murmuring to Moses about the food they wanted when actually, they did not even seem to be hungry. It is explained that the manna from heaven had sustained them, and they were tired of eating that.
The chapter goes on to describe the manna and how the Israelites prepared their meals with it. They describe the manna as something that was as sweet as oil and how each morning for a long time they gathered the food around the camp. The Israelites failed to appreciate the many ways in which God had blessed them and were easily irritated and dissatisfied with the good he had given them.
This unhappiness with what God had provided bore heavily on Moses who became very worried about the Israelites. He complained to God about the burdens he bore leading the Israelites, and he expressed surprise at why God had placed such a responsibility on him. Moses went as far as comparing his burden to a nursing child saying that he was not able to bear the Israelites, a whole nation of adults, anymore. Moses asked why he was made to bear the troubles of the people so that Israel would listen to him. He went on to say that he wished he could die rather than bear such a burden.
It is in this part of the text that we understand the tremendous burden Moses bore as Israel’s leader. He was not used to dealing with so many Israelites and their pettiness over the manna. God reassured Moses by telling him to get seventy men from Israel who were elders of the people and who were responsible for bringing the people before him. God said he would take a portion of the spirit in which Moses carried the Israelites and put it in the seventy men so that they could assist Moses in carrying the burden of Israel’s leadership.
It is not long before Moses gathers the seventy elders and brings them to the tabernacle where they waited for the arrival of the Lord. The Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses. When the spirit of God rested on the seventy men they began to prophesy. Moses was delighted at this turn of events and told Joshua to bring them to the tabernacle. It is at this point that Eldad and Medad decide to remain in the camp rather than going to the tabernacle with the others. Yet, even though they had not gone to the tabernacle the spirit rested on them and they began to prophesy in the camp. A young man went to Moses to tell him what Eldad and Medad were doing and Joshua son of Nun begged Moses to stop them. Moses responded by saying he wished that all of the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on all of them.
The text turns to the next subject of Israel complaining to Moses about the food. God told Moses to tell the Israelites that he would give them meat to eat. Not only that, but he would give them so much meat that they would be fed up with it. God continued to explain that he would bring them meat from the sea, enough for them to eat for a whole month and that it would be more than they could eat. It is in this part of the text that we see God responding to the Israelites’ desires, even though he was also punishing them for rejecting the manna provided by him. They had rejected his leadership and accused him of taking them to Egypt, and now the Israelites would have the meat they wanted. God intended to use this incident to correct the Israelites’ disrespect and arrogance.
Moses was surprised by this turn of events, and he asked how he would be able to provide enough meat for so many people. If all the flocks and herds of Israel were slaughtered, Moses wondered if the abundance of people would be enough. God responded to Moses’ surprise by saying that his power was not limited, and that a wind from the Lord blew in from the sea bringing quail in great numbers. The Israelites went out and gathered the quail, which covered the camp for many days. They got up enthusiastically to collect the gifts God had given them. It seems that the Israelites craved novelty, and once they reached what they wanted, they became unhappy with what they had.
It seems, however that the Israelites were not satisfied with the plentiful meat either. Before the meat had been chewed and swallowed, the Lord became angry with them and struck them down with a severe pestilence. The place was named Kibroth-hattaavah which means Graves of Cravings. It is a reminder that there was never going to be enough to satisfy the Israelites if they kept on whining. The Israelites continued to travel and eventually reached Hazeroth. The Israelites left Kibroth-hattaavah and traveled on for a while, staying at Hazeroth.
Numbers 11 brings out the stark contrast between the provision of God and the dissatisfaction of the people. Despite the many things God had done to sustain the Israelites in the wilderness they were grumbling and complaining. They longed for Egypt and the food they used to eat, yet they forgot the misery and hardship they had gone through under the Egyptians.
The chapter serves as a reminder of the pettiness of the people of Israel and highlights the leadership of Moses. Moses makes it known that he cannot carry the Israelites alone and God sends him seventy elders to help him carry the burdens of leadership. Moses was an effective leader because his responsibilities were lightened by the support he received from the seventy elders.
The chapter also highlights the difference between asking for help or support and demanding something specific. Despite God’s provision Israel’s attitude of wanting something different was a sign of their ungrateful and arrogant nature. The Israelites craved novelty and their desires quickly grew tiresome.
After leaving Mount Sinai, Israel was expected to continue their journey under the guidance of God. It was inevitable that the Israelites would soon become dissatisfied with the journey. Numbers 11 shows us that the greatest challenges in life are not always faced in the wilderness, but sometimes in the attitudes and expectations we bring into our lives.
The Bible begins the chapter by talking about the complaining of the people about the inconveniences of the journey. The text does not give much detail about what exactly the Israelites were complaining about except for their attitude of being discontent with the food provided. Lord became angry with them and caused a fire to break out at the edges of their camp.
The people of Israel began crying out to Moses and he prayed to the Lord. It was after Moses’ prayer that the fire stopped, and the place came to be known as Taberah, which means the place of burning. This was a display of the level of impatience and dissatisfaction that had overtaken the Israelites.
