Numbers 11 describes the events that unfold as the Israelites journey through the wilderness. The people begin to complain about their hardships and their longing for the food they had in Egypt. This angers the Lord, and Moses becomes overwhelmed with the burden of leading the people. He cries out to God, expressing his frustration and questioning how he can bear the weight of their complaints alone.
God instructs Moses to gather seventy elders to share in the burden of leadership. The Spirit of the Lord rests upon them, and they prophesy. Two men who were not present with the elders also prophesy in the camp, which causes some concern among the people.
Moses’ assistant, Joshua, suggests that they should be stopped, but Moses wisely responds that he wishes all of God’s people were prophets.
As the people continue to crave meat, God promises to provide an abundance of quail for them to eat for an entire month, so much so that it becomes a burden. However, the people are punished for their discontentment and their desire for meat, and a plague breaks out among them.
Moses intercedes on behalf of the people, and the plague is halted. The place is then named “Kibroth Hattaavah,” meaning “graves of craving,” to serve as a reminder of the consequences of their complaints.
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