Numbers 11:16-24

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 11:16-23

We have here God's gracious answer to both the foregoing complaints, wherein his goodness takes occasion from man's badness to appear so much the more illustrious. I. Provision is made for the redress of the grievances Moses complains of. If he find the weight of government lie too heavy upon him, though he was a little too passionate in his remonstrance, yet he shall be eased, not by being discarded from the government himself, as he justly might have been if God had been extreme to mark what... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 11:24-30

We have here the performance of God's word to Moses, that he should have help in the government of Israel. I. Here is the case of the seventy privy-counsellors in general. Moses, though a little disturbed by the tumult of the people, yet was thoroughly composed by the communion he had with God, and soon came to himself again. And according as the matter was concerted, 1. He did his part; he presented the seventy elders before the Lord, round the tabernacle (Num. 11:24), that they might there... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 11:16

And the Lord said unto Moses ,.... Without making any reflection upon him, or upbraiding him with his unbecoming speeches to him, but in a kind and tender manner directs for his assistance and case: gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel ; out from among them, such as were not only men in years, but men of gravity, prudence, and wisdom; elders there were among the people in Egypt, Exodus 3:16 ; and it was from among such as those the seventy men were to be taken; we read of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 11:17

And I will come down and talk with thee there ,.... Descend from heaven, by some visible token of his power and presence, and in a friendly manner converse with him face to face; which was an instance of great condescension and grace, and especially when Moses had showed a very froward peevish spirit; yet all is overlooked, and the Lord vouchsafes the most intimate communion with him, and does him honour before the people: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee ; the spirit... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 11:18

And say thou unto the people ,.... For what follows respects them, as what goes before regarded himself: sanctify yourselves against tomorrow ; or prepare yourselves, as the Targums of Onkelos, and Jonathan, either to receive mercies, or to meet the Lord in the way of his judgments; so Jarchi interprets it,"prepare for punishments,'for what is said should be, and what they had, was not as a blessing, but in a way of punishment: and ye shall eat flesh ; which they lusted after, wept... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 11:19

Ye shall not eat one day ,.... Only, as in Exodus 16:12 , nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days ; but even thirty days, a whole month, as in Numbers 11:20 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 11:20

But even a whole month ,.... So long the Israelites continued at Taberah or Kibrothhattaavah, as the Jews F15 Seder Olam Rabba, c. 8. p. 24. conclude from this clause: until it come out at your nostrils ; being vomited up, through a nausea of it, the stomach being overfilled and glutted with it; in which case, it will make its way through the nostrils, as well as out of the mouth: and it be loathsome unto you ; being surfeited with it; or it shall be for "dispersion" F16 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 11:21

And Moses said ,.... By way of objection to what God had promised, distrusting his power to perform: the people amongst whom I am ; among whom he dwelt, of whom he was a part, and over whom he was a ruler: are six hundred thousand footmen ; that were able to travel on foot, and were fit for war: this was the number of them when they came out of Egypt, Exodus 12:37 ; they amounted in their last numbering to 3,550 more, which lesser number is here omitted, as Aben Ezra and Jarchi... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 11:22

Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them ?.... Suggesting that if all their cattle, their sheep, and oxen were killed, which they and the mixed multitude brought out of Egypt, they would not be sufficient for them to live upon a whole month; and intimating also, that it would be an unwise thing, and very improper, to slay them all, were they sufficient, since then they would have none for sacrifice, or to breed when they came into the land of Canaan; the Targum of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 11:23

And the Lord said unto Moses ,.... In answer to his objection, without upbraiding him with his sin of unbelief: is the Lord's hand waxed short ? or his power diminished since the creation, when he formed all things out of nothing, and what is it then he is not able to do? or since he wrought the wonders in Egypt, divided the Red sea, rained down manna from heaven, and smote the rock at Horeb, from whence waters flowed sufficient for all this people, and their flocks and herds; and he... read more

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