Quail From the Lord

The rabble with them began to crave other food,(A) and again the Israelites started wailing(B) and said, “If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.(C) But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!(D)

The manna was like coriander seed(E) and looked like resin.(F) The people went around gathering it,(G) and then ground it in a hand mill or crushed it in a mortar. They cooked it in a pot or made it into loaves. And it tasted like something made with olive oil. When the dew(H) settled on the camp at night, the manna also came down.

10 Moses heard the people of every family wailing(I) at the entrance to their tents. The Lord became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. 11 He asked the Lord, “Why have you brought this trouble(J) on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me?(K) 12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant,(L) to the land you promised on oath(M) to their ancestors?(N) 13 Where can I get meat for all these people?(O) They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ 14 I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.(P) 15 If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me(Q)—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”

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