Numbers 11

Numbers 11:1 The people complained in the hearing of Yahveh about their misfortunes, and when Yahveh heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of Yahveh burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp.

Numbers 11:2 Then the people cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to Yahveh, and the fire died down.

Numbers 11:3 So the name of that place was called Taberah,[1] because the fire of Yahveh burned among them.

Numbers 11:4 Now the riffraff[2] that was among them had a strong craving. The people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh, that we had meat to eat!”

Numbers 11:5 We remember the free fish we ate in Egypt, as well as the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic.

Numbers 11:6 But now our throat is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this man[3] to look at.”

Numbers 11:7 Now, the man was like coriander seed, and its appearance was like that of bdellium.

Numbers 11:8 The people went about and gathered it, ground it in hand mills or beat it in mortars, boiled it in pots, and made cakes of it. The taste of it was like the taste of cakes baked with oil.

Numbers 11:9 When the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the man fell with it.

Numbers 11:10 Moses heard the people weeping throughout their clans, everyone at the door of his tent. And the anger of Yahveh blazed hotly, and Moses was displeased.

Numbers 11:11 Moses said to Yahveh, “Why have you dealt ill with your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight that you lay the burden of all these people on me?

Numbers 11:12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth, that you should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a nursing child,’ to the land that you swore to give their fathers?

Numbers 11:13 Where am I to get meat to give to all these people? Because they weep in the sight of me and say, ‘Give us meat to eat.’

Numbers 11:14 I am not able to carry all these people alone; the burden is too heavy for me.

Numbers 11:15 If you will treat me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I may not see my misery.”

Numbers 11:16 Then Yahveh said to Moses, “Gather for me seventy men from the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers[4] over them, and bring them to the conference tent, and let them take their stand there with you.

Numbers 11:17 And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take some of the Breath that is on you and put it on them, and they will carry the burden of the people with you so that you may not have it yourself alone.

Numbers 11:18 And say to the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you will eat meat, because you have wept in the hearing of Yahveh, and this is what you said: “Who will give us meat to eat? Because it was better for us in Egypt.” That is why Yahveh will give you meat, and you will eat.

Numbers 11:19 You will not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days,

Numbers 11:20 but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils and becomes repulsive to you, because you have rejected Yahveh who is among you and have wept in the sight of him, and this is what he said, “Why did we come out of Egypt?”‘”

Numbers 11:21 But Moses said, “The people I am among number six hundred thousand on foot, and you have said, ‘I will give them meat to eat a whole month!’

Numbers 11:22 will flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, and be enough for them? Or will all the fish of the sea be collected for them and be enough for them?”

Numbers 11:23 And Yahveh said to Moses, “Is Yahveh’s hand shortened? Now you will see whether my word will come true for you or not.”

Numbers 11:24 So Moses went out and told the people the words of Yahveh. And he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people and positioned them around the tent.

Numbers 11:25 Then Yahveh came down in the cloud and spoke to him and took some of the Breath that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. And as soon as the Breath rested on them, they prophesied. But they did not continue doing it.

Numbers 11:26 Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Breath rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp.

Numbers 11:27 And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”

Numbers 11:28 And Joshua, the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My master Moses, stop them.”

Numbers 11:29 But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all Yahveh’s people were prophets, that Yahveh would put his Breath on them!”

Numbers 11:30 And Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.

Numbers 11:31 Then a wind from Yahveh advanced, and it brought quail from the sea and let them fall beside the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and a day’s journey on the other side, around the camp, and about two cubits above the ground.

Numbers 11:32 And the people went out all that day and all night and all the next day and gathered the quail. Those who gathered least scored ten homers. And they spread them out for themselves all around the camp.

Numbers 11:33 While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was swallowed, the anger of Yahveh was kindled against the people, and Yahveh struck down the people with a very great plague.

Numbers 11:34 Therefore, that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah because there they buried the people who had the craving.

Numbers 11:35 From Kibroth-hattaavah, the people advanced to Hazeroth, and they remained at Hazeroth.

