Num 11:1-3 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Num 11:1-35: 11:1-35 This is one of many occasions in the wilderness when Israel was disobedient to the Lord. 11:1 Soon the people began to complain. ... Then the Lord ’s anger blazed: The link between Israel’s complaints and God’s anger is a major theme of Numbers and throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Deut 9:22 ; Ps 78 ). God is holy and just, and he demands obedience from his people. Complaints are equivalent to rejecting him (cp. Num 11:20 ). • their hardship: Mount Sinai had provided a stable residence for a year; the road to Paran provided heat, thirst, and fatigue. • fire ... destroyed some: Cp. Lev 10:2 .

a11:1-35►

b11:1►

cDeut 9:22►

dPs 78►

eNum 11:20►

fLev 10:2►

g11:2-3►

hExod 15:25►

i32:11-14►

jNum 11:34-35►

kDeut 9:22►

‏ Numbers 11:1-3

Summary for Num 11:1-35: 11:1-35 ^a This is one of many occasions in the wilderness when Israel was disobedient to the Lord. 11:1 ^b Soon the people began to complain. ... Then the Lord’s anger blazed: The link between Israel’s complaints and God’s anger is a major theme of Numbers and throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Deut 9:22 ^c; Ps 78 ^d). God is holy and just, and he demands obedience from his people. Complaints are equivalent to rejecting him (cp. Num 11:20 ^e).

• their hardship: Mount Sinai had provided a stable residence for a year; the road to Paran provided heat, thirst, and fatigue.

• fire ... destroyed some: Cp. Lev 10:2 ^f.
Summary for Num 11:2-3: 11:2-3 ^g The people sought Moses’ intercession again (cp. Exod 15:25 ^h; 32:11-14 ⁱ), which brought an end to the fire of God’s judgment.

• Taberah: Cp. Num 11:34-35 ^j; see Deut 9:22 ^k.