Bible Chapter Summary
Numbers 11 Summary
Israel's Complaints, Quail, and Plague
The Israelites complain in the wilderness, provoking the LORD's anger and causing a fire to break out at the edge of the camp, which is quenched only after Moses prays. The mixed multitude then stirs up craving for meat, lamenting the food of Egypt and despising the manna, which grieves Moses so deeply that he pleads with God to relieve him of his burden or take his life. The LORD responds by commanding Moses to gather seventy elders upon whom the spirit resting on Moses is shared, enabling them to prophesy, and by promising to send so much flesh that it will become loathsome to the people. A great wind drives an enormous flock of quails into the camp; but as the people greedily gather and eat the flesh, the LORD strikes them with a severe plague, and the site is named Kibroth-hattaavah ("graves of craving") before the camp moves on to Hazeroth.
Key themes
Key verses
Numbers 11:1
“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.”
Numbers 11:17
“And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.”
Numbers 11:29
“And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD's people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!”
Numbers 11:33
“And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.”
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