Paul Kretzmann Commentary - Numbers 11:1 - 11:3

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Paul Kretzmann Commentary - Numbers 11:1 - 11:3


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The Burning at Taberah

v. 1. And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; literally, "when the people were voicing their complaints over evil in the ears of Jehovah"; for the discomforts and inconveniences of even these three days of desert journey caused them to groan and to murmur. And the Lord heard it, although at this time it was still done more in secret, Psa_78:18; and His anger was kindled, like a fire that flares up suddenly; and the fire of the Lord, sent in a supernatural way as a punishment upon them, burned among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp, probably in the same manner as in the case of Nadab and Abihu, Lev_10:2. The mysterious, consuming fire started at the edges of the encampment and was threatening to devour all the people.

v. 2. And the people cried unto Moses,
their terror made them turn to the one man who had shown himself their ready champion at all times; and when Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire was quenched, it sank down and went out, the purpose of the Lord in filling the people with a wholesome fear having been accomplished.

v. 3. And he
(Moses) called the name of the place Taberah, that is, burning, or, place of burning, because the fire of the Lord burned among them. This was only one part, or section, of the camp, but it lived in the memory of the people, Deu_9:22. When the children of the Lord murmur against His dispensations, He finds it necessary occasionally to visit them with severe punishments; but if they then cry to Him with sorrowful and repentant hearts, He turns to them again with the fullness of His grace and mercy.