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. Ver. 1. _And when the people complained._] Or, Were as it were complainers: they... [ Continue Reading ]
And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched. Ver. 2. _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... [ Continue Reading ]
And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them. Ver. 3. _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._... [ Continue Reading ]
_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?_ Ver. 4. _And the mixed multitude._] _See Trapp on "_ Exo 12:38 _"_ Observe the danger of ill company. Fish retain their sweetness in the salt sea. The... [ Continue Reading ]
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: Ver. 5. _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... [ Continue Reading ]
But now our soul [is] dried away: [there is] nothing at all, beside this manna, [before] our eyes. Ver. 6. _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 li... [ Continue Reading ]
And the manna [was] as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium. Ver. 7. _And the manna._] _See Trapp on "_ Exo 16:14 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Exo 16:31 _"_ There was therefore no such cause they should so loathe it. _ Was as coriander seed._] Small, but full of sweetness and n... [ Continue Reading ]
Numbers 11:8 [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. Ver. 8. _And the people went about._] Or, "Went to and fro," as men ought still to "incre... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it. Ver. 9. _And when the dew fell._] As manna fell in the dew, so doth the Spirit descend in and by the word preached. Gal 3:2 _ In the night._] Figuring that hidden manna, laid up and prepared for the saints. Rev 2:17... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased. Ver. 10. _Weep throughout their families._] Generally and openly they rebelled and murmured, though so lately they had smarted at... [ Continue Reading ]
And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? Ver. 11. _Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant._] Antoninus the Emperor said often, _Imperium oceanum esse maloru... [ Continue Reading ]
Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers? Ver. 12. _As a nursing father beareth, &c._] Lovingly, mildly, gently. A magistrate s... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat._ Ver. 13. _Whence should I have flesh._] Lust is unsatisfiable; to go about it, is to go about an endless piece of work; it is to cast oil into the fire to quench it.... [ Continue Reading ]
I am not able to bear all this people alone, because [it is] too heavy for me. Ver. 14. _It is too heavy for me._] Crowns have their cares; high seats are uneasy, many a cumber attends honour. _Beatus ille qui procul negotiis._ _a_ a Horat.... [ Continue Reading ]
And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness. Ver. 15. _And if thou deal thus with me._] Here the word Thou, spoken to God, is of the feminine gender. At, for _Atta, - ex magna perturbatione,_ saith a Rabbi... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. Ver. 16. _Gather unto me seventy men._] Here, say... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which [is] upon thee, and will put [it] upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear [it] not thyself alone. Ver. 17. _And I will take of the spirit,_] _i.e., _ I will bestow the same s... [ Continue Reading ]
And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for [it was] well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat. Ver. 18. _Sanctify yourselves.... [ Continue Reading ]
__ Numbers 11:20 _[But] even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which [is] among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?_ Ver. 20. _But even a whole month._] _Deus saepe dat iratus q... [ Continue Reading ]
And Moses said, The people, among whom I [am], [are] six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month. Ver. 21. _Six hundred thousand footmen._] In the conquest of Canaan, there is no mention of horsemen. The adversaries, both Egyptians and C... [ Continue Reading ]
Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them? Ver. 22. _Or shall all the fish of the sea._] Moses forgat, belike, the fowls of the air, but God sent them such a drift of quails, as Moses dreamed no... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD'S hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not. Ver. 23. _And the Lord said unto Moses._] God bears with Moses here; which afterwards he did not, Num 20:12 because then he showed his distrust before the people. Go... [ Continue Reading ]
And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the LORD, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle. Ver. 24. _And set them roundabout the tabernacle._] That the fear of the Lord might be upon them, &c., 2Ch 19:6-7 and that they might car... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that [was] upon him, and gave [it] unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, [that], when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease. Ver. 25. _Took of the spirit._] _See Trapp on "_ Num 11:17 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
But there remained two [of the] men in the camp, the name of the one [was] Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they [were] of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp. Ver. 26. _But there remained two of t... [ Continue Reading ]
And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. Ver. 27. _And there ran a young man._] Three manner of persons, said Mr Latimer, can make no credible information: (1.) Adversaries and enemies; (2.) Ignorant persons and without judgment; (3.) Whisperers... [ Continue Reading ]
And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, [one] of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. Ver. 28. _My lord Moses, forbid._] Thus, "the spirit that is in us lusteth to envy." Jam 4:5 _Nero omnium erat aemulus, qui quoquo mode animum vulgi moverint,_ Nero envied every m... [ Continue Reading ]
And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, [and] that the LORD would put his spirit upon them! Ver. 29. That all the Lord's people.] This is not meant of a sacrifically teaching others, but a political discoursing unto others. _See Trapp o... [ Continue Reading ]
And the people stood up all that day, and all [that] night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread [them] all abroad for themselves round about the camp. Ver. 32. _And they spread them._] They fed without fear, Jdg 1:12 though... [ Continue Reading ]
And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted. Ver. 34. _They buried the people._] Who, by a hasty testament, bequeathed this new name to the place they lay buried in.... [ Continue Reading ]