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Journey Through the Bible

Numbers 11:1-35

1 Fire From the Lord
Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.

2 When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the Lord and the fire died down.

3 So that place was called Taberah, because fire from the Lord had burned among them.

4 Quail From the Lord
The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat!

5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.

6 But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!”

7 The manna was like coriander seed and looked like resin.

8 The people went around gathering it, and then ground it in a handmill or crushed it in a mortar. They cooked it in a pot or made it into cakes. And it tasted like something made with olive oil.

9 When the dew settled on the camp at night, the manna also came down.

10 Moses heard the people of every family wailing, each at the entrance to his tent. The Lord became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled.

11 He asked the Lord, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me?

12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their forefathers?

13 Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’

14 I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.

15 If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”

16 The Lord said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the Tent of Meeting, that they may stand there with you.

17 I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone.

18 “Tell the people: ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. The Lord heard you when you wailed, “If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!” Now the Lord will give you meat, and you will eat it.

19 You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days,

20 but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe it—because you have rejected the Lord, who is among you, and have wailed before him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?”’”

21 But Moses said, “Here I am among six hundred thousand men on foot, and you say, ‘I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!’

22 Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?”

23 The Lord answered Moses, “Is the Lord’s arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you.”

24 So Moses went out and told the people what the Lord had said. He brought together seventy of their elders and had them stand around the Tent.

25 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took of the Spirit that was on him and put the Spirit on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did not do so again.

26 However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the Tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp.

27 A young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”

28 Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ aide since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!”

29 But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!”

30 Then Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.

31 Now a wind went out from the Lord and drove quail in from the sea. It brought them down all around the camp to about three feet above the ground, as far as a day’s walk in any direction.

32 All that day and night and all the next day the people went out and gathered quail. No one gathered less than ten homers. Then they spread them out all around the camp.

33 But while the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the Lord burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague.

34 Therefore the place was named Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had craved other food.

35 From Kibroth Hattaavah the people traveled to Hazeroth and stayed there.

Cross References for Numbers 11:1-35

Isaiah 33:14 - The sinners in Zion are terrified; trembling grips the godless: “Who of us can dwell with the c... Click to read the verse Isaiah 33:14 Click to read the verse Isaiah 33:14

Numbers 16:35 - And fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense. Click to read the verse Numbers 16:35 Click to read the verse Numbers 16:35

James 5:4 - Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you.... Click to read the verse James 5:4 Click to read the verse James 5:4

Numbers 10:33 - So they set out from the mountain of the Lord and traveled for three days. The ark of the coven... Click to read the verse Numbers 10:33 Click to read the verse Numbers 10:33

Genesis 38:10 - What he did was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so he put him to death also. Click to read the verse Genesis 38:10 Click to read the verse Genesis 38:10

Numbers 22:34 - Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in th... Click to read the verse Numbers 22:34 Click to read the verse Numbers 22:34

2 Samuel 11:27 - After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wif... Click to read the verse 2 Samuel 11:27 Click to read the verse 2 Samuel 11:27

Isaiah 30:33 - Topheth has long been prepared; it has been made ready for the king. Its fire pit has been made... Click to read the verse Isaiah 30:33 Click to read the verse Isaiah 30:33

Genesis 48:17 - When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim’s head he was displeased; so he to... Click to read the verse Genesis 48:17 Click to read the verse Genesis 48:17

Exodus 14:11 - They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the de... Click to read the verse Exodus 14:11 Click to read the verse Exodus 14:11

Numbers 21:5 - they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to... Click to read the verse Numbers 21:5 Click to read the verse Numbers 21:5

1 Corinthians 10:10 - And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. Click to read the verse 1 Corinthians 10:10 Click to read the verse 1 Corinthians 10:10

Exodus 16:2-3 - In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. Click to read the verse Exodus 16:2-3 Click to read the verse Exodus 16:2-3

Exodus 17:2-3 - So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses replied, “Why do you qua... Click to read the verse Exodus 17:2-3 Click to read the verse Exodus 17:2-3

