Numbers 11, 12, 13, 14 Commentary by Mark Dunagan

NUMBERS Chapters 11-14 According to Numbers chapter 33, Israel camped at twenty spots en route from Sinai to Kadesh. This journey took several months. In Numbers 11:1 through 12:16, only three episodes along the way are described.

Chapter 11 11:1 After only three days of traveling the complaints started! “in the hearing of the Lord”-i.e. the people didn’t inwardly grumble, rather their complaints were public and vocal. “Leaving the relative fertility of the area around Sinai, the Israelites soon found themselves in the most inhospitable desert” (Wenham p.

106) “and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp”-some believe that this refers to God using lightening strikes to punish some of the people on the fringe of the camp. But carefully note that the actual type of fire is never mentioned, what is mentioned is that this wasn’t an accident or chance occurrence, rather this fire came directly from God. Note, such is very merciful. “He might have cast his fire into the very midst of the camp and killed many more persons than suffered this terrible judgment” (Gaebelein p. 787).

Point To Note: Be impressed that unless people really change from within, that when the going gets tough, they will repeatedly return to the sins of the past. After crossing the Red Sea, the Israelites had also murmured after a three day journey (Exodus 15:22-24).

11:2 Such grabbed the attention of the people! They certainly didn’t want to become like Nabad and Abihu (Lev. 10:1-2). In spite of their ingratitude Moses continued to intercede for them. Even in the OT we often see mercy in the midst of wrath, and God extending another chance to undeserving people (Psalm 103:10; Acts 17:30). Instead of viewing God as extremely quick to judgment, I believe we are seeing that God is being more patient with these ungrateful people, that we would be. Here we also learn that being one of “God’s people”

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won’t spare you, if you are rebellious. How ironic that the people complain about the leadership of God and Moses, and yet they realize that Moses lives close to the Lord, and that the Lord hears his prayers. In like manner, some professed Christians today seem to have a love/hate relationship with God. 11:3 The place name “Taberah” (TAB uh ruh) means “burning” (Deut. 9:22).

Complaint About Food 11:4 “rabble”-this term probably denotes the non-Israelites who joined in the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 12:38; Leviticus 24:10). In the wilderness of Sin the people had complained because of a seemingly lack of food, here they complain because to them their diet lacks variety. “had greedy desires”-which infers that they wouldn’t have been happy regardless of what God had given them.

11:4 “also the sons of Israel”-Instead of standing up for God’s care, and rebuking these unbelievers, even the Israelites began to complain. And how often do we do the same thing? How often do we allow worldly attitudes to color our perspective of God, His Word or His care? Before you grumble, remember, murmuring is contagious! And next time you hear someone claiming about the things of God—come to God’s defense!

11:5-6 Romanticizing the past is a common temptation. “The miseries of the past have gradually been forgotten and what they lack in the present is perceived as the lost riches of the past. The pressures that led to their departure have lost their immediacy and the stark realities of life in the wilderness make the freedom for which they once yearned seem of little value.

The ‘house of slavery’ has become a land of idleness and luxury” (Noorditzij p.

97). Like Esau, these people were willing to trade favor with God, for some meat (Genesis 25:30). But how often do we basically make the same mistake?

How often do we grumble when we are deprived of some little luxury or comfort?

For what small pleasure are we tempted to trade our souls? (Matthew 16:24ff) 11:6 Instead of appreciating the manna, the bread of angels (Psalm 78:25), they despised it. When people today despise the simple organizational structure or worship services of the Church, they are acting just like this generation. Are we tempted to devise the simple and basic teachings in the NT? Are we tired of our “manna”?

11:7 Here we are given another description of the manna. See Exodus 16:3136. “bdellium”-a gum resin, possibly of a pale yellow color.

Point To Note:

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Be impressed that God knew that the people needed a balanced diet, but the people after only three days of traveling can no longer trust God or wait for God to provide. These people didn’t believe that God would provide for them and that God was truly good and generous.

11:10 What a bad example these parents set for their children! Actually complaining about God’s blessings and care! And note, they were completely unashamed, they publicly wept at the doors of their tents. Be impressed how quickly a bad attitude, ingratitude and disrespect for God’s will can spread. But do we or are we repeating the same mistake? Do we air our complaints about the things of God in the hearing of our children?

