Numbers 11
Common English Bible
Complaint at Taberah
11 When the people complained intensely in the Lord’s hearing, the Lord heard and became angry. Then the Lord’s fire burned them and consumed the edges of the camp. 2 When the people cried out to Moses, Moses prayed to the Lord, and the fire subsided. 3 The name of that place was called Taberah,[a] because the Lord’s fire burned against them.
Complaint over the lack of meat
4 The riffraff among them had a strong craving. Even the Israelites cried again and said, “Who will give us meat to eat? 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt for free, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. 6 Now our lives are wasting away. There is nothing but manna in front of us.”
7 The manna was like coriander seed and its color was like resin. 8 The people would roam around and collect it and grind it with millstones or pound it in a mortar. Then they would boil it in pots and make it into cakes. It tasted like cakes baked in olive oil. 9 When the dew fell on the camp during the night, the manna would fall with it.
Moses’ complaint about leadership
10 Moses heard the people crying throughout their clans, each at his tent’s entrance. The Lord was outraged, and Moses was upset. 11 Moses said to the Lord, “Why have you treated your servant so badly? And why haven’t I found favor in your eyes, for you have placed the burden of all these people on me? 12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I give birth to them, that you would say to me, ‘Carry them at the breast, as a nurse carries an unweaned child,’ to the fertile land that you promised their ancestors? 13 Where am I to get meat for all these people? They are crying before me and saying, ‘Give us meat, so we can eat.’ 14 I can’t bear this people on my own. They’re too heavy for me. 15 If you’re going to treat me like this, please kill me. If I’ve found favor in your eyes, then don’t let me endure this wretched situation.”
16 The Lord said to Moses, “Gather before me seventy men from Israel’s elders, whom you know as elders and officers of the people. Take them to the meeting tent, and let them stand there with you. 17 Then I’ll descend and speak with you there. I’ll take some of the spirit that is on you and place it on them. Then they will carry the burden of the people with you so that you won’t bear it alone. 18 To the people you will say, ‘Make yourselves holy for tomorrow; then you will eat meat, for you’ve cried in the Lord’s hearing, “Who will give us meat to eat? It was better for us in Egypt.” The Lord will give you meat, and you will eat. 19 You won’t eat for just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, 20 but for a whole month until it comes out of your nostrils and nauseates you. You’ve rejected the Lord who’s been with you and you have cried before him, saying, “Why did we leave Egypt?” ’”
21 Moses said, “The people I’m with are six hundred thousand on foot and you’re saying, ‘I will give them meat, and they will eat for a month.’ 22 Can flocks and herds be found and slaughtered for them? Or can all the fish in the sea be found and caught for them?”
23 The Lord said to Moses, “Is the Lord’s power too weak? Now you will see whether my word will come true for you or not.”
24 So Moses went out and told the people the Lord’s words. He assembled seventy men from the people’s elders and placed them around the tent. 25 The Lord descended in a cloud, spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was on him and placed it on the seventy elders. When the spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but only this once. 26 Two men had remained in the camp, one named Eldad and the second named Medad, and the spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they hadn’t gone out to the tent, so they prophesied in the camp. 27 A young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”
28 Joshua, Nun’s son and Moses’ assistant since his youth, responded, “My master Moses, stop them!”
29 Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? If only all the Lord’s people were prophets with the Lord placing his spirit on them!”
Quail from the sea
30 Moses and Israel’s elders were assembled in the camp. 31 A wind from the Lord blew up and brought quails from the sea. It let them fall by the camp, about a day’s journey all around the camp and about three feet deep on the ground. 32 Then the people arose and gathered the quail all that day, all night, and all the next day. The least collected was ten homers,[b] and they laid them out around the camp. 33 While the meat was still between their teeth and not yet consumed, the Lord’s anger blazed against the people. The Lord struck the people with a very great punishment. 34 The name of that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah,[c] because there they buried the people who had the craving.
Miriam and Aaron challenge Moses
35 From Kibroth-hattaavah the people marched to Hazeroth.
Footnotes
- Numbers 11:3 Or the place of burning
- Numbers 11:32 Five hundred gallons; one homer is two hundred quarts.
- Numbers 11:34 Or graves of craving
Números 11
Palabra de Dios para Todos
El pueblo sigue quejándose
11 Un día los israelitas comenzaron a quejarse a oídos del SEÑOR de los problemas por los que estaban pasando. El SEÑOR los escuchó y se enojó tanto que envió un fuego que incendió los alrededores del campamento. 2 La gente pidió a gritos ayuda a Moisés, él oró al SEÑOR por ellos y el fuego se apagó. 3 Entonces ellos llamaron ese lugar Taberá[a] porque un fuego del SEÑOR se prendió entre ellos.
4 Entre los israelitas había gente de toda condición que se había mezclado con ellos y sólo pensaba en comer. Los israelitas se dejaron llevar por ellos y se pusieron a llorar y a decir: «¡Quién nos diera carne para comer! 5 Cómo extrañamos el pescado que comíamos gratis en Egipto, y los pepinos, melones, puerros, cebollas y ajos. 6 Ahora estamos cansados de comer siempre lo mismo, todo lo que hay es este maná». 7 El maná era como semillas de cilantro y parecía resina de árbol. 8 La gente salía a recolectarlo y después lo molían o lo machacaban con piedras. Luego lo cocinaban en una olla o hacían panes con él. Su sabor era como el del pan que se amasa con aceite. 9 Al caer el rocío por la noche, también caía el maná sobre el campamento.
