Numbers — Chapter 11

The people murmur as if groaning under labour; God's anger is kindled and fire consumes the extremity of the camp (Taberah = Conflagration); Lapide identifies the cause as concupiscence for the flesh-pots of Egypt, not mere fatigue.

The mixed multitude craved flesh; they wept remembering the fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic of Egypt: \"Our soul is dry and our eyes see nothing but this manna.\" The concupiscence of the flesh loathes heavenly food.

Moral commentary on the nature of the mob: Lapide assembles fourteen maxims from Philo, Plutarch, Tacitus, Polybius, Antisthenes, and others, concluding: the multitude is governed by passion, not reason; it craves what it was accustomed to, and abhors what is new and heavenly.

The manna was like coriander seed, the colour of bdellium; yet despite its miraculous variety of taste (Wis 16:20), the people were nauseated because the form, colour, and manner remained constant; the concupiscent eye craves novelty above all.

Moses cries to the Lord: \"Why hast thou laid the burden of all this people upon me?... I am not able to bear all this people alone, for it is too heavy for me.\" Even the greatest saints are burdened by the weight of pastoral care.

God commands Moses to gather 70 elders; \"I will take of thy spirit and will give to them, that they may bear the burden of the people with thee.\" True authority is shared, not diminished; the spirit given to others is not lost to Moses.

The Spirit rested on the 70 elders and they prophesied; Eldad and Medad also prophesied in the camp — prophetic gifts are poured out freely, not confined to official channels.

Moses' magnanimous response to Joshua's complaint: \"Why art thou jealous for me? Would that all the people were prophets and the Lord gave them his spirit!\" A model of holy unselfishness in spiritual authority.

God sends quails from the sea; while the flesh is still between their teeth, the Lord's anger blazes and He strikes the people with a very great plague; the place is called Kibroth-hattaavah (Sepulchres of Concupiscence). Concupiscence punished by its own satisfaction.