Numbers — Chapter 11

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1And 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.

2And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched.

3And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.

4And 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?

5We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:

6But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.

7And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium.

8And 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.

9And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.

10Then 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.

11And 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?

12Have 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?

13Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.

14I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.

15And 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.

16And 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.

17And 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.

18And 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.

19Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days;

20But 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?

21And 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.

22Shall 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?

23And 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.

24And 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.

25And 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.

26But 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.

27And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp.

28And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.

29And 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!

30And Moses gat him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel.

31And 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.

32And 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.

33And 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.

34And he called the name of that place Kibroth-hattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted.

35And the people journeyed from Kibroth-hattaavah unto Hazeroth; and abode at Hazeroth.

1And the people were as murmurers, [speaking] evil in the ears of Jehovah: and when Jehovah heard it, his anger was kindled; and the fire of Jehovah burnt among them, and devoured in the uttermost part of the camp.

2And the people cried unto Moses; and Moses prayed unto Jehovah, and the fire abated.

3And the name of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of Jehovah burnt among them.

4And the mixed multitude that was among them lusted exceedingly: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?

5We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt for nought; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic:

6but now our soul is dried away; there is nothing at all save this manna to look upon.

7And the manna was like coriander seed, and the appearance thereof as the appearance of bdellium.

8The people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.

9And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.

10And Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, every man at the door of his tent: and the anger of Jehovah was kindled greatly; and Moses was displeased.

11And Moses said unto Jehovah, Wherefore hast thou dealt ill with thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favor in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?

12Have I conceived all this people? have I brought them forth, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing-father carrieth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers?

13Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.

14I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.

15And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favor in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.

16And Jehovah 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 tent of meeting, that they may stand there with thee.

17And 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.

18And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to-morrow, and ye shall eat flesh; for ye have wept in the ears of Jehovah, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore Jehovah will give you flesh, and ye shall eat.

19Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days,

20but a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you; because that ye have rejected Jehovah who is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?

21And 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.

22Shall flocks and herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them?

23And Jehovah said unto Moses, Is Jehovah`s hand waxed short? now shalt thou see whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.

24And Moses went out, and told the people the words of Jehovah: and he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the Tent.

25And Jehovah came down in the cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and put it upon the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, but they did so no more.

26But there remained two 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 had not gone out unto the Tent; and they prophesied in the camp.

27And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp.

28And Joshua the son of Nun, the minister of Moses, one of his chosen men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.

29And Moses said unto him, Art thou jealous for my sake? would that all Jehovah`s people were prophets, that Jehovah would put his Spirit upon them!

30And Moses gat him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel.

31And there went forth a wind from Jehovah, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, about a day`s journey on this side, and a day`s journey on the other side, round about the camp, and about two cubits above the face of the earth.

32And the people rose up all that day, and all the night, and all the next day, and gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp.

33While the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the anger of Jehovah was kindled against the people, and Jehovah smote the people with a very great plague.

34And the name of that place was called Kibrothhattaavah, because there they buried the people that lusted.

35From Kibrothhattaavah the people journeyed unto Hazeroth; and they abode at Hazeroth.

1When the people complained, it displeased the Lord. When the Lord heard it, his anger burned, and so the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outer parts of the camp.

2When the people cried to Moses, he prayed to the Lord, and the fire died out.

3So he called the name of that place Taberah because there the fire of the Lord burned among them.

4Now the mixed multitude who were among them craved more desirable foods, and so the Israelites wept again and said, “If only we had meat to eat!

5We remember the fish we used to eat freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic.

6But now we are dried up, and there is nothing at all before us except this manna!”

7(Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its color like the color of bdellium.

8And the people went about and gathered it, and ground it with mills or pounded it in mortars; they baked it in pans and made cakes of it. It tasted like fresh olive oil.

9And when the dew came down on the camp in the night, the manna fell with it.)

10Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent; and when the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly, Moses was also displeased.

11And Moses said to the Lord, “Why have you afflicted your servant? Why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of this entire people on me?

12Did I conceive this entire people? Did I give birth to them, that you should say to me, ‘Carry them in your arms, as a foster father bears a nursing child,’ to the land that you swore to their fathers?