[1] תַּבְעֵרָה = burning.

[2] אֲסַפְסֻף = riffraff.

[3] מָן = man (a type of bread). Numbers 11:6, 7, 9.

[4] שֹׁטֵר = officer.

Numbers 11 quotes:

“Although we have covered countless regulations for lesser sins, here no Purification or Reparation Offering will suffice. It is bad enough to dishonor your parents (Lev. 19:3). It is worse to dishonor your leaders (Num. 12:1). It is worst of all to dishonor your God (again, Num. 15:30). The Lord must act, and God does. Like the fire team that intentionally sets a “fire line” to keep the larger fire from spreading, the Holy Lord steps in with “refining” fire. And “some outlying parts of the camp” are “consumed” (11:1). Given the people’s history, it’s a wonder that God doesn’t do more.”

Boyce Richard Nelson. Leviticus and Numbers. 1st ed. Westminster John Knox Press 2008. p. 145.

“If only those Israelites could have seen that those tough days in the bleak desert were God’s training days, encouraging them to believe that, having delivered them from their Egyptian captors, he would go on to deliver them from their malevolent moods, ungrateful attitudes and churlish dissatisfaction!”

Brown Raymond. The Message of Numbers : Journey to the Promised Land. InterVarsity Press 2002. p. 88.

“Complaints are a reflection upon the one who is responsible. If the almighty God is responsible and people complain, they are casting aspersions upon Him. For this reason, Israel’s complaining distressed Moses.”

Gutzke, Manford George. Plain Talk on Leviticus and Numbers. Zondervan Pub. House., 1981. p. 86.

“11:26-30. We now see a glimpse of Moses’ true character and also a trait necessary for anyone who would be used of the Lord: humility. Apparently two people who had been absent when the seventy received their spiritual endowment from God now also received this same grace and were prophesying in the camp. Evidently the Lord had given them these gifts without informing anyone else. This activity alerted the loyal Joshua, who told Moses to stop them. Moses responded by voicing approval for these two servants, Eldad and Medad. He stated that he wished all the LORD’s people were prophets and would display similar gifts. He reasoned that God’s influence would spread with more prophets such as them.”

Martin, Glen, and Max E. Anders. Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers. Broadman & Holman, 2002. p. 298.

“From the time the Israelites arrived at Sinai (Ex. 19) until the time they depart (Num. 10) we have for the most part been hearing God’s voice in instruction. But with Num. 11, we are again called upon to consider the people, and as usual it is very disappointing. Notice the opening words, “And when the people complained.” What they were complaining about, we are not told, as the cause was probably too insignificant to mention. Under the circumstances one would expect to see them joyous and thankful. A little more than a year before they had been downtrodden slaves. At this time they were a perfectly organized nation, having for their government laws which could not be improved upon ; they were under the protection and leadership of Almighty God, who made and upholds the universe; and they had the Divine assurance that no people could stand before them, and that they were marching toward a glorious land not far distant which was to be their future home. Yet, instead of being filled with thoughts of these things, they are spending their time complaining about some little thing which did not suit their fancy. How is it they enter so little into God’s great thoughts for them? They seem unable to learn except by the most severe chastisement.”

Saxe, Grace. Studies in Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Grace Saxe, 1921. p. 32.

“Fire is a sign of divine activity, either in blessing or in judgment (cf. Lev. 9:24; 10:1). The text does not make clear what was burnt on this occasion, whether it was just shrubs near the tents, or some of the tents themselves. However, the people realized the danger they were in and appealed to Moses to pray for them. As on previous occasions God heeded his intercession (Exod. 15:25; 32:11–14). To commemorate the event the place was called Taberah, ‘burning’.”

Wenham, Gordon J.. Numbers: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries Book 4) (p. 120). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.

Numbers 11 links:

a prayerful walk
craving cemetery
divine overkill
introducing the breath of God
rose colored memories
tested at Taberah
this strange thing

The NUMBERS shelf in Jeff’s library

Numbers 10

Numbers 10:1 Yahveh spoke to Moses, and this is what he said,

Numbers 10:2 “Make two silver trumpets. You will make them of hammered work, and you will use them for convening the congregation and for breaking camp.

