Commentari biblici

The murmuring of the people, for which the fire breaketh in upon them, Numbers 11:1. Moses prayeth to God; the fire is quenched, Numbers 11:2. The name of the place, and why called, Numbers 11:3. The people murmur again, and lust after flesh, Numbers 11:4-6. Manna described, Numbers 11:7-9. Moses’s complaint and prayer, Numbers 11:10-15. God commandeth him to gather seventy of the elders of Israel to help him, Numbers 11:16,17; promising them flesh to eat, Numbers 11:18-20. Moses’ unbelief, Numbers 11:21,22. God is angry with him, Numbers 11:23. Moses having gathered seventy of the elders of Israel together, rehearseth the words of the Lord to them, Numbers 11:24. God coming down in a cloud, taketh of Moses’s spirit and giveth to the seventy; the effects thereof, Numbers 11:25. Eldad and Medad prophesy in the camp, Numbers 11:26-29. God giveth them quails to eat, Numbers 11:30-32; and smiteth the people with a very great plague, Numbers 11:33,34.

Complained, or, murmured; the occasion whereof seems to be their last three days’ journey in a vast howling wilderness, without any benefit; and thereupon the remembrance of their long abode in the wilderness, and the prospect and fear of many other tedious, and fruitless, and dangerous journeys, whereby they were like to be long delayed from coming to that rest, that land of milk and honey, which God had promised them, and which they thirsted after.

The fire of the Lord, i.e. a fire sent from God in an extraordinary manner, possibly from the pillar of cloud and fire, or from heaven, as 2 Kings 1:12.

In the uttermost parts of the camp; either because the sin began there among the mixt multitude, who probably had their place there; or amongst those who were feeble and weary with their last journey, and therefore hindmost in the march; or in mercy to the people, whom he would rather awaken to repentance than utterly destroy, and therefore he sent it into the skirts, and not the heart and midst of the camp.

The people, the murmurers being penitent, or others for fear.

Unto Moses, whom they knew to be very prevalent with God.

Tabera, from this fire; as it was called Kibroth-hattaa-vah from another occasion, Numbers 11:34,35 33:16; as it is no new thing in Scripture for persons and places to have two names. Both these names were imposed as monuments of the people’s sin, and of God’s just judgment. See Deu 9:7,22,24.

The mixt multitude, consisting of Egyptians or other people, which being affected with God’s miraculous works in Egypt, and thereupon believing the promise of God to carry them to a land of milk and honey, for their own advantage joined themselves to the Israelites, Exodus 12:38, an now, finding themselves sadly disappointed, they discover their evil minds.

The children of Israel, whose special relation and obligation to God should have restrained them from such carriages.

Wept again: this word relates either to their former murmuring upon this occasion a twelvemonth before, Exodus 16:2, or rather to their complaining mentioned Numbers 11:1, to note the aggravation of their sin, that having just now sinned in the same kind, and sorely smarted for their sin, and being but newly delivered from their fears and dangers caused thereby, they forthwith return to their vomit and murmur again, and that more passionately than before, expressing themselves in tears and bitter words.

Flesh: this word is here taken generally, so as to include fish, as the next words show, and as it is used 1 Corinthians 15:39. They had indeed flesh and cattle which they brought with them out of Egypt, but these were reserved for breed to be carried into Canaan, and were so few that they would scarce have served them for a month, as may be gathered from Numbers 11:20-22.

Freely; either without price, for fish was very plentiful, and fishing was there free; or with a very small price; for nothing is sometimes put for a little, as John 18:20 Acts 27:33; and none for few, as Jeremiah 8:6 1 Corinthians 2:8. And this is the more probable, because the Egyptians might not taste of fish, nor of the leeks and onions, which they worshipped for gods, and therefore the Israelites, who speak these words, might have them there upon cheaper terms.

Our soul; either,

1. Our life, as the soul signifies, Genesis 9:5 Psalm 33:19 Job 36:14; or,

2. Our body, which is oft signified by the soul, as Psalm 16:10 Psalm 35:12 105:18. So Leviticus 19:28 21:1 Numbers 5:2.

Is dried away; is withered, and pines away; which possibly might be true through envy and discontent, and inordinate appetite, as 2 Samuel 13:4 Proverbs 14:30.

Before our eyes;

Heb. our eyes see or look to nothing but this manna. They speak as if the manna were only useful to please their eyes with its fine colour and shape, but not to satisfy their appetites, or sustain their natures.

As coriander seed; not for colour, for that is black, but for shape and figure.

Bdellium is either,

1. The gum of a tree, of a white and bright colour; or rather,

2. A gem or precious stone, as the Hebrew doctors take it; and particularly a pearl, as some render it, wherewith the manna doth manifestly agree both in its colour, which is white, Exodus 16:14, and in its figure, which is round. See more on Genesis 2:12.

Or, of the most excellent oil; or, of the flour of oil; or, as others, of cakes or paste made with the best oil, the word cakes being easily supplied out of the foregoing member of the verse; or, which is not much differing, like wafers made with honey, as it is said Exodus 16:31. The nature and use of manna is here thus particularly described to show the greatness of their sin in despising such excellent food as this was.