The story of the quails is interesting in many respects, and first of all because it is a story of God's action. What connection, one might think, is there between quails, the outpouring of God's breath, and people prophesying in the camp? Everything seems mixed together...
The story of the quails is interesting in many respects, and first of all because it is a story of God's action. What connection, one might think, is there between quails, the outpouring of God's breath, and people prophesying in the camp? Everything seems mixed together. And Moses himself asks to find helpers for him, directly asking God, "Did I give birth to all this people?" There are many questions, many problems, but God's breath, God's action, sets everything in its place.
Those who were rushing back to Egypt receive meat. Moses receives helpers, and with them criticism and demands from "faithful" supporters to forbid unauthorized prophesying. Everything happens rapidly, one thing after another. God simply acts; He simply breathes with His Spirit. He neither punishes nor rewards anyone; each simply receives what he so wanted, but always together with the consequences.
Some were longing for Egypt precisely because there was plenty of meat there. Those who wanted meat received it, ate their fill, and died of some infection: the birds, judging by everything, turned out to be sick. Is this punishment? Not at all; it is simply the desire of those who craved their own way at any cost carried through to the end. The desired thing has been received, and the fact that one had to die because of it... well, no one asked God about the consequences.
Moses wants helpers, but where can they be found? God solves the problem simply: He blesses those whom Moses and the people choose, lets them feel His breath, and makes them prophets, at least for a time. After that each one uses the opportunity presented to him on his own: out of the seventy, only two become prophets. Divine stinginess? Of course not; rather, human irresolution. One can remain what God has made one, but then one must change completely, and one's life will also change irrevocably; not everyone has enough resolve for that.
Moses receives helpers, such as they turned out to be. God did everything possible, and people made use of the gift according to their own readiness. And envy immediately made itself known as well: why is someone suddenly prophesying without permission? Moses is sincerely glad; he would like the whole people of God to consist of prophets, but those around him... those around him are clearly not ready for this. So, then, the people of God will not consist only of prophets.
God's possibilities are boundless; only the human person is limited, at least where his own capacities are concerned. With desires, however, everything is different: here human potential is truly inexhaustible. Thus flows the life of individuals and of the whole people: between God's possibilities, the limitation of their own aspirations, and the boundlessness of their own desires.
11 The punishment of the murmurers stopt by the prayer of Moses, Num 11:1-3.
The fresh murmuring of the people, Num 11:4-6.
The description of manna, Num 11:7-9.
The murmuring of Moses, Num 11:10-16.
God's answer, Num 11:16-23.
The appointment of the seventy elders, Num 11:24-30.
Quails sent with a plague, Num 11:31-35.
11:4 Israel also - Whose special relation and obligation to God should have restrained them from such carriage. Flesh - This word is here taken generally so as to include fish, as the next words shew. They had indeed cattle which they brought out of Egypt, but these were reserved for breed to be carried into Canaan, and were so few that they would scarce have served them for a month.
11:5 Freely - Either without price, for fish was very plentiful, and fishing was there free, or with a very small price. And this is the more probable because the Egyptians might not taste of fish, nor of the leeks and onions, which they worshipped for Gods, and therefore the Israelites, might have them upon cheap terms.
11:6 Our soul - Either our life, as the soul signifies, Gen 9:5, or our body, which is often signified by thesoul. Dried away - Is withered and pines away; which possibly might be true, through envy and discontent, and inordinate appetite.
11:7 As coriander - seed - Not for colour, for that is black, but for shape and figure. Bdellium - Is either the gum of a tree, of a white and bright colour, or rather a gem or precious stone, as the Hebrew doctors take it; and particularly a pearl wherewith the Manna manifestly agrees both in its colour, which is white, Exo 16:14, and in its figure which is round.
11:8 Fresh oil - Or, of the most excellent oil; or of cakes made with the best oil, the word cakes being easily supplied out of the foregoing member of the verse; or, which is not much differing, like wafers made with honey, as it is said Exo 16:31. The nature and use of Manna is here thus particularly described, to shew the greatness of their sin in despising such excellent food.
11:10 In the door of his tent - To note they were not ashamed of their sin.
11:11 Not found favour - Why didst thou not hear my prayer, when I desired thou wouldest excuse me, and commit the care of this unruly people to some other person.
11:12 Have I begotten them? - Are they my children, that I should be obliged to provide food and all things for their necessity and desire?
11:14 To bear - The burden of providing for and satisfying them.Alone - Others were only assistant to him in smaller matters; but the harder and greater affairs, such as this unquestionably was, were brought to Moses and determined by him alone.
11:15 My wretchedness - Heb. my evil, my torment, arising from the insuperable difficulty of my office and work of ruling this people, and from the dread of their utter extirpation, and the dishonour which thence will accrue to God and to religion, as if, not I only, but God also were an impostor.