And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched.
The verse belongs to Israel's wilderness lusting for flesh meat, a craving that began with the mixed multitude and spread until it infected nearly the whole body of Israel and nearly the whole camp. At first God did not gratify that lustful appetite but answered with judgment as divine punishment for murmuring. Fire and lightning from heaven from the Lord consumed those most guilty and the instigators of the complaints.
In terror and distress over the fire, the people cried to Moses and asked him to plead for them and sought his help. When Moses prayed to the Lord, the fire was quenched. The place was named Taberah in memory of the judgment, the name meaning burning and a burning.
The punishment and quenching of the fire did not humble the people but only increased and seemed only to increase their murmurings, complaints, and weeping. That complaining and lamentation continued in the door of their tents and throughout their families. The account of that complaining and lamentation parallels complaining over not being able to eat meat.
The continued disobedience and continual murmuring against God left Moses displeased and burdened like a nursing father who made their sufferings his own. He protested the judgments they drew down while God's enemies rejoiced in their destruction. He felt a responsibility too heavy to bear alone, so that he would rather die than watch it continue.
The verse belongs to Israel's wilderness lusting for flesh meat, a craving that began with the mixed multitude and spread until it infected nearly the whole body of Israel and nearly the whole camp. At first God did not gratify that lustful appetite but answered with judgment as divine punishment for murmuring. Fire and lightning from heaven from the Lord consumed those most guilty and the instigators of the complaints.
In terror and distress over the fire, the people cried to Moses and asked him to plead for them and sought his help. When Moses prayed to the Lord, the fire was quenched. The place was named Taberah in memory of the judgment, the name meaning burning and a burning.
The punishment and quenching of the fire did not humble the people but only increased and seemed only to increase their murmurings, complaints, and weeping. That complaining and lamentation continued in the door of their tents and throughout their families. The account of that complaining and lamentation parallels complaining over not being able to eat meat.
The continued disobedience and continual murmuring against God left Moses displeased and burdened like a nursing father who made their sufferings his own. He protested the judgments they drew down while God's enemies rejoiced in their destruction. He felt a responsibility too heavy to bear alone, so that he would rather die than watch it continue.