13From where shall I get meat to give to this entire people, for they cry to me, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat!’

14I am not able to bear this entire people alone, because it is too heavy for me!

15But if you are going to deal with me like this, then kill me immediately. If I have found favor in your sight then do not let me see my trouble.”

16The Lord said to Moses, “Gather to me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know are elders of the people and officials over them, and bring them to the tent of meeting; let them take their position there with you.

17Then I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take part of the Spirit that is on you, and will put it on them, and they will bear some of the burden of the people with you, so that you do not bear it all by yourself.

18“And say to the people, ‘Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, and you will eat meat, for you have wept in the hearing of the Lord, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat, for life was good for us in Egypt?” Therefore the Lord will give you meat, and you will eat.

19You will eat, not just one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days,

20but a whole month, until it comes out your nostrils and makes you sick, because you have despised the Lord who is among you and have wept before him, saying, “Why did we ever come out of Egypt?”’”

21Moses said, “The people around me are 600,000 on foot; but you say, ‘I will give them meat, that they may eat for a whole month.’

22Would they have enough if the flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? If all the fish of the sea were caught for them, would they have enough?”

23And the Lord said to Moses, “Is the Lord’s hand shortened? Now you will see whether my word to you will come true or not!”

24So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord. He then gathered seventy men of the elders of the people and had them stand around the tabernacle.

25And the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to them, and he took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but did not do so again.

26But two men remained in the camp; one’s name was Eldad, and the other’s name was Medad. And the Spirit rested on them. (Now they were among those in the registration, but had not gone to the tabernacle.) So they prophesied in the camp.

27And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!”

28Joshua son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his choice young men, said, “My lord Moses, stop them!”

29Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for me? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!”

30Then Moses returned to the camp along with the elders of Israel.

31Now a wind went out from the Lord and brought quail from the sea, and let them fall near the camp, about a day’s journey on this side, and about a day’s journey on the other side, all around the camp, and about three feet high on the surface of the ground.

32And the people stayed up all that day, all that night, and all the next day, and gathered the quail. The one who gathered the least gathered ten homers, and they spread them out for themselves all around the camp.

33But while the meat was still between their teeth, before they chewed it, the anger of the Lord burned against the people, and the Lord struck the people with a very great plague.

34So the name of that place was called Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people that craved different food.

35The people traveled from Kibroth Hattaavah to Hazeroth, and they stayed at Hazeroth.

1The people were complaining in the ears of Yahweh. When Yahweh heard it, his anger burned; and Yahweh’s fire burned among them, and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.

2The people cried to Moses; and Moses prayed to Yahweh, and the fire abated.

3The name of that place was called Taberah, because Yahweh’s fire burned among them.

4The mixed multitude that was among them lusted exceedingly: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, “Who will give us meat to eat?

5We remember the fish, which we ate in Egypt for nothing; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic;

6but now we have lost our appetite. There is nothing at all except this manna to look at.”

7The manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like the appearance of bdellium.

8The people went around, gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes of it. Its taste was like the taste of fresh oil.

9When the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna fell on it.

10Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, every man at the door of his tent; and Yahweh’s anger burned greatly; and Moses was displeased.

11Moses said to Yahweh, “Why have you treated your servant so badly? Why haven’t I found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me?

12Have I conceived all this people? Have I brought them out, that you should tell me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a nursing infant, to the land which you swore to their fathers?’

13Where could I get meat to give all these people? For they weep before me, saying, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’

14I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.

15If you treat me this way, please kill me right now, if I have found favor in your sight; and don’t let me see my wretchedness.”

16Yahweh said to Moses, “Gather to me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them to the Tent of Meeting, that they may stand there with you.

17I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit which is on you, and will put it on them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you don’t bear it yourself alone.

18“Say to the people, ‘Sanctify yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, and you will eat meat; for you have wept in the ears of Yahweh, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt.” Therefore Yahweh will give you meat, and you will eat.

19You will not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days,

20but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils, and it is loathsome to you; because you have rejected Yahweh who is among you, and have wept before him, saying, “Why did we come out of Egypt?”’”

