The Complaints of the People

1  וַיְהִ֤י (and) הָעָם֙ (the people) כְּמִתְאֹ֣נְנִ֔ים (complained) רַ֖ע (of adversity) בְּאָזְנֵ֣י (it displeased) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH). וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע (And for heard it) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH), וַיִּ֣חַר (and was kindled) אַפּ֔וֹ (His anger). וַתִּבְעַר־ (And burned) בָּם֙ (among them) אֵ֣שׁ (the fire) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) וַתֹּ֖אכַל (and consumed some) בִּקְצֵ֥ה (in the outskirts) הַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ (of the camp). 2  וַיִּצְעַ֥ק (And cried out) הָעָ֖ם (the people) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֑ה (Moses), וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֤ל (and prayed) מֹשֶׁה֙ (Moses) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH), וַתִּשְׁקַ֖ע (and was quenched) הָאֵֽשׁ׃ (the fire). 3  וַיִּקְרָ֛א (And he called) שֵֽׁם־ (the name) הַמָּק֥וֹם (of the place) הַה֖וּא (that) תַּבְעֵרָ֑ה (Taberah), כִּֽי־ (because) בָעֲרָ֥ה (had burned) בָ֖ם (among them) אֵ֥שׁ (the fire) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

4  וְהָֽאסַפְסֻף֙ (And the rabble) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who were) בְּקִרְבּ֔וֹ (among them) הִתְאַוּ֖וּ (had yielded) תַּאֲוָ֑ה (to craving), וַיָּשֻׁ֣בוּ (and again) וַיִּבְכּ֗וּ (and wept) גַּ֚ם (also) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (and said), מִ֥י (Who) יַאֲכִלֵ֖נוּ (will let us eat) בָּשָֽׂר׃ (flesh)? 5  זָכַ֙רְנוּ֙ (We remember) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּגָ֔ה (the fish) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) נֹאכַ֥ל (we ate) בְּמִצְרַ֖יִם (in Egypt) חִנָּ֑ם (freely), אֵ֣ת (-) הַקִּשֻּׁאִ֗ים (the cucumbers), וְאֵת֙ (and) הָֽאֲבַטִּחִ֔ים (the melons), וְאֶת־ (and) הֶחָצִ֥יר (the leeks), וְאֶת־ (and) הַבְּצָלִ֖ים (the onions), וְאֶת־ (and) הַשּׁוּמִֽים׃ (the garlic). 6  וְעַתָּ֛ה (And) נַפְשֵׁ֥נוּ (our soul) יְבֵשָׁ֖ה (is dried up). אֵ֣ין (There is nothing) כֹּ֑ל (at all), בִּלְתִּ֖י (except) אֶל־ (unto) הַמָּ֥ן (this manna) עֵינֵֽינוּ׃ (our eyes).

7  וְהַמָּ֕ן (And the manna) כִּזְרַע־ (like seed) גַּ֖ד (coriander) ה֑וּא (was), וְעֵינ֖וֹ (and its eye) כְּעֵ֥ין (was like the eye of) הַבְּדֹֽלַח׃ (of bdellium). 8  שָׁטוּ֩ (Went about) הָעָ֨ם (the people) וְלָֽקְט֜וּ (and gathered it), וְטָחֲנ֣וּ (and ground it) בָרֵחַ֗יִם (on millstones), א֤וֹ (or) דָכוּ֙ (beat it) בַּמְּדֹכָ֔ה (in the mortar), וּבִשְּׁלוּ֙ (and cooked it) בַּפָּר֔וּר (in the pan), וְעָשׂ֥וּ (and made) אֹת֖וֹ (of it) עֻג֑וֹת (cakes), וְהָיָ֣ה (and was) טַעְמ֔וֹ (its taste) כְּטַ֖עַם (like the taste) לְשַׁ֥ד (of pastry) הַשָּֽׁמֶן׃ (of the oil). 9  וּבְרֶ֧דֶת (And in the descending) הַטַּ֛ל (of the dew) עַל־ (on) הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה (the camp) לָ֑יְלָה (by night), יֵרֵ֥ד (fell) הַמָּ֖ן (the manna) עָלָֽיו׃ (on it).

