Num 11:4-9 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Num 11:4-15: 11:4-15 Israel had not relinquished the attitude that brought about the judgment at Taberah (11:1-3 ), so they readily joined the foreign rabble in craving the delicacies of Egypt, forgetting the misery of slavery there. Summary for Num 11:4-6: 11:4-6 Oh, for some meat! The Israelites had flocks and herds (e.g., 32:1 ; Exod 12:32 , 38 ; 17:3 ; 34:3 ), but the animals were more valuable for their dairy products and other benefits produced while alive and were only butchered for meat on a selective basis. The Hebrews would not have had enough meat to feed such a large population regularly (cp. Num 11:21-22 ).

a11:4-15►

b11:1-3►

c11:4-6►

d32:1►

eExod 12:32►

f38►

g17:3►

h34:3►

iNum 11:21-22►

j11:6►

kExod 16►

l11:7-9►

mDeut 8:3►

‏ Numbers 11:4-9

Summary for Num 11:4-15: 11:4-15 ^a Israel had not relinquished the attitude that brought about the judgment at Taberah (11:1-3 ^b), so they readily joined the foreign rabble in craving the delicacies of Egypt, forgetting the misery of slavery there.
Summary for Num 11:4-6: 11:4-6 ^c Oh, for some meat! The Israelites had flocks and herds (e.g., 32:1 ^d; Exod 12:32 ^e, 38 ^f; 17:3 ^g; 34:3 ^h), but the animals were more valuable for their dairy products and other benefits produced while alive and were only butchered for meat on a selective basis. The Hebrews would not have had enough meat to feed such a large population regularly (cp. Num 11:21-22 ⁱ).
11:6 ^j The Lord had earlier provided manna and quail (Exod 16 ^k).
Summary for Num 11:7-9: 11:7-9 ^l The manna has often been explained as one of various edible substances that occur naturally (but see Deut 8:3 ^m); even so, its quantity and duration were miraculous.