21Moses said, “The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand men on foot; and you have said, ‘I will give them meat, that they may eat a whole month.’

22Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to be sufficient for them? Shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to be sufficient for them?”

23Yahweh said to Moses, “Has Yahweh’s hand grown short? Now you will see whether my word will happen to you or not.”

24Moses went out, and told the people Yahweh’s words; and he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them around the Tent.

25Yahweh came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was on him, and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did so no more.

26But two men remained in the camp. The name of one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the Spirit rested on them; and they were of those who were written, but had not gone out to the Tent; and they prophesied in the camp.

27A young man ran, and told Moses, and said, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!”

28Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his chosen men, answered, “My lord Moses, forbid them!”

29Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all Yahweh’s people were prophets, that Yahweh would put his Spirit on them!”

30Moses went into the camp, he and the elders of Israel.

31A wind from Yahweh went out and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, about a day’s journey on this side, and a day’s journey on the other side, around the camp, and about two cubits above the surface of the earth.

32The people rose up all that day, and all of that night, and all the next day, and gathered the quails. He who gathered least gathered ten homers; and they spread them all out for themselves around the camp.

33While the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, Yahweh’s anger burned against the people, and Yahweh struck the people with a very great plague.

34The name of that place was called Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who lusted.

35From Kibroth Hattaavah the people traveled to Hazeroth; and they stayed at Hazeroth.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Reflection

Summary

Israel complains about the manna and craves meat; God sends quail but also a plague, and Moses is overwhelmed until God distributes His Spirit to seventy elders.

Authorship & Background

Author: Moses. Numbers is the fourth book of the Pentateuch, written during the wilderness period (approximately 1445-1405 BC). Hebrew title: "Bemidbar" — "In the wilderness." The book records Israel's 38 years of wilderness wandering between Sinai and the Promised Land — a journey that should have taken 11 days (Deuteronomy 1:2) but took 40 years due to unbelief.
Historical Context: Chapter 11 marks the beginning of Israel's tragic pattern of complaint and rebellion. Only three days after the triumphant departure from Sinai (10:33), the people begin complaining. The chapter records three crises: (1) general complaining met with fire at Taberah (vv.1-3), (2) craving for meat — the "mixed multitude" leads Israel into discontent with God's provision of manna (vv.4-9), and (3) Moses' overwhelming burden, answered by the Spirit given to seventy elders (vv.10-30). God sends quail in abundance, but a plague strikes those who craved — the place is named Kibroth-hattaavah, "graves of craving" (vv.31-34). This chapter reveals the heart of the wilderness generation: ungrateful, nostalgic for slavery, despising God's daily provision, and testing His patience. It also reveals Moses at his most human — exhausted, overwhelmed, even asking to die. God responds with both grace (sharing the burden) and judgment (plague on the greedy).
Fire at Taberah — Complaining (vv.1-3): "The people complained" (v.1) — the Hebrew suggests murmuring, grumbling about hardship. God hears; His anger kindles; fire burns "in the uttermost parts of the camp" (KJV) / "some outlying parts of the camp" (ESV) (v.1). The people cry to Moses; Moses prays; the fire stops (v.2). The place is named "Taberah" — "burning" (v.3). The first complaint, the first judgment. God's patience has limits.
The Craving for Meat (vv.4-9): "The mixt multitude" (KJV) / "the rabble" (ESV) — non-Israelites who left Egypt with them — "fell a lusting" (v.4). Israel joins in: "Who shall give us flesh to eat?" (v.4). They remember Egypt's food: fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, garlic (v.5) — "we did eat in Egypt freely" (v.5). They despise the manna: "our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna" (v.6). The narrator describes manna: like coriander seed, appearance of bdellium, ground or beaten, baked into cakes, tasting like fresh oil (vv.7-8). It falls with the dew every night (v.9). They have daily bread from heaven — and they despise it.
Moses' Burden and Despair (vv.10-15): Moses hears the people weeping "throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent" (v.10). God's anger blazes; Moses is "displeased" (v.10). Moses pours out his frustration to God: "Why have you laid the burden of all this people upon me?" (v.11). "Did I conceive all this people?" (v.12). "I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me" (v.14). His final plea: "Kill me, I pray thee, out of hand... let me not see my wretchedness" (v.15). Moses is at his breaking point — honest, raw, and desperate before God.
God's Two-Part Answer (vv.16-23): First, the burden: God commands Moses to gather seventy elders (v.16). "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" (v.17). Shared leadership, shared Spirit. Second, the meat: "Say unto the people, Sanctify yourselves... ye shall eat flesh" (v.18). Not one day or twenty — "a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you" (vv.19-20). The reason: "ye have despised the LORD which is among you" (v.20). Moses doubts: 600,000 men — how? (vv.21-22). God's rebuke: "Is the LORD's hand waxed short?" (v.23).
The Spirit on the Seventy Elders (vv.24-30): Moses gathers seventy elders around the Tabernacle (v.24). The LORD comes down in the cloud, takes of the Spirit on Moses, and puts it on the seventy — they prophesy (v.25). Two men (Eldad and Medad) remain in the camp but also receive the Spirit and prophesy there (v.26). Joshua is alarmed: "My lord Moses, forbid them" (v.28). Moses' magnificent response: "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!" (v.29). Moses desires not exclusive power but universal anointing. This is fulfilled at Pentecost (Acts 2:17-18).
The Quail and the Plague (vv.31-35): A wind from the LORD brings quail from the sea — a day's journey in every direction, two cubits deep (v.31). The people gather greedily — all day, all night, all the next day. The least anyone gathered: ten homers (approximately 60 bushels) (v.32). "While the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed" — the LORD strikes with a plague (v.33). The place is named Kibroth-hattaavah — "graves of craving" (v.34). They got what they wanted — and it killed them. They journey on to Hazeroth (v.35).

