Numbers 11:6

Numbers 11:6. Our soul is dried away— This expression is of the same import with that of the Psalmist; my heart is—withered like grass. The word נפשׁ nepesh, as we have before observed, is often used for the merely animal life, (see Genesis 2:7.) and the drying away here mentioned, may refer to their want of the moist, fishy, and vegetable food, for which they expressed so impetuous a desire. Their contempt of the manna is shewn by the way of speaking of it: There is nothing at all besides THIS manna before our eyes. Though they had some cattle, Num 11:22 yet it would seem that they had them not in such plenty or cheapness, that the populace could eat them for ordinary food.