Exodus 15:23-24 - When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the... Click to read the verse Exodus 15:23-24 Click to read the verse Exodus 15:23-24

Numbers 20:2-5 - Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aa... Click to read the verse Numbers 20:2-5 Click to read the verse Numbers 20:2-5

Jude 1:16 - These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about ... Click to read the verse Jude 1:16 Click to read the verse Jude 1:16

Numbers 14:2 - All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If o... Click to read the verse Numbers 14:2 Click to read the verse Numbers 14:2

Exodus 16:7 - and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling agai... Click to read the verse Exodus 16:7 Click to read the verse Exodus 16:7

Exodus 16:9 - Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the Lord, for he ha... Click to read the verse Exodus 16:9 Click to read the verse Exodus 16:9

Deuteronomy 9:22 - You also made the Lord angry at Taberah, at Massah and at Kibroth Hattaavah. Click to read the verse Deuteronomy 9:22 Click to read the verse Deuteronomy 9:22

Hebrews 12:29 - for our “God is a consuming fire.” Click to read the verse Hebrews 12:29 Click to read the verse Hebrews 12:29

1 Samuel 18:8 - Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,... Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 18:8 Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 18:8

Leviticus 10:2 - So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Click to read the verse Leviticus 10:2 Click to read the verse Leviticus 10:2

2 Kings 1:10 - Elijah answered the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume ... Click to read the verse 2 Kings 1:10 Click to read the verse 2 Kings 1:10

2 Kings 1:12 - “If I am a man of God,” Elijah replied, “may fire come down from heaven and consume you and you... Click to read the verse 2 Kings 1:12 Click to read the verse 2 Kings 1:12

Deuteronomy 25:18 - When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and cut off all who were lagging... Click to read the verse Deuteronomy 25:18 Click to read the verse Deuteronomy 25:18

Deuteronomy 32:22 - For a fire has been kindled by my wrath, one that burns to the realm of death below. It will de... Click to read the verse Deuteronomy 32:22 Click to read the verse Deuteronomy 32:22

Psalms 106:18 - Fire blazed among their followers; a flame consumed the wicked. Click to read the verse Psalms 106:18 Click to read the verse Psalms 106:18

Job 1:16 - While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the sk... Click to read the verse Job 1:16 Click to read the verse Job 1:16

Lamentations 3:39 - Why should any living man complain when punished for his sins? Click to read the verse Lamentations 3:39 Click to read the verse Lamentations 3:39

Mark 9:43-49 - If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with... Click to read the verse Mark 9:43-49 Click to read the verse Mark 9:43-49

Nahum 1:5 - The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, the... Click to read the verse Nahum 1:5 Click to read the verse Nahum 1:5

Psalms 78:21 - When the Lord heard them, he was very angry; his fire broke out against Jacob, and his wrath ro... Click to read the verse Psalms 78:21 Click to read the verse Psalms 78:21

Numbers 11:10 - Moses heard the people of every family wailing, each at the entrance to his tent. The Lord beca... Click to read the verse Numbers 11:10 Click to read the verse Numbers 11:10

Numbers 11:18 - “Tell the people: ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. T... Click to read the verse Numbers 11:18 Click to read the verse Numbers 11:18

Numbers 12:2 - “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And t... Click to read the verse Numbers 12:2 Click to read the verse Numbers 12:2

Numbers 12:9 - The anger of the Lord burned against them, and he left them. Click to read the verse Numbers 12:9 Click to read the verse Numbers 12:9

Numbers 20:3 - They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the... Click to read the verse Numbers 20:3 Click to read the verse Numbers 20:3

Psalms 18:8 - Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. Click to read the verse Psalms 18:8 Click to read the verse Psalms 18:8

Revelation 20:9 - They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city ... Click to read the verse Revelation 20:9 Click to read the verse Revelation 20:9

Job 38:35 - Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’? Click to read the verse Job 38:35 Click to read the verse Job 38:35

Psalms 78:63 - Fire consumed their young men, and their maidens had no wedding songs; Click to read the verse Psalms 78:63 Click to read the verse Psalms 78:63