Numbers 11:11

New American Standard Bible

So Moses said to the LORD, "Why have You been so hard on Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have put the burden of all this people on me?

Parallel Translations

Geneva Bible (1587)
And Moses saide vnto the Lorde, Wherefore hast thou vexed thy seruant? and why haue I not found fauour in thy sight, seeing thou hast put the charge of al this people vpon mee?

George Lamsa Translation
And Moses said to the LORD, My LORD, why hast thou caused displeasure to thy servant? And why have I not found favor in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?

Hebrew Names Version
Moshe said to the LORD, Why have you dealt ill with your servant? and why haven't I found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me?

Easy-to-Read Version
He asked the Lord , "Why did you bring this trouble on me? I am your servant. What did I do wrong? What did I do to upset you? Why did you give me responsibility over all these people?

English Standard Version
Moses said to the Lord , "Why have you dealt ill with your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me?

American Standard Version
And Moses said unto Jehovah, Wherefore hast thou dealt ill with thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favor in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?

Bible in Basic English
And Moses said to the Lord, Why have you done me this evil? and why have I not grace in your eyes, that you have put on me the care of all this people?

Contemporary English Version
He prayed: I am your servant, Lord , so why are you doing this to me? What have I done to deserve this? You've made me responsible for all these people,

Complete Jewish Bible
Moshe asked Adonai , "Why are you treating your servant so badly? Why haven't I found favor in your sight, so that you put the burden of this entire people on me?

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Moses said unto the LORD: 'Wherefore hast Thou dealt ill with Thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in Thy sight, that Thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?

King James Version (1611)
And Moses said vnto the Lord, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy seruant? and wherefore haue I not found fauour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people vpon me?

Amplified Bible
So Moses said to the LORD, "Why have You been so hard on Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have placed the burden of all these people on me?

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Moses said to the Lord, Why hast thou afflicted thy servant, and why have I not found grace in thy sight, that thou shouldest lay the weight of this people upon me?

English Revised Version
And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou evil entreated thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?

Berean Standard Bible
So Moses asked the LORD, "Why have You brought this trouble on Your servant? Why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid upon me the burden of all these people?

Lexham English Bible
And Moses said to Yahweh, "Why have you brought trouble to your servant? Why have I not found favor in your eyes, that the burdens of all these people have been placed on me?

Literal Translation
And Moses said to Jehovah, Why have You done evil to Your servant; and why have I not found grace in Your eyes to put the burden of all this people on me?

New Century Version
He asked the Lord , "Why have you brought me, your servant, this trouble? What have I done wrong that you made me responsible for all these people?

New English Translation
And Moses said to the Lord , "Why have you afflicted your servant? Why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of this entire people on me?

New King James Version
So Moses said to the LORD, "Why have You afflicted Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all these people on me?

New Living Translation
And Moses said to the Lord , "Why are you treating me, your servant, so harshly? Have mercy on me! What did I do to deserve the burden of all these people?

New Life Bible
So Moses said to the Lord, "Why have You been so hard on Your servant? Why have I not found favor in Your eyes, that You have laid the troubles of all these people on me?

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And Moses said unto Yahweh - Wherefore hast thou let thy servant come to grief, and wherefore have I not found favour in thine eyes, - that thou shouldest lay the burden of all this people upon me.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said to the Lord: Why hast thou afflicted thy servant? Wherefore do I not find favour before thee? And why hast thou laid the weight of all this people upon me?

Revised Standard Version
Moses said to the LORD, "Why hast thou dealt ill with thy servant? And why have I not found favor in thy sight, that thou dost lay the burden of all this people upon me?

Good News Translation
and he said to the Lord , "Why have you treated me so badly? Why are you displeased with me? Why have you given me the responsibility for all these people?

King James Version
And Moses said unto the Lord , Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?

Darby Translation
And Moses said to Jehovah, Why hast thou done evil to thy servant, and why have I not found favour in thine eyes, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he seide to the Lord, Whi hast thou turmentid thi seruaunt? whi fynde Y not grace bifor thee? and whi hast thou put on me the burthun of al this puple?

Young's Literal Translation
And Moses saith unto Jehovah, `Why hast Thou done evil to Thy servant? and why have I not found grace in Thine eyes -- to put the burden of all this people upon me?

World English Bible
Moses said to Yahweh, Why have you dealt ill with your servant? and why haven't I found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me?

Update Bible Version
And Moses said to Yahweh, Why have you dealt ill with your slave? and why haven't I found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me?

Webster's Bible Translation
And Moses said to the LORD, Why hast thou afflicted thy servant? and why have I not found favor in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Moyses sayde vnto the Lorde: Wherefore hast thou dealt cruelly with thy seruaunt? And wherefore haue I not founde fauour in thy sight, seyng that thou puttest the wayght of all this people vpon me?