The Complaint of Moses

10  וַיִּשְׁמַ֨ע (And heard) מֹשֶׁ֜ה (Moses) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֗ם (the people) בֹּכֶה֙ (weeping) לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֔יו (throughout their families), אִ֖ישׁ (everyone) לְפֶ֣תַח (at the door) אָהֳל֑וֹ (of his tent), וַיִּֽחַר־ (and was kindled) אַ֤ף (the anger) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH) מְאֹ֔ד (greatly); וּבְעֵינֵ֥י (and in the eyes) מֹשֶׁ֖ה (of Moses) רָֽע׃ (it was evil).

11  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) מֹשֶׁ֜ה (Moses) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH), לָמָ֤ה (Why) הֲרֵעֹ֙תָ֙ (have You afflicted) לְעַבְדֶּ֔ךָ (Your servant)? וְלָ֛מָּה (And why) לֹא־ (not) מָצָ֥תִי (have I found) חֵ֖ן (favor) בְּעֵינֶ֑יךָ (in Your eyes), לָשׂ֗וּם (that You have laid) אֶת־ (-) מַשָּׂ֛א (the burden) כָּל־ (of all) הָעָ֥ם (the people) הַזֶּ֖ה (this) עָלָֽי׃ (on me). 12  הֶאָנֹכִ֣י (Did I) הָרִ֗יתִי (conceive) אֵ֚ת (-) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֣ם (the people) הַזֶּ֔ה (this)? אִם־ (Or) אָנֹכִ֖י (did I) יְלִדְתִּ֑יהוּ (beget them), כִּֽי־ (that) תֹאמַ֨ר (You should say) אֵלַ֜י (to me) שָׂאֵ֣הוּ (Carry them) בְחֵיקֶ֗ךָ (in your bosom), כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר (as) יִשָּׂ֤א (carries) הָאֹמֵן֙ (a guardian) אֶת־ (-) הַיֹּנֵ֔ק (a nursing child), עַ֚ל (to) הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה (the land) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) נִשְׁבַּ֖עְתָּ (You swore) לַאֲבֹתָֽיו׃ (to their fathers)?

13  מֵאַ֤יִן (From where) לִי֙ (to me) בָּשָׂ֔ר (is flesh) לָתֵ֖ת (to give) לְכָל־ (to all) הָעָ֣ם (the people) הַזֶּ֑ה (this)? כִּֽי־ (For) יִבְכּ֤וּ (they weep) עָלַי֙ (over me) לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), תְּנָה־ (Give) לָּ֥נוּ (us) בָשָׂ֖ר (flesh), וְנֹאכֵֽלָה׃ (that we may eat).

14  לֹֽא־ (Not) אוּכַ֤ל (am able) אָנֹכִי֙ (I) לְבַדִּ֔י (alone) לָשֵׂ֖את (to bear) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֣ם (the people) הַזֶּ֑ה (this), כִּ֥י (because) כָבֵ֖ד (it is too heavy) מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ (for me). 15  וְאִם־ (And if) כָּ֣כָה׀ (like this) אַתְּ־ (You) עֹ֣שֶׂה (treat) לִּ֗י (me), הָרְגֵ֤נִי (kill me) נָא֙ (please) הָרֹ֔ג (right now)— אִם־ (if) מָצָ֥אתִי (I have found) חֵ֖ן (favor) בְּעֵינֶ֑יךָ (in Your eyes)— וְאַל־ (and not) אֶרְאֶ֖ה (do let me see) בְּרָעָתִֽי׃פ (my wretchedness).

Seventy Elders Anointed

16  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֗ה (Moses), אֶסְפָה־ (Gather) לִּ֞י (to Me) שִׁבְעִ֣ים (seventy) אִישׁ֮ (men) מִזִּקְנֵ֣י (of the elders) יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ (of Israel), אֲשֶׁ֣ר (whom) יָדַ֔עְתָּ (you know) כִּי־ (that) הֵ֛ם (they are) זִקְנֵ֥י (the elders) הָעָ֖ם (of the people) וְשֹׁטְרָ֑יו (and officers over them), וְלָקַחְתָּ֤ (and bring) אֹתָם֙ (them) אֶל־ (to) אֹ֣הֶל (the Tent) מוֹעֵ֔ד (of Meeting), וְהִֽתְיַצְּב֥וּ (that they may stand) שָׁ֖ם (there) עִמָּֽךְ׃ (with you).

