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Scott's Reference Library
Numbers 11:4 through Numbers 11:6 (NIV)
4The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites
started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat! 5We remember the fish we
ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.
6But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!”
Numbers 11:10 through Numbers 11:16 (NIV)
10Moses heard the people of every family wailing, each at the entrance to
his tent. The LORD became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. 11He 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? 12Did 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? 13Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep
wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ 14I cannot carry all these people by
myself; the burden is too heavy for me. 15If 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.”
16The 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.
Numbers 11:24 through Numbers 11:29 (NIV)
24So 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. 25Then 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.
26However, 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. 27A young man ran
and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”
28Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ aide since youth, spoke up and said,
“Moses, my lord, stop them!”
29But 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!”
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
VERSES 4-9
Man, having forsaken his proper rest, feels uneasy and wretched, though
prosperous. They were weary of the provision God had made for them, although
wholesome food and nourishing. It cost no money or care, and the labour of
gathering it was very little indeed; yet they talked of Egypt’s cheapness, and
the fish they ate there freely; as if that cost them nothing, when they paid
dearly for it with hard service! While they lived on manna, they seemed exempt
from the curse sin has brought on man, that in the sweat of his face he should
eat bread; yet they speak of it with scorn. Peevish, discontented minds will
find fault with that which has no fault in it, but that it is too good for them.
Those who might be happy, often make themselves miserable by discontent. They
could not be satisfied unless they had flesh to eat. It is evidence of the
dominion of the carnal mind, when we want to have the delights and satisfaction
of sense. We should not indulge in any desire which we cannot in faith turn into
prayer, as we cannot when we ask meat for our lust. What is lawful of itself
becomes evil, when God does not allot it to us, yet we desire it.
VERSES 10-15
The provocation was very great; yet Moses expressed himself otherwise than
became him. He undervalued the honour God had put upon him. He magnified his own
performances, while he had the Divine wisdom to direct him, and Almighty power
to dispense rewards and punishments. He speaks distrustfully of the Divine
grace. Had the work been much less he could not have gone through it in his own
strength; but had it been much greater, through God strengthening him, he might
have done it. Let us pray, Lord, lead us not into temptation.
VERSES 16-23
Moses is to choose such as he knew to be elders, that is, wise and experienced
men. God promises to qualify them. If they were not found fit for the employ,
they should be made fit. Even the discontented people shall be gratified too,
that every mouth may be stopped. See here, I. The vanity of all the delights of
sense; they will cloy, but they will not satisfy. Spiritual pleasures alone will
satisfy and last. As the world passes away, so do the lusts of it. 2. What
brutish sins gluttony and drunkenness are! they make that to hurt the body which
should be its health. Moses objects. Even true and great believers sometimes
find it hard to trust God under the discouragements of second causes, and
against hope to believe in hope. God here brings Moses to this point, The Lord
God is Almighty; and puts the proof upon the issue, Thou shalt see whether my
word shall come to pass or not. If he speaks, it is done.
VERSES 24-30
We have here the fulfilment of God’s word to Moses, that he should have help in
the government of Israel. He gave of his Spirit to the seventy elders. They
discoursed to the people of the things of God, so that all who heard them might
say, that God was with them of a truth. Two of the elders, Eldad and Medad, went
not out unto the tabernacle, as the rest, being sensible of their own weakness
and unworthiness. But the Spirit of God found them in the camp, and there they
exercised their gift of praying, preaching, and praising God; they spake as
moved by the Holy Ghost. The Spirit of God is not confined to the tabernacle,
but, like the wind, blows where He listeth. And they that humble themselves
shall be exalted; and those who are most fit for government, are least ambitious
of it. Joshua does not desire that they should be punished, but only restrained
for the future. This motion he made out of zeal for what he thought to be the
unity of the church. He would have them silenced, lest they should occasion a
schism, or should rival Moses; but Moses was not afraid of any such effects from
that Spirit which God had put upon them. Shall we reject those whom Christ has
owned, or restrain any from doing good, because they are not in every thing of
our mind? Moses wishes all the Lord’s people were prophets, that he would put
his Spirit upon all of them. Let the testimony of Moses be believed by those who
desire to be in power; that government is a burden. It is a burden of care and
trouble to those who make conscience of the duty of it; and to those who do not,
it will prove a heavier burden in the day of account. Let the example of Moses
be followed by those in power; let them not despise the advice and assistance of
others, but desire it, and be thankful for it. If all the present number of the
Lord’s people were rendered prophets, or ministers, by the Spirit of Christ,
though not all agreed in outward matters, there is work enough for all, in
calling sinners to repentance, and faith in our Lord Jesus.