Numbers 11:4-15 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 11:4-15

These verses represent things sadly unhinged and out of order in Israel, both the people and the prince uneasy. I. Here is the people fretting, and speaking against God himself (as it is interpreted, Ps. 78:19), notwithstanding his glorious appearances both to them and for them. Observe, 1. Who were the criminals. (1.) The mixed multitude began, they fell a lusting, Num. 11:4. The rabble that came with them out of Egypt, expecting only the land of promise, but not a state of probation in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 11:4

And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting ,.... These came out of Egypt with them, Exodus 12:38 ; having either contracted affinity with them, or such intimacy of conversation, that they could not part, or being proselyted to the Jewish religion, at least in pretence; these were not only Egyptians, but a mixture of divers people, who having heard or seen the wonderful things done for Israel, joined them in hopes of sharing the blessings of divine goodness with them; so... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 11:5

We remember the fish which we did eat in Egypt freely ,.... Fish was food the Egyptians much lived upon; for though Herodotus says the priests might not taste of fish, the common people ate much; yea, he himself says that some lived upon nothing else but fish gutted and dried in the sun; and he observes, that the kings of Egypt had a great revenue from hence F23 Euterpe, sive, l. 2. c. 37,92,149. ; the river Nile, as Diodorus Siculus F24 Bibliothec. l. 1. p. 32. says, abounded... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 11:6

But now our soul is dried away ,.... Meaning their bodies, which, for want of flesh food, they pretended had no moisture in them, or they were half starved, and in wasting and consuming circumstances: there is nothing at all besides this manna before our eyes ; which in itself was a truth and matter of fact; they had nothing to look to, and live upon but the manna, and that was enough, and with which, no doubt, many of them were contented, and satisfied and thankful for it, though... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 11:7

And the manna was as coriander seed ,.... Not in colour, for that is black or darkish, whereas the manna was white, as is generally observed; of which See Gill on Exodus 16:31 ; however it might be like the coriander, because of its form and figure, being round, and because of its quantity, being small, Exodus 16:14 ; Some think the mustard seed is meant, as Aben Ezra observes, which is the least of all seeds; it seems that the manna fell in small round grains, like to such seed. This,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 11:8

And the people went about and gathered it ,.... Went about the camp on all sides, where it fell in plenty; this they did every morning, and this was all the trouble they were at; they had it for gathering, without any expense to them: and ground it in mills : in hand mills, as Aben Ezra; for though it melted through the heat of the sun, and became a liquid, yet, when gathered in the morning, it was hard like grains of corn, or other seeds, and required to be ground in mills: or... read more

John Gill

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

John Gill

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

And Moses said unto the Lord, wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant ?.... Or "done evil" F13 הרעת "malefecisti", Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius. to him, that which was distressing to him, and gave him trouble; namely, setting him at the head of the people of Israel, and laying the government of them on his shoulders; which surely was doing him honour, though that is not to be expected without care and trouble; Moses does not seem to be in a good frame of spirit throughout the whole... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 11:12

Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them ?.... Conceived them as a mother, or begotten them as a father? am I a parent of either sort to them, in a literal sense, that I should have the like care of them as parents of their children? but though this was not the case, yet, in a civil and political sense, he was their parent, as every king and governor of a country is, or should be, the father of it, and should have a paternal affection for his subjects, and a tender care of... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 11:4-15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 11:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 11:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 11:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 11:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 11:8

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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 11:12

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