17  וְיָרַדְתִּ֗י (And I will come down) וְדִבַּרְתִּ֣י (and talk) עִמְּךָ֮ (with you) שָׁם֒ (there), וְאָצַלְתִּ֗י (and I will take) מִן־ (of) הָר֛וּחַ (the Spirit) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that is) עָלֶ֖יךָ (upon you), וְשַׂמְתִּ֣י (and will put the same) עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם (upon them). וְנָשְׂא֤וּ (And they shall bear) אִתְּךָ֙ (with you) בְּמַשָּׂ֣א (the burden) הָעָ֔ם (of the people), וְלֹא־ (that not) תִשָּׂ֥א (may bear it) אַתָּ֖ה (you) לְבַדֶּֽךָ׃ (yourself alone).

18  וְאֶל־ (And to) הָעָ֨ם (the people) תֹּאמַ֜ר (you shall say), הִתְקַדְּשׁ֣וּ (Consecrate yourselves) לְמָחָר֮ (for tomorrow), וַאֲכַלְתֶּ֣ם (and you⁺ shall eat) בָּשָׂר֒ (flesh); כִּ֡י (for) בְּכִיתֶם֩ (you⁺ have wept) בְּאָזְנֵ֨י (in the ears) יְהוָ֜ה (of YHWH), לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying), מִ֤י (Who) יַאֲכִלֵ֙נוּ֙ (will let us eat) בָּשָׂ֔ר (flesh), כִּי־ (for) ט֥וֹב (it was well) לָ֖נוּ (with us) בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם (in Egypt). וְנָתַ֨ן (And will give) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) לָכֶ֛ם (to you⁺) בָּשָׂ֖ר (flesh), וַאֲכַלְתֶּֽם׃ (and you⁺ shall eat). 19  לֹ֣א (Not) י֥וֹם (day) אֶחָ֛ד (one) תֹּאכְל֖וּן (you⁺ shall eat), וְלֹ֣א (and not) יוֹמָ֑יִם (two days) וְלֹ֣א׀ (and not) חֲמִשָּׁ֣ה (five) יָמִ֗ים (days) וְלֹא֙ (and not) עֲשָׂרָ֣ה (ten) יָמִ֔ים (days) וְלֹ֖א (and not) עֶשְׂרִ֥ים (twenty) יֽוֹם׃ (days), 20  עַ֣ד׀ (but for) חֹ֣דֶשׁ (a month of) יָמִ֗ים (days), עַ֤ד (until) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) יֵצֵא֙ (it comes out) מֵֽאַפְּכֶ֔ם (of your⁺ nostrils) וְהָיָ֥ה (and becomes) לָכֶ֖ם (to you⁺) לְזָרָ֑א (loathsome), יַ֗עַן (because) כִּֽי־ (that) מְאַסְתֶּ֤ם (you⁺ have despised) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who is) בְּקִרְבְּכֶ֔ם (among you⁺) וַתִּבְכּ֤וּ (and you wept) לְפָנָיו֙ (before His face) לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), לָ֥מָּה (Why) זֶּ֖ה (is this) יָצָ֥אנוּ (that we have come out) מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃ (of Egypt)?

