Numbers 11:33

33 But while they were gorging themselves on the meat—while it was still in their mouths—the anger of the LORD blazed against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague.

Numbers 11:33 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 11:33

And while the flesh [was] yet between their teeth
When they had just got it into their mouths, and were about to bite it: ere it was chewed;
or "cut off"; or cut into pieces by the "incisores", or fore teeth, and then ground by the "molares", or grinders, and so became fit to be swallowed. Both quails and locusts were eaten as food; the former is a fat and delicious fowl, and the latter, some sorts of them, at least, were allowed clean food for the Jews, and were fed on by many people: the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people;
for their lusting after flesh, and despising the manna: and the Lord smote the people with a very great plague;
the pestilence, as Aben Ezra; or with fire, as Bochart ^F5, who gives the following reasons why the people were so severely punished now, and not before, when they murmured on a like account; because their sin's were greater, and more aggravated, they falling again into the same sin which had been forgiven them; and besides, they were before pressed with famine, now they had a plenty of manna every day; and also were better instructed, having received the law, which was not yet given when they were just come out of Egypt. Sulpitius ^F6 the historian says, 23,000 perished at this time.

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 Ut supra, (Hierozoic. par. 2. l. 1. c. 15.) col. 109.

Numbers 11:33 In-Context

31 Now the LORD sent a wind that brought quail from the sea and let them fall all around the camp. For miles in every direction there were quail flying about three feet above the ground.

32 So the people went out and caught quail all that day and throughout the night and all the next day, too. No one gathered less than fifty bushels ! They spread the quail all around the camp to dry.

33 But while they were gorging themselves on the meat—while it was still in their mouths—the anger of the LORD blazed against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague.

34 So that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah (which means “graves of gluttony”) because there they buried the people who had craved meat from Egypt.

35 From Kibroth-hattaavah the Israelites traveled to Hazeroth, where they stayed for some time.