It was not long before the next complaint was brought by a section of the people. There is reference to the mixed multitude among the Israelites bringing up the issue of food before Moses. Their attitude inspired others to join them in complaining that they have grown tired of eating the same thing. They said they wanted meat to eat and reminded Moses of the fish they used to eat in Egypt. They gave details of the food they wanted which included cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.
The Israelites wanted to remember the good times they had in Egypt and forgot the misery they went through under the oppressive rule of the Egyptians. They continued murmuring to Moses about the food they wanted when actually, they did not even seem to be hungry. It is explained that the manna from heaven had sustained them, and they were tired of eating that.
The chapter goes on to describe the manna and how the Israelites prepared their meals with it. They describe the manna as something that was as sweet as oil and how each morning for a long time they gathered the food around the camp. The Israelites failed to appreciate the many ways in which God had blessed them and were easily irritated and dissatisfied with the good he had given them.
This unhappiness with what God had provided bore heavily on Moses who became very worried about the Israelites. He complained to God about the burdens he bore leading the Israelites, and he expressed surprise at why God had placed such a responsibility on him. Moses went as far as comparing his burden to a nursing child saying that he was not able to bear the Israelites, a whole nation of adults, anymore. Moses asked why he was made to bear the troubles of the people so that Israel would listen to him. He went on to say that he wished he could die rather than bear such a burden.
It is in this part of the text that we understand the tremendous burden Moses bore as Israel’s leader. He was not used to dealing with so many Israelites and their pettiness over the manna. God reassured Moses by telling him to get seventy men from Israel who were elders of the people and who were responsible for bringing the people before him. God said he would take a portion of the spirit in which Moses carried the Israelites and put it in the seventy men so that they could assist Moses in carrying the burden of Israel’s leadership.
It is not long before Moses gathers the seventy elders and brings them to the tabernacle where they waited for the arrival of the Lord. The Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses. When the spirit of God rested on the seventy men they began to prophesy. Moses was delighted at this turn of events and told Joshua to bring them to the tabernacle. It is at this point that Eldad and Medad decide to remain in the camp rather than going to the tabernacle with the others. Yet, even though they had not gone to the tabernacle the spirit rested on them and they began to prophesy in the camp. A young man went to Moses to tell him what Eldad and Medad were doing and Joshua son of Nun begged Moses to stop them. Moses responded by saying he wished that all of the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on all of them.
The text turns to the next subject of Israel complaining to Moses about the food. God told Moses to tell the Israelites that he would give them meat to eat. Not only that, but he would give them so much meat that they would be fed up with it. God continued to explain that he would bring them meat from the sea, enough for them to eat for a whole month and that it would be more than they could eat. It is in this part of the text that we see God responding to the Israelites’ desires, even though he was also punishing them for rejecting the manna provided by him. They had rejected his leadership and accused him of taking them to Egypt, and now the Israelites would have the meat they wanted. God intended to use this incident to correct the Israelites’ disrespect and arrogance.
Moses was surprised by this turn of events, and he asked how he would be able to provide enough meat for so many people. If all the flocks and herds of Israel were slaughtered, Moses wondered if the abundance of people would be enough. God responded to Moses’ surprise by saying that his power was not limited, and that a wind from the Lord blew in from the sea bringing quail in great numbers. The Israelites went out and gathered the quail, which covered the camp for many days. They got up enthusiastically to collect the gifts God had given them. It seems that the Israelites craved novelty, and once they reached what they wanted, they became unhappy with what they had.
It seems, however that the Israelites were not satisfied with the plentiful meat either. Before the meat had been chewed and swallowed, the Lord became angry with them and struck them down with a severe pestilence. The place was named Kibroth-hattaavah which means Graves of Cravings. It is a reminder that there was never going to be enough to satisfy the Israelites if they kept on whining. The Israelites continued to travel and eventually reached Hazeroth. The Israelites left Kibroth-hattaavah and traveled on for a while, staying at Hazeroth.
Numbers 11 brings out the stark contrast between the provision of God and the dissatisfaction of the people. Despite the many things God had done to sustain the Israelites in the wilderness they were grumbling and complaining. They longed for Egypt and the food they used to eat, yet they forgot the misery and hardship they had gone through under the Egyptians.
The chapter serves as a reminder of the pettiness of the people of Israel and highlights the leadership of Moses. Moses makes it known that he cannot carry the Israelites alone and God sends him seventy elders to help him carry the burdens of leadership. Moses was an effective leader because his responsibilities were lightened by the support he received from the seventy elders.
The chapter also highlights the difference between asking for help or support and demanding something specific. Despite God’s provision Israel’s attitude of wanting something different was a sign of their ungrateful and arrogant nature. The Israelites craved novelty and their desires quickly grew tiresome.
After leaving Mount Sinai, Israel was expected to continue their journey under the guidance of God. It was inevitable that the Israelites would soon become dissatisfied with the journey. Numbers 11 shows us that the greatest challenges in life are not always faced in the wilderness, but sometimes in the attitudes and expectations we bring into our lives.