Numbers 11:18-23

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 11:22

Shall the flocks and the herds be slain - There is certainly a considerable measure of weakness and unbelief manifested in the complaints and questions of Moses on this occasion; but his conduct appears at the same time so very simple, honest, and affectionate, that we cannot but admire it, while we wonder that he had not stronger confidence in that God whose miracles he had so often witnessed in Egypt. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 11:23

Is the Lord's hand waxed short? - Hast thou forgotten the miracles which I have already performed? or thinkest thou that my power is decreased? The power that is unlimited can never be diminished. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 11:18

Verse 18 18.And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves. This is another part of the answer, which is given respecting the matter in consideration, viz., that the people should prepare themselves to satiate their greediness. Although the word קדש (26) kadesh, signifies to prepare, yet its literal meaning seems to be most appropriate here; I have therefore retained the word sanctify, which is, however, here used ironically, for Moses does not exhort: them to purge themselves from all... read more

Group of Brands