10 Moisés escuchó llorar a los israelitas y a sus familias, cada uno a la entrada de su carpa. El SEÑOR se enojó mucho. Moisés también se enojó 11 y le dijo al SEÑOR:
—¿Por qué me tratas tan mal a mí que soy tu siervo? ¿Qué tienes en mi contra para poner sobre mí la responsabilidad de este pueblo? 12 ¿Es que yo soy la mamá de toda esta gente? ¿Fui yo quien los dio a luz para que tú me digas: “Llévalos en tus brazos, como hace un padre adoptivo”, a la tierra que tú les prometiste a sus antepasados? 13 ¿Dónde conseguiré carne para darle a toda esta gente cuando vengan llorando ante mí y me digan: “¡Danos carne para comer!”? 14 Yo solo no soy capaz de cuidar a todo este pueblo; eso es mucho para mí. 15 Si me vas a tratar de esta manera, te ruego que me quites la vida, pues así me libraré de tanto problema.
16 El SEÑOR le dijo a Moisés:
—Reúneme a 70 ancianos de Israel, pero asegúrate que sean jefes del pueblo. Llévalos a la carpa del encuentro y que esperen allí contigo. 17 Yo bajaré a hablar contigo y tomaré parte del Espíritu[b] que está en ti y lo pondré en ellos. Así ellos compartirán contigo la carga que este pueblo representa para ti, de tal forma que no tengas que hacerte cargo de ellos tú solo. 18 Después dile al pueblo: “Purifíquense para mañana, pues van a comer carne. Ustedes han llorado ante el SEÑOR y han dicho: ¡Quién nos diera carne para comer! Estábamos mejor en Egipto. El SEÑOR les va a dar carne y ustedes van a comer carne. 19 No comerán carne sólo un día, o dos, o cinco, o diez o veinte días, 20 sino que comerán carne por todo un mes hasta que se les salga por la nariz y les provoque náuseas. Eso les sucederá por haber rechazado al SEÑOR que está en medio de ustedes, y por haber llorado ante él diciendo: ¿Por qué tuvimos que irnos de Egipto?”
21 Entonces Moisés respondió:
—Estoy en medio de un ejército de 600 000 hombres y tú dices: “Yo les daré a comer carne por todo un mes”. 22 Si se degollaran todos los rebaños y manadas, ¿habría suficiente para darles de comer a todos ellos? Y si pescáramos todos los peces del mar, ¿les alcanzaría?
23 El SEÑOR le dijo a Moisés:
—¿Es que acaso el poder del SEÑOR tiene límites? Ahora verás si lo que he dicho sucede o no.
24 Entonces Moisés salió y le dijo a la gente lo que el SEÑOR había dicho. Reunió a 70 hombres de los ancianos de Israel e hizo que se colocaran alrededor de la carpa. 25 Luego el SEÑOR bajó en la nube y le habló a Moisés; tomó una parte del Espíritu que estaba en Moisés y lo puso en los 70 ancianos. Cuando el Espíritu descansó en ellos comenzaron a profetizar; pero esto no volvió a repetirse.
26 Dos de los ancianos se quedaron en el campamento. Uno de ellos se llamaba Eldad y el otro Medad. El Espíritu descansó sobre ellos que eran de los ancianos escogidos, aunque no habían ido a la carpa con los demás. Entonces empezaron a profetizar en el campamento. 27 Un joven corrió y le dijo a Moisés:
—¡Eldad y Medad están profetizando en el campamento!
28 Josué hijo de Nun, que era ayudante de Moisés desde su juventud,[c] le dijo a Moisés:
—¡Moisés, señor, prohíbeles hacer eso!
29 Pero Moisés le dijo a Josué:
—¿Estás celoso por mí? Cuánto quisiera yo que todo el pueblo del SEÑOR profetizara, y que el SEÑOR pusiera su Espíritu en ellos.
30 Luego Moisés y los ancianos de Israel volvieron al campamento.
Cumplimiento de la promesa del Señor
31 El SEÑOR hizo soplar un viento que trajo del mar bandadas de codornices que cayeron alrededor del campamento. Había codornices en una extensión de hasta un día de camino alrededor del campamento y a una altura de hasta casi un metro del suelo. 32 La gente se levantó y recogió codornices todo el día, toda la noche y todo el día siguiente. El que menos recogió, recogió dos toneladas y distribuyeron las codornices por todo el campamento.
33 No habían todavía comenzado a masticar la carne cuando el SEÑOR se enojó con ellos y les envió el SEÑOR una terrible enfermedad. 34 Entonces ellos llamaron ese sitio Tumbas de la glotonería[d] porque allí enterraron a la gente que no pensaba sino en comer.
35 Del sitio Tumbas de la glotonería el pueblo viajó hasta Jazerot y ahí se quedó.
Numbers 11
King James Version
11 And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.
2 And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire was quenched.
3 And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the Lord burnt among them.
4 And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:
6 But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.
7 And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium.
8 And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.
9 And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.
10 Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased.
11 And Moses said unto the Lord, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?
12 Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers?
13 Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.
14 I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.
15 And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.
16 And the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.
17 And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.
18 And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the Lord, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the Lord will give you flesh, and ye shall eat.
19 Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days;
20 But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the Lord which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?
21 And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month.
22 Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them?
23 And the Lord said unto Moses, Is the Lord'S hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.
24 And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the Lord, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle.
25 And the Lord came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.
26 But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp.
27 And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp.
28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.
29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord'S people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!
30 And Moses gat him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel.
31 And there went forth a wind from the Lord, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth.
32 And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp.
33 And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord smote the people with a very great plague.
34 And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted.
35 And the people journeyed from Kibrothhattaavah unto Hazeroth; and abode at Hazeroth.
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