11:11-15 Such ingratitude even affected the attitude of Moses. Rather than continuing to lead such a rebellious people, Moses claimed that he would prefer a instant death (compare with 1 Kings 19:4; Jeremiah 20:14-18). From verse 13, it is clear that the people were pressuring Moses to come up with a better diet, that many of the people had personally complained to Moses. In verse 11, Moses for a moment gives into the temptation, which says, “Nothing bad should happen to me, if I am faithful”. “Life should be for the most part smooth sailing if one is obedient”. For a moment Moses wallows in self-pity and is more concerned about his own personal comfort, than the glory of God. But, like all those who walk by faith, Moses will quickly snap out of it, and come to God’s defense.

11:16-20 God responds to Moses’ complaint. Note the tender mercy and grace extended to Moses, note how God answers each point in his prayer. The leadership problem would be solved by endowing some of the elders with the same Spirit which was on Moses. The food problem would be solved quickly.

God would bring meat to their camp the very next day. How often do we have a very limited view of the power of God? What seems to Moses as the last straw or a problem which cannot be solved, is solved very quickly and easily.

11:20 But this miraculous provision of meat, would also contain a punishment.

For an entire month the people would gorge themselves on meat, until they were sick of it.

Point To Note: Here we learn that if God really gave us what we presently claim that we really need to be faithful and happy, we would probably get sick and tired of what we right now think that we can’t live without. “it effectively communicates the truth that those who reject the perfect purposes of God find the alternatives nauseous and undesirable” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 227).

11:21-22 Moses can’t believe God’s promise. Moses is looking at what He can see, Moses is thinking in terms of the limited physical resources that surround him. How often do we walk by sight, rather than by faith? (2 Cor. 5:7). How often do we allow ourselves to become discouraged by the “apparent” lack of 3

resources, and complain, “but God we can’t do what you have commanded!”

How often do we think that the church, as God set it up is completely unable to do all her work?

11:23 “Is the Lord’s power limited?” A question that needs to be addressed to everyone who stumbles over something that they read in the Bible! When people can’t believe that God created the universe in six days, or that the flood of Noah was universal in scope, or that the actual Red Sea was parted, or that the gospel can really penetrate the heart….they need to read this verse (Genesis 18:14). “Now you shall see”-in like manner, everyone will one day “see” that the Bible was true, that God means what He says, and that sin will be punished and righteousness rewarded.

11:26 “Eldad” (EL dad), “Medad” (ME dad). No reason is given why these two men had not assembled with the others, but it is clear that God wanted them to assist Moses just like the others. The text in this section states that these elders prophesied, but they did not continue to do so. “It seems that the temporary gift of prophecy to these elders was primarily to establish their credentials as Spiritempowered leaders rather than to make them ongoing agents of the prophecy of the Spirit” (Gaebelein p. 794).

11:27-29 Joshua took such as a threat and failed to realize that the elders weren’t trying to usurp the authority of Moses, rather they were being given to assist him, and make his load easily. We need to appreciate the humility of Moses on this occasion. He didn’t covet the divine gifts which he possessed, he didn’t want to keep God all to himself, rather, He wished that everyone had access to God and God’s gifts as he did. In like manner, oh that there were more deacons, preachers, elders, and teachers in the church!

11:31 Apparently the birds were only flying about three feet above the ground so the people could easily capture them or club them to the ground.

11:32 Two homers, some say the equivalent would be about 60 bushels, or 500 gallons. And this is what the person gathered who was poorest at catching these birds! Following this capture, they place the meat upon the ground to dry in the sun.

11:33 Some apparently could not wait until the meat was properly dried, and greedily began to consume the flesh. “The scene must have been similar to a riot: people screaming, birds flapping their wings, everywhere the pell-mell movement of meat-hungry people in a sea of birds. Dare we picture people ripping at the birds, eating flesh before cooking it, bestial in behavior? They must have been like a sugar-crazed boy in a child’s daydream, afloat on a chocolate sandwich cookie raft in a sea of chocolate syrup, nibbling at the cookie before drowning in the dark, sweet sea…Before they could swallow, God made them choke” (Gaebelein p. 795).

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11:34-35 “Kibroth-hattaavah”-(KIB rahth huh TAY uh vuh) (The graves of gluttony).

“Hazeroth”-(HAH zuh rahth). Possibly modern Ain Hadra, about 30 miles northeast of Mount Sinai.

Chapter 12 12:1 It is one thing for others to complain about your leadership abilities, etc…, but now the brother and sister of Moses grumble against him. “In chapter 12 the attacks against Moses come from his sister and his brother. These are the most unkindhearted cuts of all” (Gaebelein p. 796).

12:1 “Cushite woman”-This complaint appears to be a smokescreen to veil what Miriam and Aaron were really upset about, i.e. “Why is Moses God’s favorite?”

The placement of Miraim’s name, seems to indicate that the complaint had started with her. In addition, the verb is in the third person feminine singular.

The “Cushite” woman in this section is a matter of debate among various writers.

Some say that Moses had actually taken a second wife, or a new wife following the death of Zipporah, because the term Cush frequently refers to the region of Ethiopia, and Zipporah was a Midianite. Yet this woman might be identical with Zipporah. Habakkuk 3:7 and some Assyrian texts do link Midian and Cushan together. Gaebelein notes, “It is possible that Moses’ wife Zipporah, is intended by this phrase. If so, then her foreign ancestry is attacked…Perhaps her skins was more swarthy (dark-skinned) than the average person in Israel. It is possible that the term ‘Cushite’ was a slanderous term stemming from racism?” (p. 797). Smith speculates, “The influence of Miriam the sister had waned after the arrival of Zipporah at Sinai” (p. 430), that is Miriam took this woman as being a threat to her prominence among the people. It appears that Miriam and Aaron, disillusioned or jealous of Moses’ leadership, simply had used the marriage as an excuse to start attacking Moses.

But what real leadership abilities had Miriam or Aaron really displayed? Where was Miriam when the people made the golden calf? Where the Miriam and Aaron when the people grumbled? Nothing is said about them standing up, demonstrating leadership, rebuking the people, praying to God, etc….And Aaron, what a hypocrite! He should have been thankful that God had allowed him to live, following the infamous golden calf incident! Once again, we see Aaron as more of a follower, than a leader.

12:2 Here appears to be what they were really upset about. “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses?” Envy, perhaps simmering for a long time now came to the surface. Evidently, both Miriam and Aaron wanted more power and influence for themselves. God had spoken through others, including Miriam and Aaron, but his principal spokesman is ever Moses. The prophetic gifting of the seventy elders (11:24-30), appears to be what motivated Miriam and Aaron to bring forward their complaint at this time.

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What mistakes and sins we commit when we forget how blessed we are: God had spoken through Miriam after the deliverance from Egypt (Exodus 15:20).

The Lord had appointed Aaron has high priest, he was Moses’ prophet to the people (Exodus 4:16,27). He had been given the Urim and Thummin, and thus he always bears the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord (Exodus 28:30). But none of this had been good enough!

12:3 But their complaint was completely unjustified. In spite of the fact that Moses had been God’s principal spokesman, Moses remained humble. He hadn’t been throwing his weight around, or rubbing people’s noses in the fact that he was the boss.

12:4 The Lord responds swiftly. This was a serious matter, because a person no less than the high priest had questioned Moses’ position of authority. In effect, they were trying to tell God who should be in charge, and they were accusing God of selecting the wrong person for the job.

12:6-8 God defends His servant Moses. First, God reserves the right to chose who and how He speaks with people. Second, God makes it clear that He had chosen to speak to Moses in a unique manner. To other prophets God may speak in a variety of ways (Hebrews 1:1-2). But to Moses there is a one-on-one relationship. “At the very least, these words speak of an unprecedented level of intimacy between God and Moses” (Gaebelein p. 801). Thirdly, Moses was singled out for such relationship because of His faithfulness. Which should of made Miriam and Aaron examine their own lives. From other passages we know that Moses did not actually see God as God is (Exodus 33:18-23). “So privileged (and faithful) was Moses in his access to God that the Lord asked how Aaron and Miriam could dare speak against Moses” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p.

228).

12:9-12 Give Aaron this much credit, even though he had went along with his sister, he quickly acknowledge their sin—as sin (11).

12:13 In spite of her complaints, Moses immediately requests that God would heal her. Moses is a man who can’t bear a grudge and who doesn’t have a chip on his shoulder.

