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Numbers 11 · a question people ask

In Exodus 16 the LORD gave quail when the people asked for meat. Why was he angry this time?

In the text

In Exodus 16 the LORD said, "I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel", and promised, "At evening you shall eat meat" (Exodus 16:12). Numbers doesn't compare the two, but it gives its own reason: "because you have rejected the LORD who is among you, and have wept before him, saying, “Why did we come out of Egypt?”" (11:20). Psalm 78, telling of the food in the wilderness, gives a reason too: "They tempted God in their heart by asking food according to their desire" (Psalm 78:18). "Therefore the LORD heard, and was angry" (Psalm 78:21), "because they didn’t believe in God, and didn’t trust in his salvation" (Psalm 78:22).

The verses

““I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, ‘At evening you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’” In the evening, quail came up and covered the camp; and in the morning the dew lay around the camp.”
Exodus 16:12-13 · World English Bible
““Say to the people, ‘Sanctify yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, and you will eat meat; for you have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt.” Therefore the LORD will give you meat, and you will eat. You will not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils, and it is loathsome to you; because you have rejected the LORD who is among you, and have wept before him, saying, “Why did we come out of Egypt?”’””
Numbers 11:18-20 · World English Bible
“They tempted God in their heart by asking food according to their desire. Yes, they spoke against God. They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? Behold, he struck the rock, so that waters gushed out, and streams overflowed. Can he give bread also? Will he provide meat for his people?” Therefore the LORD heard, and was angry. A fire was kindled against Jacob, anger also went up against Israel, because they didn’t believe in God, and didn’t trust in his salvation.”
Psalm 78:18-22 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Numbers 11

Numbers 11: The Spirit on the seventy

The Hebrew word for the Spirit the LORD put on the seventy elders (11:25) is the word for the wind that brought the quail (11:31): ruach. And when Joshua said of two men prophesying in the camp, "forbid them!", Moses answered, "I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets" (11:28-29). John once told Jesus, "we forbade him", and Jesus said, "Don’t forbid him" (Mark 9:38-39).

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Last reviewed September 26, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions