CHAPTER 11 THE GRUMBLING OF THE PEOPLE AND THE MEN OF THE SPIRIT. With the journeying beginning again after the stay at Sinai the previous problems of Exodus 16:1; Exodus 17:1 recommenced. The way was unquestionably difficult. The sun was scorching, the wilderness dry, the desert ‘road' rough and d... [ Continue Reading ]
A SHARP WARNING ABOUT GRUMBLING. THE PEOPLE COMPLAIN AND ARE SMITTEN. MOSES INTERVENES (NUMBERS 11:1). It is interesting that even in so short a passage another chiastic formation is revealed. a They displease Yahweh and the fire of Yahweh burns among them (Numbers 11:1). b The people cry to Mose... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GRUMBLING AGAIN FLARES UP: MURMURING FOR MEAT INSTEAD OF MANNA (NUMBERS 11:4). What follows brings home to us something of the condition of many of the people. They were not on the whole a people of quiet faith, but a people full of doubts and worries, and in no mental condition to face the rig... [ Continue Reading ]
YAHWEH'S RESPONSE TO MOSES: THE APPOINTMENT OF THE SEVENTY ELDERS AND THE PEOPLE WILL HAVE FOOD (NUMBERS 11:16). At Moses' plea Yahweh graciously responded to both his problems, not by killing him, but by providing helpers for him and subsequently meat for the people. God does not desert those who... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ENDUING OF THE SEVENTY ELDERS (NUMBERS 11:24). The purpose of God in providing the seventy elders would seem to be in order to act as an advisory and supporting council to Moses, and to supervise various sections of the people on his behalf, for different levels of authority were already in pla... [ Continue Reading ]
YAHWEH PROVIDES MEAT FROM HEAVEN (NUMBERS 11:31). In accordance with His second promise to Moses Yahweh now sent meat from the skies. A ruach (spirit, wind) from Yahweh brought quails to the camp in huge quantities. So in a play on words the ‘ruach' blessed both the elders and the people. But the p... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER 12 THE JEALOUSY OF AARON AND MIRIAM. In this chapter the position of Moses is firmly established. It can be compared with Numbers 16-17 where the position of Aaron was firmly established. In both cases they had been directly appointed by God, not by man. Possibly Aaron and Miriam had becom... [ Continue Reading ]