12:14 “Despite the earnest plea of Moses, God was unwilling to pardon Miriam’s behavior lightly, because by rebelling against Moses she had committed the serious offense of questioning God’s judgment and authority. So that she would understand completely the implications of what she had done, she was forced to bear the shame of a public rebuke. In practical terms this involved living as an outcast beyond the encampment for seven days, just as she would have done if, in a family argument, her father had given her a sign of rejection by spitting on her” (Harrison p. 198).

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12:16 “wilderness of Paran”-the desert of Paran was to be the staging area for the attack on the land of Canaan. In spite of their previous grumbling and lack of faith, thus far God is still willing to be with them and give them the land of Canaan. “Yes, there had been troubled times on the journey. But glory awaits.

Or at least that is what should have been the case” (Gaebelein p. 803).

Chapter 13 “The vindication of Moses as the servant of the Lord has been stunning and unforgettable. The presence of the people in the vastness of their numbers here on the plateau of Paran is undeniable….The faithfulness of the Lord to his promise and his commitment to his people are sure and unalterable. Given all the experiences that the people have gone through in the previous months of preparation and journey, at last---at long last—it was time to claim God’s word, to believe in his power, to march in his name, and to enter his land” (Gaebelein pp.

803-804).

13:1-16 The command to select spies to send into the land of Canaan.

13:16 Here we learn that Joshua’s name had been Hoshea (salvation), but Moses had changed it to Joshua (Jehovah Saves), the later form is the Hebrew spelling for the name Jesus.

13:17-25 Details given concerning the activity of this secret campaign. The spies explored the entire length of Canaan as far north as Rehob and the entrance of Hamath, i.e. very near what would later be the northern border of Israelite territory, i.e. modern Syria.

“Negev”-lit., “south”, refers to all the desert of southern Canaan, especially the area from Beersheba south.

“Hill country”-consisted of the mountains of Judah, north to the hills of Ephraim, and all the way to the heights of what would later be called Galilee.

13:20 “the time was the time of the first ripe grapes”-i.e. toward the end of July.

“Rehob”-(REE hahb); “Lebo-hamath”-probably modern Lebweh, which is 14 miles northwest of Baalbek. Hamath was an important Aramean city in the great Central Valley known as the Beqa. Lebo Hamath was at the lower part of that valley which began just north of the Sea of Galilee..

13:22 “Ahiman”-(a HIGH mun); “Sheshai”-(SHEE shigh); “Talmai”-(TAL migh).

These three men were descendants of Anak or the Anakim, who were a race of giants (see also Joshua 15:14 and Judges 1:10).

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13:22 “seven years before Zoan in Egypt”-Zoan was originally named Tanis. “If the founding of Tanis is dated correctly in the Hyksos period, the rebuilding or extension of Hebron would have taken place about 1728 B.C.. When Abraham lived in this area, Hebron was known as Kiriath-arba (Genesis 12-25)” (Harrison p. 206).

13:23 “Eshcol” (ESH cuhl). This reconnaissance party would be returning about the time the vintage harvest (September to October) was just beginning. The grape cluster attested to the productively of the land---God had been truthful!

This cluster was so large that it took two men to carry it undamaged back to the camp. In commemoration, they named this valley, the ‘valley of the cluster’.

Looking about the information given, the spies covered a distance of about 250 miles each way.

13:25-26 “Kadesh”-i.e. Kadesh-barnea (kay Desh bar NEE uh). Was situated about 70 miles from Hebron and about 50 miles from Beersheba. In this area were three major oasis’s.

13:27 Note the language, “where you sent us”, they fail to mention that God was the one who had actually sent them. Neither did they say, “the land which God has given to us”.

13:28 “What is strange is the spies’ interest in the city of Hebron is what they do not mention. This was the burial place of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Leah. Why would they not have said, ‘Here we have arrived at the place where our fathers and mothers are buried. Where they lie, soon we shall live?’ Instead of looking to the patriarchs and the promises, the spies noticed the size of buildings and statures of persons. Moreover, they ignored the clear timetable of God as recorded in Genesis 15” (Gaebelein p. 810).

13:28-29 Unbelief becomes preoccupied with the apparent obstacles.

“Archaeological discoveries at Canaanite sites of that period have confirmed the presence of strong fortifications surrounding cities such as Hebron” (Harrison p.

207).

13:30 Caleb interrupts, knowing that such a report was emphasizing the negative and not God’s faithfulness or promises.

13:31 “we are not able”-which means, “God is not able”. In like manner, when we claim that we can’t change or give up a sinful attitude or practice, we are saying that God is a liar.

