John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. And [when] the people complained , etc.] Or “were as complainers” f106 ; not merely like to such, but were truly and really complainers, the k , “caph”, here being not a note of similitude, but of truth and reality, as in ( Hosea 5:10). This Hebraism is frequent in the New Testament, ( Matthew 14:5 John 1:14 Philippians 2:7). What they complained of is not said, it being that for which there was no foundation; it is generally supposed to be of their journey; but if they were come but eight miles, as observed on ( Numbers 10:33); they could not be very weary; and especially as they were marching towards the land of Canaan, it might be thought they would be fond and eager of their journey. Some think it was for want of flesh, being weary of manna, and that this was only the beginning of their complaints on that head, which opened more afterwards; but if that is the case, one would think that the fire, which consumed many of them, would have put a stop to that. Jarchi says, the word signifies taking an occasion, and that the sense is, that these men sought an occasion how to separate from the Lord; they wanted to return to Egypt again, that was what they were meditating and contriving; so the Targum of Jonathan, “and the ungodly of the people were in distress, and intended and meditated evil before the Lord:” it displeased the Lord : a murmuring complaining spirit is always displeasing to him, when a thankful heart for mercies received is an acceptable sacrifice; murmurers and complainers God will judge at the great day, ( Jude 1:14-16); and the Lord heard [it] : though it was an inward secret complaint, or an evil scheme formed in their minds; at most but a muttering, and what Moses had not heard, or had any knowledge of; but God, that knows the secrets of all hearts, and every word in the tongue before it is well formed or pronounced, he heard what they complained of, and what they whispered and muttered to one another about: and his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burnt among them ; from the pillar of fire, or from heaven, such as destroyed Nadab and Abihu, ( Leviticus 10:1,2); the two hundred fifty men that had censers in Korah’s company, ( Numbers 16:35); and the captains of fifties that came to take Elijah, ( 2 Kings 1:14); and might be lightning from heaven, or a burning wind sent by the Lord, such as is frequent in the eastern countries. Thevenot speaks of one in 1658, which destroyed at once twenty thousand men: and consumed [them that were] in the uttermost parts of the camp ; who very likely were the principal aggressors; or it began to arouse and terrify the body of the people, and bring them to repentance, who might fear it would proceed and go through the whole camp, the hinder part or rearward of which was the camp of Dan; and so the Targum of Jonathan.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-3 - Here is the people's sin; they complained. See the sinfulness of sin which takes occasion from the commandment to be provoking. The weaknes of the law discovered sin, but could not destroy it; checked, but coul not conquer it. They complained. Those who are of a discontente spirit, will always find something to quarrel or fret about, though the circumstances of their outward condition be ever so favourable. The Lord heard it, though Moses did not. God knows the secret frettings an murmurings of the heart, though concealed from men. What he noticed, he was much displeased with, and he chastised them for this sin. The fir of their wrath against God burned in their minds; justly did the fir of God's wrath fasten on their bodies; but God's judgments came on the gradually, that they might take warning. It appeared that God delight not in punishing; when he begins, he is soon prevailed with to let it fall.
Original Hebrew ויהי1961 העם5971 כמתאננים596 רע7451 באזני241 יהוה3068 וישׁמע8085 יהוה3068 ויחר2734 אפו639 ותבער1197 בם אשׁ784 יהוה3068 ותאכל398 בקצה7097 המחנה׃4264
