Numbers 11 - Introduction

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 definitely not suitable for such a large group of travellers. And in the way of people it was not long before the murmuring and grumbling began. Their eyes were not on Yahweh but on themselves, and as they struggled through the sweltering heat with no real end in sight, they began to feel sorry for themselves, and to think that deliverance was not all that it was cracked up to be.

In the midst of their troubles God brought home a powerful message which contrasted their desire for fleshly gratification with His willingness to provide the Spirit.

The whole of this chapter quite clearly demonstrates the chiastic principle inherent in Moses' writings so remarkably that it can surely not be denied. It is constructed as follows:

a The people murmur against Yahweh (Numbers 11:1 a).

b The anger of Yahweh is kindled and He smites them with judgment (Numbers 11:1)

c The rabble commence lusting and the people crave for the pleasures of Egypt which causes them to sin (Numbers 11:4).

d The people had gathered the manna (Numbers 11:7).

e The manna had fallen from heaven (Numbers 11:9).

f Moses was disturbed at the people and receives a reply (Numbers 11:10).

g The Spirit will come on the seventy elders (Numbers 11:16).

h The people will eat the flesh they craved (when they should have been craving spirit) (Numbers 11:18 a).

i The people's craving for flesh makes them declare, ‘It was well with us in Egypt' (Numbers 11:18).

i They will be satiated with flesh because they said, ‘Why came we forth out of Egypt?' (Numbers 11:19).

h Moses puzzled how Yahweh can provide the flesh they crave, but they will eat it (Numbers 11:21 a).

g The Spirit comes on the seventy elders (Numbers 11:24).

f Joshua was disturbed at the two elders and receives a reply (Numbers 11:27).

e The quails fall from heaven (Numbers 11:31).

d The people gather the quails (Numbers 11:32 a).

c The people's craving for the quails causes them to sin (Numbers 11:32 b).

b Yahweh's anger is kindled and the plague comes from Yahweh so that the people are smitten (Numbers 11:33).

a The malcontents and lusters are buried in the Graves of craving (Numbers 11:34).

The chapter commences with a short, sharp warning, which is not heeded.

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 become jealous because of the Spirit coming on the seventy elders as they stood with Moses. Aaron was ‘the Priest' and Miriam a prophetess (Exodus 15:20). Perhaps they felt, unreasonably, that Moses was supplanting them and raising up others with spiritual insight. Whatever the cause they began to mutter against Moses.

Because they dared not attack him openly they attacked his wife. She was a Cushite woman and not a true-born Israelite. This then enabled them to get at Moses himself. ‘Why should he think he was different from them?' they asked. Did Yahweh only speak with Moses? Did He not also speak with Aaron and Miriam? How dangerous it is when we become proud of what God has given us, or the position in which He has placed us. But Yahweh immediately stepped in to make clear Moses' unique position and in the end the two had to plead with Moses to intercede for them.

The construction of the passage is clear.

a They journey from Kibroth-hattaavah to Hazeroth (Numbers 11:35).

b Miriam, with Aaron, turns against Moses (Miriam named first) (Numbers 12:1).

c Moses is the meekest man on earth (Numbers 12:3).

d Yahweh speaks to Moses, Aaron and Miriam and calls them into His presence (Numbers 12:4).

e The cloud comes down to the door of the Dwellingplace (Numbers 12:5).

f Yahweh's definition of a prophet (Numbers 12:6).

f Yahweh's declaration about Moses (Numbers 12:7).

e The cloud departs from the Dwellingplace leaving Miriam leprous (Numbers 12:9).

d Aaron pleads with Moses to go into Yahweh's presence on their behalf (Numbers 12:11).

c Miriam is as one whose father spits in their face (Numbers 12:14).

b Miriam is cast out of the camp for seven days (Numbers 12:15).

a They journey from Hazeroth to the wilderness of Paran (Numbers 12:16).