Numbers 10:3 And when both are blown, all the congregation will gather themselves to you at the entrance of the conference tent.

Numbers 10:4 But if they blow only one, then the leaders, the heads of the tribes of Israel, should gather themselves to you.

Numbers 10:5 When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the east side will advance.

Numbers 10:6 And when you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are on the south side will advance. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out.

Numbers 10:7 But when the assembly is to be collected, you will blow a long blast, but you will not sound an alarm.

Numbers 10:8 And the sons of Aaron, the priests, will blow the trumpets. The trumpets will be to you for a permanent prescription throughout your generations.

Numbers 10:9 And when you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you will sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered in the sight of Yahveh your God, and you will be saved from your enemies.

Numbers 10:10 On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts and at the beginnings of your months, you will blow the trumpets over your ascending offerings and over the sacrifices of your offering for healthy relationships. They will be a reminder of you in the sight of your God: I am Yahveh your God.”

Numbers 10:11 Then in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, this happened: the cloud lifted from over the tabernacle of the reminder,

Numbers 10:12 and the sons of Israel advanced by stages from the Sinai open country. And the cloud settled down in the wilderness of Paran.

Numbers 10:13 They advanced for the first time at the command of Yahveh by Moses.

Numbers 10:14 The standard of the camp of the people of Judah advanced first by their companies, and over their company was Nachshon the son of Amminadab.

Numbers 10:15 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zuar.

Numbers 10:16 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.

Numbers 10:17 And when the tabernacle was taken down, the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who carried the tabernacle, advanced.

Numbers 10:18 And the standard of the camp of Reuben advanced by their companies, and over their company was Elitsur the son of Shedeur.

Numbers 10:19 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

Numbers 10:20 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Gad was Elyasaph the son of Deuel.

Numbers 10:21 Then the Kohathites advanced, carrying the holy things, and the tabernacle was set up before their arrival.

Numbers 10:22 And the standard of the camp of the people of Ephraim advanced by their companies, and over their company was Elishama the son of Ammihud.

Numbers 10:23 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

Numbers 10:24 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni.

Numbers 10:25 Then the standard of the camp of the people of Dan, acting as the rear guard of all the camps, advanced by their companies, and over their company was Achiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

Numbers 10:26 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ochran.

Numbers 10:27 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Naphtali was Achira the son of Enan.

Numbers 10:28 This was the order of march of the people of Israel by their companies, when they advanced.

Numbers 10:29 And Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are advancing for the place of which Yahveh said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will do good to you, because Yahveh has promised good to Israel.”

Numbers 10:30 But he said to him, “I will not go. I will depart to my own land and to my kindred.”

Numbers 10:31 And he said, “Please do not leave us, because you know where we should camp in the open country, and you will serve as eyes for us.

Numbers 10:32 And if you do go with us, whatever good Yahveh will do to us, the same will we do to you.”

Numbers 10:33 So they advanced from the mount of Yahveh for a three days’ journey. And the ark of the covenant of Yahveh went before them three days’ journey, to seek out a resting place for them.

Numbers 10:34 And the cloud of Yahveh was over them by day, whenever they advanced from the camp.

Numbers 10:35 And whenever the ark advanced, Moses said, “Arise, O Yahveh, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you run away before you.”

Numbers 10:36 And when it rested, he said, “Return, O Yahveh, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel.”

Numbers 10 quotes:

“Every now and then, a hymn is sung the way it’s supposed to be sung, a day is lived the way it’s supposed to be lived, a congregation moves out in service the way it’s supposed to move out in service. This day, for Israel, is just such a day. For once, everything and everyone is in order. For once, no one is arguing about what they should do. Like that great day when God said, “Go,” and Abram went, or when Jesus said, “Come, follow,” and the disciples came and followed, this is a time when God’s creatures do what they are created to do.”

