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murmuring was now rebellion, and as such it must receive prompt and
signal punishment, if Israel was to be preserved from anarchy and ruin.
“The fire of Jehovah burnt among them, and consumed them that were
in the uttermost parts of the camp.” The most guilty of the complainers
were slain by lightning from the cloud.
The people in terror besought Moses to entreat the Lord for them.
He did so, and the fire was quenched. In memory of this judgment he
called the name of the place Taberah, “a burning.”
But the evil was soon worse than before. Instead of leading the
survivors to humiliation and repentance, this fearful judgment seemed
only to increase their murmurings. In all directions the people were
gathered at the door of their tents, weeping and lamenting. “The mixed
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? We
remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers,
and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic: but
now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna,
before our eyes.” Thus they manifested their discontent with the food
provided for them by their Creator. Yet they had constant evidence
that it was adapted to their wants; for notwithstanding the hardships
they endured, there was not a feeble one in all their tribes.
The heart of Moses sank. He had pleaded that Israel should not be
destroyed, even though his own posterity might then become a great
nation. In his love for them he had prayed that his name might be
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blotted from the book of life rather than that they should be left to
perish. He had imperiled all for them, and this was their response. All
their hardships, even their imaginary sufferings, they charged upon
him; and their wicked murmurings made doubly heavy the burden of
care and responsibility under which he staggered. In his distress he
was tempted even to distrust God. His prayer was almost a complaint.
“Wherefore hast Thou afflicted Thy servant? and wherefore have I not
found favor in Thy sight, that Thou layest the burden of all this people
upon me? ... whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people?
for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat. I am
not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.”
The Lord hearkened to his prayer, and directed him to summon
seventy men of the elders of Israel—men not only advanced in years,
but possessing dignity, sound judgment, and experience. “And bring