Bible Commentary

Numbers 11:4-9

Matthew Henry on Numbers 11:4-9

Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · Matthew Henry · CC0 1.0 Universal

Man, having forsaken his proper rest, feels uneasy and wretched, though prosperous. They were weary of the provision God had made for them, although wholesome food and nourishing. It cost no money or care, and the labour of gathering it was very little indeed; yet they talked of Egypt's cheapness, and the fish they ate there freely; as if that cost them nothing, when they paid dearly for it with hard service!

While they lived on manna, they seemed exempt from the curse sin has brought on man, that in the sweat of his face he should eat bread; yet they speak of it with scorn. Peevish, discontented minds will find fault with that which has no fault in it, but that it is too good for them.

Those who might be happy, often make themselves miserable by discontent. They could not be satisfied unless they had flesh to eat. It is evidence of the dominion of the carnal mind, when we want to have the delights and satisfaction of sense.

We should not indulge in any desire which we cannot in faith turn into prayer, as we cannot when we ask meat for our lust. What is lawful of itself becomes evil, when God does not allot it to us, yet we desire it.

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commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 11:1-9MURMURING, LUSTING, AND LOATHING We have here a very painful self-revelation. Through prophets and apostles, and especially through his Son, God has said many humiliating things of the children of men, but nothing more…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryMatthew Henry on Numbers 11:4-15These verses represent things sadly unhinged and out of order in Israel, both the people and the prince uneasy. I. Here is the people fretting, and speaking against God himself (as it is interpreted, Psalm 78:19), notwi…Matthew HenrycommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 11:4-35THE SIN OF CONCUPISCENCE, AND ITS PUNISHMENT We have in this section a Divine commentary, in dark and terrible characters, on the commandment, "Thou shalt not covet." And we know that the record was given to us "to the…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 11:4The mixed multitude. Hebrew, ha-saphsuph, the gathered; the rift-raft, or rabble, which had followed the fortunes of Israel out of Egypt, where they had probably been strangers and slaves themselves. What the nature and…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 11:4-35EXPOSITION KIBROTH HATTAAVAH (Numbers 11:4-35).Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 11:4THE MIXED MULTITUDE I. How CAME IT THERE? It left Egypt with them (Exodus 12:38). It had been accumulating, one knows not how long, and in how many ways. Egypt had not been a very comfortable place even for the Egyptian…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 11:5We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely, i.e; gratis. No doubt this was an exaggeration on the part of the murmurers, but it is attested by classical writers that fish swarmed in the Nile waters, and cost…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 11:6Our soul is dried away. This exaggerated statement expressed their craving for the juicy and savoury food of which they had been thinking, and which was obviously unattainable in the wilderness. There is a physical crav…Joseph S. Exell and contributors