Boyce Richard Nelson. Leviticus and Numbers. 1st ed. Westminster John Knox Press 2008. p. 140.

“Whatever the soldiers’ frame of mind, valiant or diffident, all needed to be assured of the Lord’s promised help; and that blast on the trumpets was to remind them that they were remembered by the LorD … and rescued from their enemies (9). The Lord had given his word that he would be alongside them in every conflict situation, assuring them that they would be rescued from their enemies. With the sound of that cheering trumpet blast, reminding them of the divine promise, they could go out to face the worst of oppressors.”

Brown Raymond. The Message of Numbers : Journey to the Promised Land. InterVarsity Press 2002. pp. 78-79.

“Both the reconciling of people to God by the Lord Jesus Christ and the giving of the Holy Spirit into their hearts to comfort them and to guide them must eventuate in action. We need to pay attention to the message of James that faith without works is dead. We must put our ideas into practice.”

Gutzke, Manford George. Plain Talk on Leviticus and Numbers. Zondervan Pub. House., 1981. p. 82.

“Whenever both trumpets sounded, the entire community would assemble before Moses at the tent of meeting. But if one trumpet sounded, only the leaders would be summoned to appear before Moses. When the tribes were to break camp and move on, the signal was a blast, evidently a different sound than the signal for gathering them together, which required a blow. The latter was probably a longer sound.
Aaron and his sons were to blow the trumpets. The Lord directed them to observe this procedure as a lasting ordinance. He also provided two other uses of the trumpet—a battle cry to arms when attacked by an enemy and a summons to feast days. The first alarm looked forward to the nation residing in the land. Before they drew arms, they would sound the trumpets as a means of asking for God’s help in engaging their enemies. The other use of the trumpet came during the observance of important feast days.”

Martin, Glen, and Max E. Anders. Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers. Broadman & Holman, 2002. p. 295.

“They were straight pipes, a little less than 18 in. (45cm) long with a flared opening at the end. They could be blown in various ways to give different signals. What distinguished blowing and sounding an alarm is uncertain. But if we follow Jewish tradition, long blasts (Hebrew tāqa‘, RSV blow) were used to assemble people to Moses, to the tent of meeting and for worship (3–4, 10).”

Wenham, Gordon J.. Numbers: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries Book 4) (pp. 114-115). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.

Numbers 10 links:

a confident walk
passing on the blessing
ready to go
trademark trumpets

The NUMBERS shelf in Jeff’s library

Numbers 8

Numbers 8:1 Now Yahveh spoke to Moses, and this is what he said,

Numbers 8:2 “Speak to Aaron and say to him, When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps will give light in front of the lampstand.”

Numbers 8:3 And Aaron did so: he set up its lamps in front of the lampstand, as Yahveh commanded Moses.

Numbers 8:4 And this was the workmanship of the lampstand, hammered work of gold. From its base to its flowers, it was hammered work according to the pattern that Yahveh had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.

Numbers 8:5 And Yahveh spoke to Moses, and this is what he said

Numbers 8:6 “Take the Levites from among the people of Israel and purify them.

Numbers 8:7 Thus you will do to them to purify them: spritz the water of purification upon them and let them go with a razor over all their body and wash their clothes and cleanse themselves.

Numbers 8:8 Then let them take a bull from the herd and its tribute offering of fine flour mixed with oil, and you will take another bull from the herd for a failure offering.

Numbers 8:9 And you will bring the Levites in the sight of the conference tent and collect the whole congregation of the people of Israel.

Numbers 8:10 When you bring the Levites in the sight of Yahveh, the people of Israel will lay their hands on the Levites,

Numbers 8:11—Aaron will offer the Levites in the sight of Yahveh as a presentation offering from the people of Israel so that they may serve Yahveh.

Numbers 8:12 Then the Levites will lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and you will offer the one for a failure offering and the other for an ascending offering to Yahveh to provide reconciliation for the Levites.

Numbers 8:13 You will set the Levites at the face of Aaron and his sons and offer them as a presentation offering to Yahveh.

