Discontent of the People
Earlier in their journey the people complained, and the Lord sent them daily bread (Exodus 16). Now they complained that they had no meat (11:4). So God sent them a great quality of quails. The time between the landing of the birds and when they were eaten seems too long (v.32). During that time the meat would naturally spoil in that country’s climate and disease could result. When we have enough, let’s be thankful for what God sends. Our desires can’t improve on his gifts.
Numbers 11:1-9, 31-35
The Israelites Complain
And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched. Hence he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them. The mix multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes. And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium. The people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil. When the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.
The Lord Sends Quail
Sometime later the LORD sent a strong wind that blew quails in from the sea until Israel’s camp was completely surrounded with birds, piled up about three feet high for miles in every direction. The people picked up quails for two days–each person filled at least fifty bushels. Then they spread them out to dry. But before the meat could be eaten, the LORD became angry and sent a disease through the camp. After they had buried the people who had been so greedy for meat, they called the place “Graves for the Greedy.”
Israel then broke camp and traveled to Hazeroth.