21  וַיֹּאמֶר֮ (And said) מֹשֶׁה֒ (Moses), שֵׁשׁ־ (Are six) מֵא֥וֹת (hundred) אֶ֙לֶף֙ (thousand) רַגְלִ֔י (men on foot), הָעָ֕ם (the people) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (whom) אָנֹכִ֖י (I am) בְּקִרְבּ֑וֹ (among), וְאַתָּ֣ה (and You) אָמַ֗רְתָּ (have said), בָּשָׂר֙ (Flesh) אֶתֵּ֣ן (I will give) לָהֶ֔ם (them) וְאָכְל֖וּ (that they may eat) חֹ֥דֶשׁ (for a month) יָמִֽים׃ (of days). 22  הֲצֹ֧אן (Shall flock) וּבָקָ֛ר (and herd) יִשָּׁחֵ֥ט (be slaughtered) לָהֶ֖ם (for them) וּמָצָ֣א (and to provide enough) לָהֶ֑ם (for them)? אִ֣ם (Or) אֶֽת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) דְּגֵ֥י (the fish) הַיָּ֛ם (of the sea) יֵאָסֵ֥ף (shall be gathered together) לָהֶ֖ם (for them) וּמָצָ֥א (and to provide enough) לָהֶֽם׃פ (for them)?

23  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֔ה (Moses), הֲיַ֥ד (Is the arm) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) תִּקְצָ֑ר (too short)? עַתָּ֥ה (Now) תִרְאֶ֛ה (you shall see) הֲיִקְרְךָ֥ (if will come to pass) דְבָרִ֖י (My word), אִם־ (or) לֹֽא׃ (not).

24  וַיֵּצֵ֣א (And went out) מֹשֶׁ֗ה (Moses), וַיְדַבֵּר֙ (and spoke) אֶל־ (to) הָעָ֔ם (the people) אֵ֖ת (-) דִּבְרֵ֣י (the words) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), וַיֶּאֱסֹ֞ף (and he gathered) שִׁבְעִ֥ים (seventy) אִישׁ֙ (men) מִזִּקְנֵ֣י (of the elders) הָעָ֔ם (of the people) וַֽיַּעֲמֵ֥ד (and placed) אֹתָ֖ם (them) סְבִיבֹ֥ת (around) הָאֹֽהֶל׃ (the tabernacle). 25  וַיֵּ֨רֶד (And came down) יְהוָ֥ה׀ (YHWH) בֶּעָנָן֮ (in the cloud) וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר (and spoke) אֵלָיו֒ (to him) וַיָּ֗אצֶל (and took) מִן־ (of) הָר֙וּחַ֙ (the Spirit) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that was) עָלָ֔יו (upon him) וַיִּתֵּ֕ן (and placed it) עַל־ (upon) שִׁבְעִ֥ים (seventy) אִ֖ישׁ (-) הַזְּקֵנִ֑ים (the elders). וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass), כְּנ֤וֹחַ (when rested) עֲלֵיהֶם֙ (upon them) הָר֔וּחַ (the Spirit), וַיִּֽתְנַבְּא֖וּ (that they prophesied)— וְלֹ֥א (and never) יָסָֽפוּ׃ (they did again).

26  וַיִּשָּׁאֲר֣וּ (And had remained) שְׁנֵֽי־ (two) אֲנָשִׁ֣ים׀ (men) בַּֽמַּחֲנֶ֡ה (in the camp)— שֵׁ֣ם (the name) הָאֶחָ֣ד׀ (of one) אֶלְדָּ֡ד (was Eldad) וְשֵׁם֩ (and the name) הַשֵּׁנִ֨י (of the second) מֵידָ֜ד (Medad). וַתָּ֧נַח (And rested) עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם (upon them) הָר֗וּחַ (the Spirit), וְהֵ֙מָּה֙ (and they were) בַּכְּתֻבִ֔ים (among those listed) וְלֹ֥א (not) יָצְא֖וּ (who had gone out) הָאֹ֑הֱלָה (to the tabernacle), וַיִּֽתְנַבְּא֖וּ (and they prophesied) בַּֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ (in the camp). 27  וַיָּ֣רָץ (And ran) הַנַּ֔עַר (the young man) וַיַּגֵּ֥ד (and told) לְמֹשֶׁ֖ה (Moses), וַיֹּאמַ֑ר (and said), אֶלְדָּ֣ד (Eldad) וּמֵידָ֔ד (and Medad) מִֽתְנַבְּאִ֖ים (are prophesying) בַּֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ (in the camp).

