p. 250 | NOTE by Milton C. Wilcox

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 22, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 16.

NOTE.

By Milton C. Wilcox

The rendering in our common version, which makes the quail to have been piled up "two cubits high upon the face of the earth," is uncalled for and unwarranted. The Revised Version gives the proper sense and rendering, by putting it, "about two cubits above the face of the earth." The Vulgate has it, "And they flew in the air, about two cubits above the earth." This is a very free translation, nevertheless it exactly expresses the sense of the original. The quails flew about breast high, and so were easily killed. Many readers of this will recall flights of pigeons in such numbers as to darken the sun, and when they flew so low as to be easily knocked down with clubs. In the case under consideration, the quails were brought miraculously, and were doubtless in miraculous numbers; but the Bible, rightly translated, gives no countenance to the absurdity of either living or dead birds being piled up three feet high for a space of two days' journey in diameter.

The children of Israel remained at Horeb for nearly or quite a year, and there they celebrated the first passover after departing from Egypt. Num. 9:1-14. They certainly did not depart from Horeb till as late as the latter part of the second month of the second year. During this time, Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, remained with them, ever learning new lessons of God's wondrous power, glory, and love. He was a man of excellent spirit, through whom God could give wise counsel.

That Jethro feared God is evident from his acknowledgment of the Lord in Ex. 18:11: "Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods; for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them." His knowledge of the true God, received from his ancestor Abraham, had evidently become somewhat dimmed by association with surrounding idolatrous tribes; but God in his providence brought him into connection with his people that Jethro's knowledge might be increased, and his faith confirmed; and that he might be a faithful priest unto his people.

The matter of dividing Israel and appointing judges over the different divisions was first advised by Jethro. The wisdom of the man is indicated by the character of the judges he would have appointed, —"able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness;" and his reverence for God is shown in his desire to have this advice in harmony with God's will, —"If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so." Ex. 18:21, 23. And Moses, meek above all men, willingly accepts the advice.

Moses invites his brother-in-law to go with them as a guide, not to go before them and direct them in their journeys, for this was done by the pillar of cloud; but evidently to impart to the Israelites a knowledge of the country through which they traveled. What things they could do for themselves, the Lord required them to do.

The burden of Moses was still further divided by the council of seventy. As with the judges, these men were not elected by the people, but appointed by the Lord through Moses. Upon these seventy, God placed his Spirit. Moses was a true servant of God. It was not honor that he sought. He was willing that God's Spirit should be placed upon others as upon himself. Joshua became jealous for Moses, but the reply of the man of God revealed the unselfishness of his character: "Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them." See Num. 11:16, 17, 24-30.

It has been said that it is better for one man to educate ten men to work than for the one man to do ten men's work. It is a sign of envy or jealousy for man to desire to limit or check the advancement of others. He does not do it to relieve them from burdens, but he fears that it will detract from his own honor or position. Of course, it may be true that the individuals may not be fitted for advance positions; it may not be for the honor of God's cause that they be given responsible places. In that case, their advancement ought to be opposed. But it is well to be careful lest envy be the root of opposition instead of the glory of God. Joshua envied for Moses' sake; Moses rejoiced in the multiplied power for the Lord's sake.

There seems to have been two giving of quails. The first was when the children of Israel came into the Wilderness of Sin. Ex. 16. At that time, the quails were given before the manna. The quails came at evening, the manna fell the next morning. Verses 8, 12-14. But the giving of quails referred to in our lesson, mentioned in Num. 11, was a year after the first giving, and after the mixed multitude had become weary of the manna. The first giving is alluded to in Ps. 105:40; the second in Ps. 78:26-31 and 106:14, 15.

This mixed multitude were doubtless an amalgamation of Egyptian and Israelitish blood, who left Egypt through fear. They "fell a lusting" for the fish, and "the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic." Some of these strong pungent plants were regarded sacred, and were used in the licentious idolatrous feasts where they stimulated appetite and over indulgence, and excited the baser passions. These murmurers were continually looking back and desiring the things left behind. The promised land of milk and honey was eclipsed by the fancied hardships and the lusts of their hearts. They doubted God's promises of the land just before, they doubted his power to supply food for their present need; therefore God "gave them their request; but sent leanness of soul." Ps. 106:15.

He who starts in the Christian life and is continually looking back and longing for the things left behind, is doing just what Israel did in looking back to Egypt. He will, if wise, take such feelings as an indication that his heart is not perfect; he is double-minded, and therefore unstable in all his ways. He lacks faith in God, and consecration to his service. He prizes earth more than Heaven, temporal things more than eternal. Lot's wife looked back; "remember Lot's wife." She looked back with longing for her home in the wicked city of Sodom. Said Jesus, "No man having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:62. "Looking" indicates interest in that toward which the eyes are directed. It shows a divided heart to seem to be doing one thing while absorbed in another. The only direction to look is unto Jesus (Heb. 12:2); the anxiety should be for eternal life, not the food and drink which perishes. Matt. 6:31-34. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Some other way may bring earthly prosperity, but it will always result in leanness of soul. M. C. W.