Numbers 8:14 “Thus you will separate the Levites from among the people of Israel, and the Levites will be mine.

Numbers 8:15 And after that, the Levites will go in to serve at the conference tent, when you have purified them and offered them as a presentation offering.

Numbers 8:16 Because they are wholly given to me from among the people of Israel. Instead of all who open the uterus, the firstborn of all the people of Israel, I have taken them for myself.

Numbers 8:17 Because all the firstborn among the people of Israel are mine, both of human and of animal. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated them for myself,

Numbers 8:18 and I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel.

Numbers 8:19 And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the people of Israel, to do the service for the people of Israel at the conference tent and to provide reconciliation for the people of Israel, that there may be no plague among the people of Israel when the people of Israel come near the sanctuary.”

Numbers 8:20 This is what Moses, Aaron, and all the congregation of the people of Israel did to the Levites. According to all that Yahveh commanded Moses concerning the Levites, the people of Israel did to them.

Numbers 8:21 And the Levites purified themselves from any failure. They washed their clothes, and Aaron offered them as a presentation offering in the sight of Yahveh, and Aaron made atonement for them to purify them.

Numbers 8:22 And after that, the Levites went in to do their service in the conference tent in the sight of Aaron and his sons; as Yahveh had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did to them.

Numbers 8:23 And Yahveh spoke to Moses, and this is what he said

Numbers 8:24 “This applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they will come to do duty in the service of the conference tent.

Numbers 8:25 And from the age of fifty years, they will withdraw from the duty of the service and serve no more.

Numbers 8:26 They minister to their brothers in the conference tent by keeping guard, but they will do no service. This is what you will do to the Levites in assigning their duties.”

Numbers 8 quotes:

“The only sanctuary furnishing given special attention at this time is the preparation of the lampstand for service. More particularly, Aaron is reminded of the positioning of the lamps in connection with the lampstand, so as to provide light in front of the stand (v. 2). What is in front of the lampstand? The things of God: ark, table, and bread of presence. What is behind the stand? The worshiper, who has come iy Searen of Cod’ presence.

Before setting out; the péople are in effect reminded: “As much as you might like a light to illumine the path ahead, or the faces of your fellow travelers beside you, if you light one light, shine it on these things. It is the vision of these things that will keep you moving forward even when the way is not clear.””

Boyce Richard Nelson. Leviticus and Numbers. 1st ed. Westminster John Knox Press 2008. p. 129.

“The Levites were offered to God by the people. The whole Israelite community (9) were to lay their hands on them (10). Publicly, in front of the Tent of Meeting (9), they were set … apart (14) by the laying on of hands, and so designated to serve as substitutes on behalf of the other tribes. Whenever they functioned as associates and partners with the priesthood, they were doing their work in the place of others.
They were a permanent visual aid, a daily reminder to God’s people of their unique redemption, having been given in place of the firstborn (16). Whenever they were seen about the camp, their fellow pilgrims recalled the great event of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt (17) when Egypt’s firstborn were all slain and God’s people alone were redeemed.”

Brown Raymond. The Message of Numbers : Journey to the Promised Land. InterVarsity Press 2002. p. 68.

“Once the Levites were ordained for their service, they could enter into their duties. They stood in close relation to the Lord by calling, and hence the Lord himself was their inheritance. The Lord required the entire firstborn of all the Israelites and accepted this tribe in their stead (see Exod. 13:2,12; Num. 3:12-13). Any violation of this decree would result in a judgment of plague.”

Martin, Glen, and Max E. Anders. Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers. Broadman & Holman, 2002. p. 285.

“Light and fire represent the life-giving presence and blessing of God (e.g. Exod. 13:21–22). Thus Aaron had to arrange the lamps so that their light always illuminated the shewbread. This arrangement portrayed visually God’s intention that his people should live continually in his presence and enjoy the blessing mediated by his priests.”

Wenham, Gordon J.. Numbers: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries Book 4) (p. 107). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.

Numbers 8 links:

a walk in service to the LORD
cleansing before service
proper focus
serving while we can

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