Christian Standard Bible®
So Moses asked the Lord, “Why have you brought such trouble on your servant? Why are you angry with me, and why do you burden me with all these people?

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And Moses sayde vnto the LORDE: Why vexest thou thy seruaunte? And why fynde not I fauoure in yi sight, yt thou layest ye burthen of all this people vpo me?

THE MESSAGE
Moses said to God , "Why are you treating me this way? What did I ever do to you to deserve this? Did I conceive them? Was I their mother? So why dump the responsibility of this people on me? Why tell me to carry them around like a nursing mother, carry them all the way to the land you promised to their ancestors? Where am I supposed to get meat for all these people who are whining to me, ‘Give us meat; we want meat.' I can't do this by myself—it's too much, all these people. If this is how you intend to treat me, do me a favor and kill me. I've seen enough; I've had enough. Let me out of here."

New Revised Standard
So Moses said to the Lord , "Why have you treated your servant so badly? Why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me?

New American Standard Bible (1995)
So Moses said to the LORD, "Why have You been so hard on Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all this people on me?

Legacy Standard Bible
So Moses said to Yahweh, "Why have You allowed this evil toward Your slave? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all this people on me?

Contextual Overview

⁴ Now the rabble who were among them had greedy cravings; and the sons of Israel also wept again and said, "Who will give us meat to eat? ⁵ "We remember the fish which we used to eat for free in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; ⁶ but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna!" ⁷ Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like that of bdellium. ⁸ The people would roam about and gather it and grind it between two millstones, or pound it in the mortar, and boil it in the pot and make loaves with it; and its taste was like the taste of cake baked with oil. ⁹ When the dew came down on the camp at night, the manna would come down with it. ¹⁰ Now Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, each one at the entrance of his tent; and the anger of the LORD became very hot, and Moses was displeased. ¹¹ So Moses said to the LORD, "Why have You been so hard on Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have put the burden of all this people on me?¹² "Was it I who conceived all this people? Or did I give birth to them, that You should say to me, 'Carry them in your arms, as a nurse carries a nursing infant, to the land which You swore to their fathers'? ¹³ "Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before me, saying, 'Give us meat so that we may eat!'

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Wherefore hast thou: The complaint and remonstrance of Moses in these verses serve at once to shew the deeply distressed state of his mind, and the degradation of the minds of the people. Numbers 11:15, Exodus 17:4, Deuteronomy 1:12, Jeremiah 15:10, Jeremiah 15:18, Jeremiah 20:7-9, Jeremiah 20:14-18, Malachi 3:14, 2 Corinthians 11:28

wherefore have: Job 10:2, Psalms 130:3, Psalms 143:2, Lamentations 3:22, Lamentations 3:23, Lamentations 3:39, Lamentations 3:40

Reciprocal: Genesis 30:27 - favour Exodus 32:11 - why doth Deuteronomy 1:9 - I am not Deuteronomy 1:31 - bare thee Jeremiah 45:3 - added Ezekiel 3:14 - General Hosea 11:3 - taught Acts 6:2 - we should Galatians 4:19 - of Galatians 6:2 - Bear

Cross-References

Genesis 1:28
God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

Genesis 9:7
"As for you, be fruitful and multiply; Populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it."

Genesis 11:3
Then they said to one another, "Come, let's make bricks and fire them thoroughly." And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar.

Genesis 11:4
And they said, "Come, let's build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let's make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of all the earth."

Genesis 11:32
The days of Terah were 205 years; and Terah died in Haran.

Psalms 144:12
When our sons in their youth are like growing plants, And our daughters like corner pillars fashioned for a palace,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Moses said unto the Lord, wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant?.... Or "done evil" m to him, that which was distressing to him, and gave him trouble; namely, setting him at the head of the people of Israel, and laying the government of them on his shoulders; which surely was doing him honour, though that is not to be expected without care and trouble; Moses does not seem to be in a good frame of spirit throughout the whole of this discourse with the Lord: the best of men are not always alike in their frames, and sometimes act contrary to that for which they are the most eminent, as Moses was for his, meekness and humility:

and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight; he had found much favour in the sight of God, to have so many wonderful things done by him in Egypt, to be the instrument of the deliverance of Israel from thence, to be the leader of them through the Red sea, to be taken up to the mount with God, and receive the law from him to give to that people; but the favour he complains of that was denied him, is, his not being excused, when he desired it, from taking on him the office he was called unto, of being the deliverer and ruler of the people, Exodus 4:10;

that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? with respect to matters heavier and more difficult; for as to lighter and lesser things, be was assisted and relieved by the officers placed over the various divisions of the people at the advice of Jethro, Exodus 18:21; government is a burdensome thing, and especially when a people are prone to mutiny and rebellion, as the people of Israel were.

m הרעת "malefecisti", Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Occurrences at Kibroth-hattavah.

