Numbers 11:1

“And [when] the people complained, etc.] Or “were as complainers” f106; not merely like to such, but were truly and really complainers, the k, “caph”, here being not a note of similitude, but of truth and reality, as in (<280510>Hosea 5:10). This Hebraism is frequent in the New Testament, (<401405>Matthew 14:5 <430114>John 1:14 <502007>Philippians 2:7). What they complained of is not said, it being that for which there was no foundation; it is generally supposed to be of their journey; but if they were come but eight miles, as observed on (<041033>Numbers 10:33); they could not be very weary; and especially as they were marching towards the land of Canaan, it might be thought they would be…”

“MANNA LOATHED. (Num. 11:1-35) When the people complained it displeased the Lord, &c.--Unaccustomed to the fatigues of travel and wandering into the depths of a desert, less mountainous but far more gloomy and desolate than that of Sinai, without any near prospect of the rich country that had been promised, they fell into a state of vehement discontent, which was vented at these irksome and fruitless journeyings. The displeasure of God was manifested against the ungrateful complainers by fire sent in an extraordinary manner. It is worthy of notice, however, that the discontent seems to have been confined to the extremities of the camp, where, in all likelihood, "the mixed multitude" [see on…”

“See the marginal rendering. They murmured against the privations of the march. The fire of the Lord - Probably lightning; compare Psalms 78:21. In the uttermost parts - Rather, in the end. The fire did not reach far into the camp. It was quickly quenched at the intercession of Moses. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Complained - Or, murmured, the occasion whereof seems to be their last three days journey in a vast howling wilderness, and thereupon the remembrance of their long abode in the wilderness, and the fear of many other tedious journeys, whereby they were like to be long delayed from coming to the land of milk and honey, which they thirsted after. The fire of the Lord - A fire sent from God in an extraordinary manner, possibly from the pillar of cloud and fire, or from heaven. The uttermost parts - Either because the sin began there among the mixed multitude, or in mercy to the people, whom he would rather awaken to repentance than destroy; and therefore he sent it into the skirts and not the…”

“11:1-35 This is one of many occasions in the wilderness when Israel was disobedient to the Lord. 11:1 Soon the people began to complain. . . . Then the Lord’s anger blazed: The link between Israel’s complaints and God’s anger is a major theme of Numbers and throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Deut 9:22; Ps 78). God is holy and just, and he demands obedience from his people. Complaints are equivalent to rejecting him (cp. Num 11:20). • their hardship: Mount Sinai had provided a stable residence for a year; the road to Paran provided heat, thirst, and fatigue. • fire . . . destroyed some: Cp. Lev 10:2.”

“And when: Num 10:33, Num 20:2-5, Num 21:5; Exo 15:23, Exo 15:24, Exo 16:2, Exo 16:3, Exo 16:7, Exo 16:9, Exo 17:2, Exo 17:3; Deu 9:22; Lam 3:39; Co1 10:10; Jde 1:16 complained: or, were as it were complainers it displeased the Lord: Heb. it was evil in the ears of the Lord, Gen 38:10; Sa2 11:27 \*marg. Jam 5:4 and the fire: Num 16:35; Lev 10:2; Deu 32:22; Kg2 1:12; Job 1:16; Psa 78:21, Psa 106:18; Isa 30:33, Isa 33:14; Nah 1:5; Mar 9:43-49; Heb 12:29 the uttermost: Deu 25:18 Numbers 11:2”

“After a three days' march the Israelites arrived at a resting-place; but the people began at once to be discontented with their situation. (Note: The arguments by which Knobel undertakes to prove, that in chs. 11 and 12 of the original work different foreign accounts respecting the first encampments after leaving Sinai have been woven together by the "Jehovist," are founded upon misinterpretations and arbitrary assumptions and conclusions, such as the assertion that the tabernacle stood outside the camp (chs. Num 11:25; Num 12:5); that Miriam entered the tabernacle ( Num 12:4-5); that the original work had already reported the arrival of Israel in Paran in Num 10:12; and that no reference is…”