Numbers

Tells about the Israelites' 40 years in the desert, including their travels and the census of their tribes.

Chapter 11

1 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.

*When the people grumbled, God was unhappy. He heard them and became angry. Then, God's fire spread among them, burning those far away in the camp.

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

*The people called out to Moses, and when Moses asked God to help, the fire stopped burning.

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

*He named the place Taberah because there, the Lord's fire burned 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?

*The large mixed group with them wanted meat. The children of Israel cried again, asking who would provide them with meat 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:

*We remember the fish we ate in Egypt without cost. This included cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic.

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

*But now, our souls are very thirsty: we have only this manna to see.

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

*The manna looked like tiny coriander seeds and had the color 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.

*The people collected the harvest, processed it using mills or mortars, baked it into bread, and made cakes from it. It tasted like fresh oil.

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

*When the camp got dewed at night, manna fell on it too.

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.

*Then, Moses heard the people crying in their families, with each man standing at the entrance of his home; God became very angry, and so did Moses.

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?

*Moses asked the Lord, "Why did you cause me so much suffering? Why haven't you liked me, making me carry the weight of all these people?"

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?

*Did I create all these people? Did I give birth to them so you would tell me to take care of them like a nurturing parent carries a young child in their arms, to the land you promised their ancestors?

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.

*Where would I get meat to give everyone? They cry to me, asking for meat so they can eat.

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

*I can't handle all these people by myself, as it's too much for me to carry.

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.

*And if you treat me like this, please quickly end my life, if I have your favor; and don't make me witness my misery.

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.

*And God told Moses, "Bring me seventy older people from Israel who you know are leaders and in charge of others. Bring them to the meeting place, so they can stand with you there."

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.

*I will visit you and speak to you there. I'll transfer the spiritual power in you and give it to them. They'll share the responsibility of the people's burden with you, so you don't have to carry it all by yourself.

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.

*Tell the people, "Prepare yourselves for tomorrow, and you'll eat meat." You cried to God, "Who will provide us with meat?" We had enough food in Egypt, so God will give you meat to eat.

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

*You cannot eat for one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or 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?

*But if it takes an entire month for the terrible sickness to leave your body through your nose and become unbearable, it's because you disrespected the Lord who was with you. You cried in front of Him, asking why you even left 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.

*Moses said, "I have six hundred thousand people with me, and you want to provide meat for all of them for an entire 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?

*Will sheep and cows be killed for them to have enough food, or will all the fish in the sea be brought together for them to also have enough food?

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.

*And God told Moses, "Is God's power weakened?" You will see now if my promise happens as I said it would.

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.

*Moses shared God's message with the people, picked 70 older folks, and arranged them around the tent.

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.

*Then God appeared in a cloud and talked to Moses. He took some of the power from Moses and gave it to seventy older people. When they received this power, they were able to predict future events and didn't stop doing so.

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.

*But two men stayed in the camp, named Eldad and Medad. The spirit gave them the ability to prophesy. They were part of the written record, but didn't leave for the tabernacle.

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

*A young man ran to Moses and said, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying 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.

*Joshua, son of Nun and helper of Moses, a young man, replied, "Lord Moses, don't let 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!

*Moses asked him, "Are you jealous because of me? I wish all of God's people had the gift of prophecy, and that God would give them his Spirit."

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

*Moses and the older leaders went into the main area with the people 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.

*The Lord sent a wind that brought quails from the sea and dropped them around the camp, covering an area about a day's journey in distance on all sides, and reaching up to two cubits in height.

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.

*The people stayed on their feet the entire day and night, then all the next day. They collected quails during this time. The person who collected the least gathered ten large containers full. They spread out the quails around the camp for everyone to enjoy.

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.

*As soon as the people started eating the food, before they could even chew it, God became very angry with them and sent a terrible sickness to punish them.

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

*He named the place Kibrothhattaavah because that's where they buried the people who strongly wanted things not allowed.

35 And the people journeyed from Kibrothhattaavah unto Hazeroth; and abode at Hazeroth.

*The people traveled from Kibrothhattaavah to Hazeroth and stayed there.

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