Numbers 11:1-10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 11:9

And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night ,.... As it usually, and even constantly did: the manna fell upon it ; as constantly, and had thereby a clean place to fall on; and then another dew fell upon that, which kept it the cleaner still, and from any vermin creeping upon it; see Exodus 16:14 ; so careful was the Lord of this their provision, and so constantly every morning were they supplied with it: and which fell in the night when they were asleep, and at rest, and without... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 11:10

Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families ,.... So general was their lusting after flesh, and their discontent for want of it; and so great their distress and uneasiness about it, that they wept and cried for it, and so loud and clamorous, that Moses heard the noise and outcry they made: every man in the door of his tent : openly and publicly, were not ashamed of their evil and unbecoming behaviour, and in order to excite and encourage the like temper and disposition in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 11:1

And when the people complained - What the cause of this complaining was, we know not. The conjecture of St. Jerome is probable; they complained because of the length of the way. But surely no people had ever less cause for murmuring; they had God among them, and miracles of goodness were continually wrought in their behalf. It displeased the Lord - For his extraordinary kindness was lost on such an ungrateful and rebellious people. And his anger was kindled - Divine justice was... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 11:2

The fire was quenched - Was sunk, or swallowed up, as in the margin. The plague, of whatever sort, ceased to act, and the people had respite. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 11:4

The mixed multitude - האספסף hasaphsuph , the collected or gathered people. Such as came out of Egypt with the Israelites; and are mentioned Exodus 12:38 . This mongrel people, who had comparatively little of the knowledge of God, feeling the difficulties and fatigues of the journey, were the first to complain; and then we find the children of Israel joined them in their complainings, and made a common cause with these demi-infidels. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 11:5

We remember, etc. - The choice aliments which those murmurers complained of having lost by their leaving Egypt, were the following: fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. A European may smile at such delicacies; but delicacies they were in that country. Their fish is excellent; their cucumbers and water melons highly salubrious and refreshing; and their onions, garlic, etc., exquisitely flavoured, differing as much from vegetables of the same species in these northern climes as... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 11:7

The manna was as coriander seed - Probably this short description is added to show the iniquity of the people in murmuring, while they had so adequate a provision. But the baseness of their minds appears in every part of their conduct. About the bdellium of the ancients the learned are not agreed; and I shall not trouble the reader with conjectures. See the note on Genesis 2:12 . Concerning the manna, see the notes on Exodus 16 (note). Numbers 11:11-15 . The complaint and remonstrance... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 11:1

Verse 1 1.And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord. (11) The ambiguous signification of the participle (12) causes the translators to twist this passage into a variety of meanings. Since the Hebrew root און,aven, is sometimes trouble and labor, sometimes fatigue, sometimes iniquity, sometimes falsehood, some translate it, “The people were, as it were, complaining or murmuring.” Others (though this seems to be more beside the mark) insert the adverb unjustly; as if Moses said, that... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 11:4

Verse 4 4.And the mixed multitude that was among them. A new murmuring of the people is here recorded: for we gather from many circumstances that this relation is different from that which precedes: although, as evil begets evil, it is probable that after they had begun to be affected by the disease of impatience, they spitefully invented grounds for increased tedium and annoyance. Yet there was something monstrous in this madness, that, when they had just been so severely chastised, and part... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 11:5

Verse 5 5.We remember the fish which we did eat in Egypt. By this comparison with the former mode of living, they depreciate the present grace of God: and yet they enumerate no delicacies, when they speak of leeks, and onions, and garlic. Some, therefore, thus explain it, When such great abundance and variety was commonly to be met with, how painful and grievous must it be to us to be deprived of greater delicacies! My own opinion is, that these lowly people, who had been used to live on humble... read more

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