28  וַיַּ֜עַן (And answered) יְהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ (Joshua) בִּן־ (son) נ֗וּן (of Nun), מְשָׁרֵ֥ת (assistant) מֹשֶׁ֛ה (Moses’) מִבְּחֻרָ֖יו (from his youth) וַיֹּאמַ֑ר (and said), אֲדֹנִ֥י (My lord) מֹשֶׁ֖ה (Moses), כְּלָאֵֽם׃ (restrain them).

29  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) לוֹ֙ (to him) מֹשֶׁ֔ה (Moses), הַֽמְקַנֵּ֥א (Are zealous) אַתָּ֖ה (you) לִ֑י (for my sake) וּמִ֨י (if only)? יִתֵּ֜ן (He would make) כָּל־ (all) עַ֤ם (people) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH) נְבִיאִ֔ים (prophets), כִּי־ (and that) יִתֵּ֧ן (would put) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) רוּח֖וֹ (His Spirit) עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ (upon them).

30  וַיֵּאָסֵ֥ף (And returned) מֹשֶׁ֖ה (Moses) אֶל־ (to) הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה (the camp), ה֖וּא (he) וְזִקְנֵ֥י (and the elders) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel).

The Quail and the Plague

31  וְר֜וּחַ (And a wind) נָסַ֣ע׀ (went out) מֵאֵ֣ת (from) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH), וַיָּ֣גָז (and it brought) שַׂלְוִים֮ (quail) מִן־ (from) הַיָּם֒ (the sea) וַיִּטֹּ֨שׁ (and left them) עַל־ (near) הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֜ה (the camp), כְּדֶ֧רֶךְ (about a journey) י֣וֹם (of a day) כֹּ֗ה (on this side), וּכְדֶ֤רֶךְ (and about a journey) יוֹם֙ (of a day) כֹּ֔ה (on this side), סְבִיב֖וֹת (all around) הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה (the camp), וּכְאַמָּתַ֖יִם (and about two cubits) עַל־ (above) פְּנֵ֥י (the surface) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (of the ground). 32  וַיָּ֣קָם (And stayed up) הָעָ֡ם (the people) כָּל־ (all) הַיּוֹם֩ (the day) הַה֨וּא (that), וְכָל־ (and all) הַלַּ֜יְלָה (the night), וְכֹ֣ל׀ (and all) י֣וֹם (day) הַֽמָּחֳרָ֗ת (the next), וַיַּֽאַסְפוּ֙ (and they gathered) אֶת־ (-) הַשְּׂלָ֔ו (the quail). הַמַּמְעִ֕יט (He who had least) אָסַ֖ף (gathered) עֲשָׂרָ֣ה (ten) חֳמָרִ֑ים (homers). וַיִּשְׁטְח֤וּ (And they spread them out) לָהֶם֙ (for themselves) שָׁט֔וֹחַ (all) סְבִיב֖וֹת (around) הַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ (the camp).

33  הַבָּשָׂ֗ר (The flesh was) עוֹדֶ֙נּוּ֙ (still) בֵּ֣ין (between) שִׁנֵּיהֶ֔ם (their teeth), טֶ֖רֶם (before) יִכָּרֵ֑ת (it was chewed), וְאַ֤ף (and the anger) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH) חָרָ֣ה (was kindled) בָעָ֔ם (against the people), וַיַּ֤ךְ (and struck) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) בָּעָ֔ם (the people) מַכָּ֖ה (with a plague) רַבָּ֥ה (great) מְאֹֽד׃ (very). 34  וַיִּקְרָ֛א (And he called) אֶת־ (-) שֵֽׁם־ (the name) הַמָּק֥וֹם (of place) הַה֖וּא (that) קִבְר֣וֹת (Kibroth-) הַֽתַּאֲוָ֑ה (hattaavah), כִּי־ (because) שָׁם֙ (there) קָֽבְר֔וּ (they buried) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֖ם (the people) הַמִּתְאַוִּֽים׃ (who had craved).

35  מִקִּבְר֧וֹת (From Kibroth-) הַֽתַּאֲוָ֛ה (hattaavah) נָסְע֥וּ (moved) הָעָ֖ם (the people) חֲצֵר֑וֹת (to Hazeroth), וַיִּהְי֖וּ (and camped) בַּחֲצֵרֽוֹת׃פ (at Hazeroth).