The People Complain

1 And ^tthe people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, ^uhis anger was kindled, and ^vthe fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. 2 Then ^wthe people cried out to Moses, ^xand Moses prayed to the Lord, and the fire died down. 3 So the name of that place was called ^yTaberah,¹ because the fire of the Lord burned among them.

4 Now the ^zrabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also ^awept again and said, ^b“Oh that we had meat to eat! 5 ^cWe remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. 6 But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.”

Quail and a Plague

31 Then a ^hwind from the Lord sprang up, and it brought quail from the sea and let them fall beside the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and a day’s journey on the other side, around the camp, and about two cubits¹ above the ground. 32 And the people rose all that day and all night and all the next day, and gathered the quail. Those who gathered least gathered ten ⁱhomers.² And they spread them out for themselves all around the camp. 33 ^jWhile the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people, and ^kthe Lord struck down the people with a very great plague.