The People Complain

Numbers 11

1 Now a when the people complained, it displeased the LORD; b for the LORD heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the c fire of the LORD burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp. 2 Then the people d cried out to Moses, and when Moses e prayed to the LORD, the fire was 1 quenched. 3 So he called the name of the place 2 Taberah, 3 because the fire of the LORD had burned among them.

4 Now the f mixed multitude who were among them 4 yielded to g intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: h "Who will give us meat to eat? 5 i "We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; 6 "but now j our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!"

7 Now k the manna was like coriander seed, and its color like the color of bdellium. 8 The people went about and gathered it, ground it on millstones or beat it in the mortar, cooked it in pans, and made cakes of it; and l its taste was like the taste of pastry prepared with oil. 9 And m when the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna fell on it.

10 Then Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent; and n the anger of the LORD was greatly aroused; Moses also was displeased. 11 o So Moses said to the LORD, "Why have You afflicted Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the 5 burden of all these people on me? 12 "Did I conceive all these people? Did I beget them, that You should say to me, p 'Carry them in your bosom, as a q guardian carries a nursing child,' to the land which You r swore 6 to their fathers? 13 s "Where am I to get meat to give to all these people? For they weep all over me, saying, 'Give us meat, that we may eat.' 14 t "I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me. 15 "If You treat me like this, please kill me here and now - if I have found favor in Your sight - and u do not let me see my wretchedness!"

  1. Cross References
    Numbers 14:2
    And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, "If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness!
    Numbers 16:11
    "Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the LORD. And what is Aaron that you complain against him?"
    Numbers 17:5
    "And it shall be that the rod of the man whom I choose will blossom; thus I will rid Myself of the complaints of the children of Israel, which they make against you."
    Deuteronomy 9:22
    Also at Taberah and Massah and Kibroth Hattaavah you provoked the LORD to wrath.
  2. Cross References
    Psalms 78:21
    Therefore the LORD heard this and was furious; So a fire was kindled against Jacob, And anger also came up against Israel.
  3. Cross References
    Leviticus 10:2
    So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.
    2 Kings 1:12
    So Elijah answered and said to them, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men." And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.
  4. Cross References
    Numbers 12:11
    So Aaron said to Moses, "Oh, my lord! Please do not lay this sin on us, in which we have done foolishly and in which we have sinned.
    Numbers 12:13
    So Moses cried out to the LORD, saying, "Please heal her, O God, I pray!
    Numbers 21:7
    Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD that He take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people.
  5. Cross References
    James 5:16
    Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
  6. Cross References
    Exodus 12:38
    A mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds - a great deal of livestock.
  7. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 10:6
    Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.
  8. Cross References
    Psalms 78:18
    And they tested God in their heart By asking for the food of their fancy.
  9. Cross References
    Exodus 16:3
    And the children of Israel said to them, "Oh, that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
  10. Cross References
    Numbers 21:5
    And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.
  11. Cross References
    Exodus 16:14
    And when the layer of dew lifted, there, on the surface of the wilderness, was a small round substance, as fine as frost on the ground.
    Exodus 16:31
    And the house of Israel called its name Manna. And it was like white coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.
  12. Cross References
    Exodus 16:31
    And the house of Israel called its name Manna. And it was like white coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.
  13. Cross References
    Exodus 16:13
    So it was that quails came up at evening and covered the camp, and in the morning the dew lay all around the camp.
    Exodus 16:14
    And when the layer of dew lifted, there, on the surface of the wilderness, was a small round substance, as fine as frost on the ground.
  14. Cross References
    Psalms 78:21
    Therefore the LORD heard this and was furious; So a fire was kindled against Jacob, And anger also came up against Israel.
  15. Cross References
    Exodus 5:22
    So Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me?
    Deuteronomy 1:12
    How can I alone bear your problems and your burdens and your complaints?
  16. Cross References
    Isaiah 40:11
    He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.
  17. Cross References
    Isaiah 49:23
    Kings shall be your foster fathers, And their queens your nursing mothers; They shall bow down to you with their faces to the earth, And lick up the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD, For they shall not be ashamed who wait for Me.
    1 Thessalonians 2:7
    But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.
  18. Cross References
    Genesis 26:3
    Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.
  19. Cross References
    Matthew 15:33
    Then His disciples said to Him, "Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?
    Mark 8:4
    Then His disciples answered Him, "How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?
  20. Cross References
    Exodus 18:18
    Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself.
    Deuteronomy 1:12
    How can I alone bear your problems and your burdens and your complaints?
  21. Cross References
    Revelation 3:17
    Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' - and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked -
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Next Book Next Book