13:32-33 “Nephilim”-(NEFF ih lem) (Genesis 6:4). Which like the Anakim were a race of large and tall men (Deut. 9:2). Suddenly all the people in Canaan were giants! Compare the attitude here, with the attitude that David manifested (1 Samuel 17:4-50). Suddenly, the vast majority of the people had completely forgotten that God has destroyed the powerful Egyptian army, an army which 8

was part of a world empire. Compared to the mighty power of Egypt, the inhabitants in Canaan were small-fry.

Point To Note: God hadn’t been deceitful, He had told them that the land contained inhabitants (Exodus 3:8). But He had also proven His ability to keep His promises and overcome even the best and most sophisticated human military might.

Chapter 14 14:1-3 Fear underlies so much unbelief. Fear paralyzes one, keeps one from acting and leads to accusations and complains against God and the faithful.

Note, no one talked about God’s grace, His miracles of the recent past.

“Forgotten was the act of God where the most powerful nation of their world was stymied….The thunder of Sinai, the fire of God, that he had spoken and delivered and graced his people beyond imagination---all these things were forgotten…Fear unchecked becomes its own fuel” (Gaebelein p. 813).

“Forgetful of God’s power against Egypt, surely a nation stronger than any petty Palestinian city-state, the people worked themselves into such a frenzy of fear that they wished that God had not brought them here at all” (p. 814). But the same attitude is often heard when professed Christians get discouraged, and say, “Why did I ever become a Christian in the first place?” Or, “hey, when I decided to become a Christian, I didn’t sign up for…”

14:4 This time instead of longing after Egypt, they actually decide to return! As if the Egyptians would welcome them with open arms and friendly attitudes!

14:5-9 Moses, Aaron, Joshua and Caleb realize the “time”, the opportunity that is about to be missed. They realize that the real “grasshoppers”, the people who should be afraid are the inhabitants of Canaan, for God has removed His protection from them (14:9), they are ripe for judgment (Genesis 15:16).

14:10 As is typical, unbelievers are not in any mood to hear sound doctrine or “bible thumping”. Trust in the Word of God seems so crazy, following the commands in the Bible seems like the dumbest thing in the world to people who have become unbelievers. Often we hear, “Oh, the Bible is such an unrealistic standard”, or, “sounds good, but it doesn’t work in the real world”, or, “you just think that the Bible has the answer to everything, but when you grow up, you will find out that life is more complicated than that”.

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14:11-20 God listens to Moses’ intercession. Be impressed with Moses’ love for such ungrateful people, and his intense concern about the reputation of God. He is willing to endure any amount of personal hardship or discomfort—just as long as God is glorified! Is that our attitude? “The divine pardon does not mean Israel will escape all punishment for their sin, only that they will not suffer the total annihilation they deserve” (Wenham p. 122). Even though they are forgiven, they still can’t enter the land of Canaan. Forgiveness doesn’t mean that the physical or earthly consequences for your sin are necessarily removed.

“This illustrates the fact that sin may be forgiven but its consequences may endure and preclude God’s otherwise intended blessings” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 232).

14:22-24/28-35 The consequences are spelled out. All the men twenty years and upward will die in the wilderness over a period of forty years. Which means that they their life span will be shortened! All the men in that category, expect Joshua and Caleb. Because Joshua and Caleb had a different attitude, they had trusted completely in God, they had come to His defense, stood for the truth, magnified His faithfulness and were prepared to obey anything God commanded.

14:36-37 God has very little tolerance for people who cause others to stumble.

10 of the spies had been stumbling-blocks (Matthew 18:6ff). They had been skeptics, they had sowed the seeds of unbelief, they had questioned the promises of God, denied the truthfulness of His word, and had helped prevent the people from obtaining what God had promised them. When it comes to implementing the commands in the Bible are we like Joshua and Caleb, or is our attitude like that of the ten spies?

14:40-45 Unbelief also manifests itself in refusing to accept God’s punishment.

The people here think that they can do some “extra-credit”. Arrogance always thinks that it has a better idea than what God has said. Or, that God will be impressed with some display of human wisdom, human courage or human ingenuity. These people still haven’t learned to take God seriously or His servant Moses. Some people think that confession of sin should just set everything right again, and that there should be no negative consequences.

“Hormah”-some eight miles southeast of Beersheba

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