Numbers 21:5
3 And the LORD heard Israel’s plea and delivered up the Canaanites. Israel devoted them and their cities to destruction; so they named the place Hormah.
4 Then they set out from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, in order to bypass the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient on the journey
and spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you led us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!”
6 So the LORD sent venomous snakes among the people, and many of the Israelites were bitten and died.
7 Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Intercede with the LORD so He will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses interceded for the people.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- and spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you led us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!”
- KJV
- And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
- WEB
- The people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, there is no water, and our soul loathes this disgusting food!”
- ASV
- And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, and there is no water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
- DARBY
- and the people spoke against God, and against Moses, Why have ye brought us up out of Egypt that we should die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, and no water, and our soul loathes this light bread.
- BLB
- And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you⁺ brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For [there is] no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.”
- ÅB
- og de talte mot Gud og mot Moses og sa: Hvorfor har dere ført oss opp fra Egypt, så vi må dø her i ørkenen? For her er hverken brød eller vann, og vi er inderlig leie av denne usle mat.
- OTB
- Folket talte mot Gud og Moses og sa: «Hvorfor har dere ført oss opp fra Egypt for å dø i ørkenen? Det er ikke brød, det er ikke vann, og vi avskyr denne elendige maten!»
- B1930
- og de talte mot Gud og mot Moses og sa: Hvorfor har I ført oss op fra Egypten, så vi må dø her i ørkenen? For her er hverken brød eller vann, og vi er inderlig leie av denne usle mat.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Psalms 78:19
They spoke against God, saying, “Can God really prepare a table in the wilderness?
Read in contextExodus 17:2–3
So the people contended with Moses, “Give us water to drink.” “Why do you contend with me?” Moses replied. “Why do you test the LORD?”
Read in contextNumbers 16:41
The next day the whole congregation of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You have killed the LORD’s people!”
Read in contextNumbers 16:13–14
Is it not enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness? Must you also appoint yourself as ruler over us?
Read in contextExodus 14:11
They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us into the wilderness to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?
Read in contextExodus 16:2–3
And there in the desert they all grumbled against Moses and Aaron.
Read in contextNumbers 11:1–9
Soon the people began to complain about their hardship in the hearing of the LORD, and when He heard them, His anger was kindled, and fire from the LORD blazed among them and consumed the outskirts of the camp.
Read in contextNumbers 14:1–4
Then the whole congregation lifted up their voices and cried out, and that night the people wept.
Read in context