John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 4. And the mixed multitude that [was] among them fell a lusting , etc.] These came out of Egypt with them, ( Exodus 12:38); having either contracted affinity with them, or such intimacy of conversation, that they could not part, or being proselyted to the Jewish religion, at least in pretence; these were not only Egyptians, but a mixture of divers people, who having heard or seen the wonderful things done for Israel, joined them in hopes of sharing the blessings of divine goodness with them; so the Targum of Jonathan calls them proselytes, that were gathered among them: these “lusted a lusting” f110 , as the words may be rendered; not after women, as some Jewish writers think, even after such that were near akin to them, with whom they were forbidden to marry, and therefore desired to have those laws dissolved; but they lusted after eating flesh taken in a proper sense, as the latter part of the verse and the whole context show: and the children of Israel also wept again ; they lusted after flesh likewise, following the example of the mixed multitude; thus evil communication corrupts good manners, ( 1 Corinthians 15:33); and a little leaven leavens the whole lamp, ( 1 Corinthians 5:6 Galatians 5:9); wicked men prove great snares to, and do much mischief among good men, when they get into their societies, ( Jeremiah 5:26): and because the Israelites could not have what they would to gratify their lusts, they wept as children do, when they cannot have what they are desirous of; and they wept “again”, for it seems they had wept before, either when they complained, ( Numbers 11:1); or at Rephidim, where they wanted water, ( Exodus 17:1), as here flesh, or before that when they wanted bread, ( Exodus 16:3); and said, who shall give us flesh to eat ? shall Moses, or even the Lord himself? from lusting they fell to unbelief and distrust of the power and providence of God; for so the Psalmist interprets this saying of theirs, ( Psalm 78:19,20).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 4-9 - Man, having forsaken his proper rest, feels uneasy and wretched, thoug prosperous. They were weary of the provision God had made for them although wholesome food and nourishing. It cost no money or care, an the labour of gathering it was very little indeed; yet they talked of Egypt's cheapness, and the fish they ate there freely; as if that cos them nothing, when they paid dearly for it with hard service! Whil they lived on manna, they seemed exempt from the curse sin has brough on man, that in the sweat of his face he should eat bread; yet the speak of it with scorn. Peevish, discontented minds will find faul with that which has no fault in it, but that it is too good for them Those who might be happy, often make themselves miserable be discontent. They could not be satisfied unless they had flesh to eat It is evidence of the dominion of the carnal mind, when we want to have the delights and satisfaction of sense. We should not indulge in an desire which we cannot in faith turn into prayer, as we cannot when we ask meat for our lust. What is lawful of itself becomes evil, when God does not allot it to us, yet we desire it.
Original Hebrew והאספסף628 אשׁר834 בקרבו7130 התאוו183 תאוה8378 וישׁבו7725 ויבכו1058 גם1571 בני1121 ישׂראל3478 ויאמרו559 מי4310 יאכלנו398 בשׂר׃1320
