Num 11 | TSK | STEP | The burning at Taberah quenched by Moses' prayer. The people lust for flesh, and loathe manna. Moses complains of his charge. God promises to divide his burden unto seventy elders, and to give the people flesh for a month. Moses' faith is staggered. Quails are given in wrath at Kibroth-hattaavah. And when. complained. or, were as it were complainers. it displeasedthe Lord. Heb. it was evil in the ears of the Lord. and the fire. the uttermost.

the cucumbers.In Hebrew, {kishshuim,} in Arabic, {kiththa,} Chaldee, {keta,} and Syriac, {kati,} a species of cucumber peculiar to Egypt, smooth, of a longish cylindrical shape, and about a foot long. Prosper Alpinus says that it differs from the common sort by its size, colour, and softness; that its leaves are smaller, whiter, softer, and rounder; its fruit larger, greener, smoother, softer, sweeter, and more easy of digestion than ours. Hasselquist describes it in the same manner; and adds, that it is very little watery, but firm like a melon, sweet and cool to the taste, but not so cold as the watermelon, which is meant by the {avutichim} of the text.

21:5; 2Sa 13:4

the manna.

Ex 16:14,15,31; 1Co 1:23,24; Re 2:17

colour thereof as the colour of. Heb. eye of it as the eyeof. bdellium.

Ge 2:12

the people.

Ex 16:16-18; Joh 6:27,33-58

baked it.

Ex 16:23

taste of it.

Ex 16:31

Ex 16:13,14; De 32:2; Ps 78:23-25; 105:40

weep throughout.

14:1,2; 16:27; 21:5; Ps 106:25

the anger.

1; De 32:22; Ps 78:21,59; Isa 5:25; Jer 17:4

Moses.

12:3; 20:10-13; Ps 106:32,33; 139:21; Mr 3:5; 10:14

Wherefore hast thou.The complaint and remonstrance of Moses in these verses serve at once to shew the deeply distressed state of his mind, and the degradation of the minds of the people.

15; Ex 17:4; De 1:12; Jer 15:10,18; 20:7-9,14-18; Mal 3:14

2Co 11:28

wherefore have.

Job 10:2; Ps 130:3; 143:2; La 3:22,23,39,40

Carry them.

Isa 40:11; Eze 34:23; Joh 10:11

as a nursing.

Isa 49:15,23; Ga 4:19; 1Th 2:7

the land.

Ge 13:15; 22:16,17; 26:3; 50:24; Ex 13:5

Mt 15:33; Mr 8:4; 9:23

Ex 18:18; De 1:9-12; Ps 89:19; Isa 9:6; Zec 6:13; 2Co 2:16

kill me.

1Ki 19:4; Job 3:20-22; 6:8-10; 7:15; Jon 4:3,8,9; Php 1:20-24

Jas 1:4

let me not.

Jer 15:18; 20:18; Zep 3:15

my wretchedness.Two of Dr. Kennicott's manuscripts read, "their wretchedness." The Jerusalem Targum has the same, and adds, by way of explanation, "who are thine own people."

seventy.

Ge 46:27; Ex 4:29; 24:1,9; Eze 8:11; Lu 10:1,17

officers.

De 1:15; 16:18; 31:28

I will come.

25; 12:5; Ge 11:5; 18:21; Ex 19:11,20; 34:5; Joh 3:13

talk with.

12:8; Ge 17:3,22; 18:20-22,33

I will take.

27:18; 1Sa 10:6; 2Ki 2:9,15; Ne 9:20; Isa 44:3; 59:20,21

Joe 2:28; Joh 7:39; Ro 8:9; 1Co 2:12; 12:4-11; 1Th 4:8; 1Pe 1:22

Jude 1:19

they shall.

Ex 18:22; Ac 6:3,4

Sanctify.

Ge 35:2; Ex 19:10,15; Jos 7:13

ye have wept.