Map & Geography

  • Taberah (v.1-3): "Burning" — named because God's fire consumed the outskirts of the camp when the people complained.
  • Kibroth-hattaavah (v.34): "Graves of craving" — named because those who craved meat died here from God's plague.
  • Hazeroth (v.35): The next camp after Kibroth-hattaavah; the route proceeds northward toward Canaan through the wilderness of Paran.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik emphasizes the speed of Israel's fall — three days from triumph to complaint. He notes that the "mixed multitude" initiates the craving, showing the danger of ungodly influence. He highlights Moses' honesty with God as a model: bring your exhaustion to God, not to bitterness.
  • Charles Spurgeon: "They despised the manna. Daily bread from heaven — and they called it 'nothing.' Oh, the ingratitude of the human heart! God gives us Christ — the true bread from heaven — and we grow weary of Him. We want something more exciting, more flavorful, more varied. 'Nothing but this manna!' Nothing but Christ? Nothing but grace? Nothing but the Word of God? Beware the sin of Kibroth-hattaavah. Those who despise God's provision and crave the world's meat will find graves instead of satisfaction."

Reflection

  • 1. "Nothing at all, beside this manna" (v.6). They had daily bread from heaven — and called it "nothing." How often do you despise God's faithful, daily provision because it is not exciting enough? The ordinary grace of God is still miraculous.
  • 2. The mixed multitude leads (v.4). The craving starts with the "rabble" and spreads to Israel. Who influences your desires? Ungodly voices will always make you dissatisfied with God's provision. Guard your associations.
  • 3. Moses' honesty (vv.11-15). Moses does not pretend to be fine. He brings his exhaustion, frustration, and despair directly to God. This is not sin — this is faith. Better to cry out to God than to collapse in silence. God answers honest desperation.
  • 4. "Is the LORD's hand waxed short?" (v.23). Moses doubts God's ability to provide for 600,000. God's response: watch Me. Do you limit God by your calculations? His resources are not measured by your arithmetic.
  • 5. "Would God that all the LORD's people were prophets" (v.29). Moses has no jealousy over his position. True spiritual leadership desires others to have MORE of God, not less. This is fulfilled at Pentecost — the Spirit on ALL believers.
  • 6. Graves of craving (v.34). They got what they wanted — and it killed them. "He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul" (Psalm 106:15). Be careful what you demand from God. His "no" may be mercy; His "yes" may be judgment.