Num 11:33-34 | NETfull | STEP | But while the meat was still between their teeth, before they chewed it, the anger of the Lord burned against the people, and the Lord struck the people with a very great plague.

Numbers 11:33-34

33 But while the meat was still between their teeth, before they chewed it, ^{▼▼ The verb is a prefixed conjugation, normally an imperfect tense. But coming after the adverb טֶּרֶם (terem) it is treated as a preterite.} the anger of the Lord burned against the people, and the Lord struck the people with a very great plague.

34 So the name of that place was called Kibroth Hattaavah, ^{▼▼ The name “the graves of the ones who craved” is again explained by a wordplay, a popular etymology. In Hebrew קִבְרוֹת הַתַּאֲוָה (qivrot hatta’avah) is the technical name. It is the place that the people craved the meat, longing for the meat of Egypt, and basically rebelled against God. The naming marks another station in the wilderness where the people failed to accept God’s good gifts with grace and to pray for their other needs to be met.} because there they buried the people that craved different food. ^{▼▼ The words “different food” are implied, and are supplied in the translation for clarity.}