1,4-6; Ex 16:3-7; Jud 21:2

it was well.

4,5; 14:2,3; Ac 7:39 About a year before this, the people had been thus feasted for one day (Ex 16:13); but now such plenty was to be afforded them for a whole month, and they should use it so greedily, that at last they should entirely loathe the food for which they had so inordinately craved.

whole month. Heb. month of days.

Ex 16:8,13

and it.

21:5; Ps 78:27-30; 106:15; Pr 27:7

despised.

1Sa 2:30; 2Sa 12:10; Mal 1:6; Ac 13:41; 1Th 4:8

1:46; 2:32; Ge 12:2; Ex 12:37; 38:26 There is certainly a considerable measure of weakness and unbelief manifested in these complaints and questions of Moses; but his conduct appears at the same time so very simple, honest, and affectionate, that we cannot but admire it, while we wonder that he had not stronger confidence in that God, whose stupendous miracles he had so often witnessed in Egypt.

2Ki 7:2; Mt 15:33; Mr 6:37; 8:4; Lu 1:18,34; Joh 6:6,7,9

Is the Lord's.That is, "Is the power of the Lord diminished?" That power which has been so signally displayed on your behalf, and which is as unchangeable as it is unlimited.

Ge 18:14; Ps 78:41; Isa 50:2; 59:1; Mic 2:7; Mt 19:26; Lu 1:37

thou shalt.

23:19; 2Ki 7:2,17-19; Jer 44:28,29; Eze 12:25; 24:14; Mt 24:35

gathered.

16,26

came down.

17; 12:5; Ex 34:5; 40:38; Ps 99:7; Lu 9:34,35

took.

17; 2Ki 2:15; Jas 1:17

gave it.From this place, Origen and Theodoret take occasion to compare Moses to a lamp, at which seventy others were lighted, without any diminution of its lustre.

they prophesied.By prophesying here we are to understand, their performing those civil and sacred functions for which they were qualified; exhorting the people to quiet and peaceable submission, and to trust and confidence in the providence of God.

1Sa 10:5,6,10; 19:20-24; Jer 36:5,6; Joe 2:28,29; Ac 2:17,18

Ac 11:28; 21:9-11; 1Co 11:4,5; 14:1-3,32; 2Pe 1:21

went not out.

Ex 3:11; 4:13,14; 1Sa 10:22; 20:26; Jer 1:6; 36:5

Joshua.

Ex 17:9

My Lord.

Mr 9:38,39; Lu 9:49,50; Joh 3:26

Enviest.

1Co 3:3,21; 13:4; Php 2:3; Jas 3:14,15; 4:5; 5:9; 1Pe 2:1

would.

Ac 26:29; 1Co 14:5; Php 1:15-18

that the.

Mt 9:37,38; Lu 10:2

a wind.

Ex 10:13,19; 15:10; Ps 135:7

and brought.

Ex 16:13; Ps 78:26-29; 105:40

quails.That the word {selav} means the quail, we have already had occasion to observe; to which we subjoin the authority of Mr. Maundrell, who visited Naplosa, (the ancient Sichem,) where the Samaritans live. Mr. Maundrell asked their chief priest what sort of animal he took the {selav} to be. He answered, they were a sort of fowls; and, by the description Mr. Maundrell perceived he meant the same kind with our quails.

a day's journey. Heb. the way of a day. and as it were twocubits. That is, as the Vulgate renders, {Volabantque in aëre duobus cubitis altitudine super terram,} "and they flew in the air, at the height of two cubits above the ground."

homers.

Ex 16:36; Eze 45:11

And while.

Ps 78:30,31; 106:14,15

smote.

16:49; 25:9; De 28:27

Kibroth-hattaavah. that is, the graves of lust.

33:16; De 9:22; 1Co 10:6

journeyed.

33:17

unto Hazeroth.

12:16; De 1:1

abode at. Heb they were in, etc.