Numbers 11:4

The mixt multitude - The word in the original resembles our “riff-raff,” and denotes a mob of people scraped together. It refers here to the multitude of strangers (see Exodus 12:38) who had followed the Israelites from Egypt.

Numbers 11:5

The natural dainties of Egypt are set forth in this passage with the fullness and relish which bespeak personal experience.

Numbers 11:6-7

There is nothing at all ... - literally, “Nought at all have we except that our eyes are unto this manna;” i. e. “Nought else have we to expect beside this manna.” On the manna see Exodus 16:15 note; on bdellium see Genesis 2:12 note.

Numbers 11:10

The weeping was general; every family wept (compare Zechariah 12:12), and in a manner public and unconcealed.

Numbers 11:11-15

The complaint and remonstrance of Moses may be compared with that in 1 Kings 19:4 ff; Jonah 4:1-3, and contrasted with the language of Abraham (Genesis 18:23 ff) The meekness of Moses (compare Numbers 12:3) sank under vexation into despair. His language shows us how imperfect and prone to degeneracy are the best saints on earth.

Numbers 11:16

Seventy men of the elders of Israel - Seventy elders had also gone up with Moses to the Lord in the mount Exodus 24:1, Exodus 24:9. Seventy is accordingly the number of colleagues assigned to Moses to share his burden with him. To it, the Jews trace the origin of the Sanhedrim. Subsequent notices Numbers 16:25; Joshua 7:6; Joshua 8:10, Joshua 8:33; Joshua 9:11; Joshua 23:2; Joshua 24:1, Joshua 24:31 so connect the elders with the government of Israel as to point to the fact that the appointment now made was not a merely temporary one, though it would seem to have soon fallen into desuetude. We find no traces of it in the days of the Judges and the Kings.

Elders of the people, and officers over them - In English idiom, “elders and officers of the people.” Both elders and officers appear in Egypt (Exodus 3:16; Exodus 5:6 ff): the former had headed the nation in its efforts after freedom; the latter were the subordinate, though unwilling, agents of Egyptian tyranny. The two classes no doubt were working together; and from those who belonged to either, perhaps from those who were both eiders and officers, the council of Seventy was to be selected.

Numbers 11:17

I will take of the spirit which is upon thee - Render rather separate from the spirit, etc.; i. e. they shall have their portion in the same divine gift which thou hast.

Numbers 11:25

They prophesied - i. e. under the extraordinary impulse of the Holy Spirit they uttered forth the praises of God, or declared His will. Compare the marginal references.

And did not cease - Rather, and added not, i. e. they prophesied at this time only and not afterward. The sign was granted on the occasion of their appointment to accredit them in their office; it was not continued, because their proper function was to be that of governing not prophesying.

Numbers 11:26

Of them that were written - i. e. enrolled among the Seventy. The expression points to a regular appointment duly recorded and permanent.

Numbers 11:29

Enviest thou for my sake? - (Compare Mark 9:38 ff) The other members of the Seventy had been with Moses (compare Numbers 6:16, Numbers 6:24-25) when the gift of prophecy was bestowed on them. They received “of the spirit that was upon him,” and exercised their office visibly through and for him. Eldad and Medad prophesying in the camp seemed to Joshua to be acting independently, and so establishing a separate center of authority.

Numbers 11:31

The southeast wind, which blew from the neighboring Elanitic gulf of the Red Sea, brought the quails Exodus 16:13.

Two cubits high - Better, “two cubits above the face of the ground:” i. e. the quails, wearied with their long flight, flew about breast high, and were easily secured by the people, who spread them all abroad for themselves Numbers 11:32, in order to salt and dry them. The quail habitually flies with the wind, and low.

Numbers 11:32

Ten homers - About 55 bushels. Compare Leviticus 27:16.

Numbers 11:33

Ere it was chewed - Better, ere it was consumed. See Numbers 11:19-20. The surfeit in which the people indulged, as described in Numbers 11:32, disposed them to sickness. God’s wrath, visiting the gluttonous through their gluttony, aggravated natural consequences into a supernatural visitation.

Numbers 11:34, Numbers 11:35

(Kibroth-hattaavah has been identified by Palmer with the extensive remains, graves, etc., at Erweis El Ebeirig, and Hazeroth “enclosures” with Ain Hadherah.)

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Numbers 11:11-15. The complaint and remonstrance of Moses in these verses serve at once to show the deeply distressed state of his mind, and the degradation of the minds of the people. We have already seen that the slavery they had so long endured had served to debase their minds, and to render them incapable of every high and dignified sentiment, and of every generous act.