Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 2. The whole congregation-murmured] This is an additional proof of the degraded state of the minds of this people; See the note on "chap. xiii. 17". And this very circumstance affords a convincing argument that a people so stupidly carnal could not have been induced to leave Egypt had they not been persuaded so to do by the most evident and striking miracles. Human nature can never be reduced to a more abject state in this world than that in which the body is enthralled by political slavery, and the soul debased by the influence of sin. These poor Hebrews were both slaves and sinners, and were therefore capable of the meanest and most disgraceful acts.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-12 - The provisions of Israel, brought from Egypt, were spent by the middl of the second month, and they murmured. It is no new thing for the greatest kindness to be basely represented as the greatest injuries They so far undervalue their deliverance, that they wished they ha died in Egypt; and by the hand of the Lord, that is, by the plague which cut off the Egyptians. We cannot suppose they had plenty i Egypt, nor could they fear dying for want in the wilderness, while the had flocks and herds: none talk more absurdly than murmurers. When we begin to fret, we ought to consider, that God hears all our murmurings God promises a speedy and constant supply. He tried whether they woul trust him, and rest satisfied with the bread of the day in its day Thus he tried if they would serve him, and it appeared how ungratefu they were. When God plagued the Egyptians, it was to make them know he was their Lord; when he provided for the Israelites, it was to make them know he was their God.
Original Hebrew וילינו3885 כל3605 עדת5712 בני1121 ישׂראל3478 על5921 משׁה4872 ועל5921 אהרן175 במדבר׃4057
