UST NUM Chapter 11

◄ NUM 11 ► ║ ©

11 One day the Israelites grumbled in Yahweh’s presence about how much they thought they were suffering. When Yahweh listened to what they said, he was angry. So, he sent a fire that burned at the edge of their campsite and destroyed some of their belongings. 2 Then the Israelites pleaded with Moses to help them. So, Moses asked Yahweh to stop the fire, and the fire did stop. 3 So they named that place Taberah, which means ‘Burning,’ because the fire from Yahweh had burned among them. 4 After that, some people who were not Israelites wanted very badly to eat meat. Then the Israelites too cried again, as they did when they grumbled earlier. They said, “We wish someone would give us meat to eat! 5 We can recall what we ate in Egypt for free: fish, gourds, and the vegetables we used for seasoning. 6 But now we have become weak, because all we have to eat is this manna that we see!” 7 As for the manna, it had the shape of small seeds, and it looked like resin. 8-9 8-9Whenever the dew appeared during the night at the place where they had set up their tents, the manna would appear with it. Then, in the morning, the people would walk around and gather the manna. Then, they would grind it up by using a handmill or a mortar and pestle. After that, they would boil it and then form it into loaves. The manna tasted like good olive oil. 10 Now as the people were crying at their tents with their tribal groups, Moses heard them. Yahweh was very angry. Also, Moses was very upset. 11 Then Moses went to the sacred tent and said to Yahweh, “I am upset that you have made me, your servant, suffer like this. You must have chosen not to treat me kindly. Otherwise, you would not have made me take care of all these people! 12 I am not their mother. Yet, you have still ordered me to act like their nurse, as if I could hold them like an infant close to my chest and carry them to the land you promised their ancestors that you would give to them. 13 All these people cry in front of me and ask me to give them meat to eat. However, I cannot get enough meat to feed all these people! 14 I cannot take care of all these people alone. It is too difficult for me. 15 I ask you to kill me now if you intend to keep treating me this way. That is how you can treat me kindly! That way, I will not have to suffer like this.” 16 Yahweh told Moses, “Summon 70 men whom you know are leaders among the Israelite people. Have them go to the sacred tent and stand there with you. 17 I will be present in a special way and talk with you at the sacred tent. By means of my Spirit, I have enabled you to lead my people. I will also enable the 70 leaders to lead my people by means of my Spirit. They will help you take care of the people so that you will not have to do so alone. 18 Also, tell the people that they must set themselves apart to prepare for the next day, when they will eat meat. Remind them that they cried in my presence and said that they wished that someone would give them meat to eat just as when they lived well in Egypt. Tell them that I will provide them with meat to eat. 19 Tell them that they will eat meat, but not for only one, two, five, ten, or even 20 days. 20 Tell them that they will instead eat meat every day for a month, and then they will have too much and will want to vomit when they eat it. Tell them that this will happen because they have not wanted to obey me, who am present with them in a special way, and because they cried in my presence and said that they were very unhappy that they left Egypt.” 21 Moses replied, “There are 600, 000 men not including women and children walking with me. Despite that, you say that you will give them enough meat to eat every day for a month! 22 Even if we killed all the sheep and oxen or caught all the fish in the sea, that would not be enough meat for them!” 23 Yahweh replied, “You doubt that I am powerful. At this time you will find out if I can do what I say I will do.” 24 After that, Moses left the sacred tent and told the people what Yahweh had said. Then he summoned 70 men who were leaders among the Israelites and had them stand around the sacred tent. 25 Then Yahweh was present in a special way in the cloud that was above the sacred tent, and he talked with Moses. By means of his Spirit, he enabled the 70 leaders to lead the Israelites, just as he had enabled Moses. When Yahweh enabled them, the leaders spoke as Yahweh inspired them. However, they did not do that again. 26 Eldad and Medad were two of the men whom Moses had summoned. However, they did not go to the sacred tent. Instead, they stayed among the Israelites’ tents. However, Yahweh enabled them too to lead the Israelites by means of his Spirit, and they spoke as Yahweh inspired them among the tents. 27 Then, a young man hurried to Moses and told him, “Eldad and Medad are speaking as Yahweh inspires them among the tents!” 28 Nun’s son Joshua, who since he was a young man had helped Moses, responded, “Moses sir, I ask that you tell them to stop doing that!” 29 Moses replied, “You should not be worried that this will harm me. In fact, I wish that Yahweh would inspire all his people by means of his Spirit so that they all would speak as he inspired them!” 30 Then Moses and the leaders went back to their tents. 31 Then Yahweh made the wind blow small birds from the nearby sea, and they fell on the ground in the campsite and as far as a person can walk in a day in every direction. They lay on the ground a meter high. 32 So the people went out and collected the small birds that day, that night, and the entire next day. The people who worked the least still collected about 2, 200 liters. They laid the quails out on the ground around the campsite. 33 While the people were about to eat the meat, before they took a bite, Yahweh was angry with them. So, he caused very many of them to die. 34 In that place the Israelites buried the bodies of the people who had wanted very badly to eat meat. So, they named that place Kibroth Hattaavah, which means “Graves for the People Who Wanted”. 35 The people left Kibroth Hattaavah and arrived in Hazeroth, and they stayed there.

◄ NUM 11 ► ║ ©

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