성경 주석서

And [when] the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard [it]; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed [them that were] in the uttermost parts of the camp.

And when the people complained. — Or, Were as it were complainers: they did inwardly and secretly repine and mutter at their three days’ march, without intermission; like those horses that digest their choler by biting their bridle.

Consumed them that were in the uttermost parts. — There, it seems, the sin began amongst those that were faint and weary with travel, as Deuteronomy 25:18 .

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And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched.

And the people cried to Moses. — That lord chancellor of heaven, as one calleth him, that could rule with God, and overrule. Of Moses it might be said, as once of Luther, Iste vir potuit apud Deum quod voluit, He might have whatsoever he would of God.

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And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.

The name of the place Taberah. — So to perpetuate the memory of the people’s sin, and God’s judgment. Alterius perditio, tua sit cautio.

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And the mixt multitude that [was] among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?

And the mixed multitude. — See Trapp on " Exodus 12:38 " Observe the danger of ill company. Fish retain their sweetness in the salt sea. The river Dee in Merionethshire, running through Pimblemere, remains entire, and mingles not her streams with the waters of the lake. The rivers of Peru, after they have run some miles into the sea, retain their sweetness, as writers report. But to converse with the ungodly, and not to learn their manners, is marvellously rare and difficult. A man may pass through Ethiopia unchanged; but he cannot dwell there and not be discoloured.

The children of Israel wept again. — And were punished again. Herein they were like froward children, that, while crying for an apple that is in the father’s hand, will fling away the cake that is in their own; and so get a whipping rather than a pippin, as we say; a lashing rather than their longing.

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We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:

We remember the fish. — They forgat their servitude. Discontent is ever harping upon wants, and enjoys nothing: no more than Haman did his honour, or Ahab his kingdom, when he longed for a salad out of Naboth’s garden.

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But now our soul [is] dried away: [there is] nothing at all, beside this manna, [before] our eyes.

There is nothing at all besides. — The wheat of heaven was held a light meat, because lightly come by; Cito parta vilescunt. How are many queasy stomachs even nauseated with the bread of life! it makes not to their dainty palates; plain preaching is disrelished.

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And the manna [was] as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium.

And the manna. — See Trapp on " Exodus 16:14 " See Trapp on " Exodus 16:31 " There was therefore no such cause they should so loathe it.

Was as coriander seed. — Small, but full of sweetness and nourishment. This might be some cause of Moses’ undecayedness. Deuteronomy 34:7

As the colour of bdellium. — A kind of transparent and precious gum.

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[And] the people went about, and gathered [it], and ground [it] in mills, or beat [it] in a mortar, and baked [it] in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.

And the people went about. — Or, "Went to and fro," as men ought still to "increase knowledge," Daniel 12:4 "labouring for the meat that endureth to eternal life." John 6:27 God might have saved them this labour, by raining manna into their mouths; but he would not, for the trial of their diligence; and that they might not think that worth nothing, that cost them nothing.

And ground it in mills. — So was Jesus Christ ground and pounded with passion, baked and dried up in the oven of his Father’s displeasure, before he became fit food, and a Saviour to his Church.

As the taste of fresh oil. — Or, Wafers baked with honey. Exodus 16:31 The sweet promises of grace are sweeter than honey. Psalms 19:10 No fresh and sweet oil can so cherish the face, as they do the heart of a believer.

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