Complaining at Taberah
Overview
- Testament: Old
- Book: Numbers
- Chapters: Numbers 11
- Summary: Israel complained in the wilderness; fire burned at Taberah; then the people craved meat, and God sent quail with a plague that killed the greedy.
Details
Numbers 11 records two connected episodes of Israel’s complaining. At Taberah (“burning”), Israel complained in general about their hardships; God’s fire burned at the outskirts of the camp until Moses prayed and it stopped. The place was named Taberah (“burning”) because of this.
But the deeper complaint came from the “mixed multitude” among Israel who began craving the food of Egypt — fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, garlic. The people wept throughout the camp, saying there was nothing to eat but manna. Moses was overwhelmed by their weeping and complained to God himself, saying the burden of the people was too heavy and he would rather die than carry it alone.
God responded on two fronts: he appointed seventy elders to share the burden of leadership, and he promised to send so much meat that Israel would eat it until it came out their nostrils and became loathsome to them. When Moses doubted there were enough animals or fish, God replied “Is the LORD’s hand waxed short?” Wind brought quail in enormous quantities. But while the meat was still in their mouths, God’s anger burned and sent a great plague. The place was named Kibroth-hattaavah (“graves of craving”) because those who craved were buried there.
Key People Involved
- Moses — Overwhelmed by the burden; interceded; complained to God
- The seventy elders — Appointed to share leadership; the Spirit rested on them and they prophesied
Key Places
- Taberah — Where fire burned at the outskirts
- Kibroth-hattaavah — “Graves of craving”; burial site of the greedy
Important Verses
“Is the LORD’s hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.” — Numbers 11:23
Cross-References
- Manna from Heaven — The miraculous provision that Israel despised
- Baal Peor — Another episode of Israel’s spiritual and physical cravings in the wilderness
- Related books: Numbers, Psalm 78, 1 Corinthians 10:6
Notes
- The seventy elders episode (11:24-29) is the precedent Paul likely had in mind in 1 Corinthians 12 for the distribution of the Spirit’s gifts across the community rather than concentration in one person.
- Moses’ prayer “Kill me, I pray thee” (11:15) stands alongside Elijah’s similar exhaustion at Horeb as a portrait of prophetic humanity.
- Paul cites this episode in 1 Corinthians 10:6 as a warning: “these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.”