Numbers 11

“And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD : and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, anger, burnt. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD , the fire was quenched.” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.” Naming Taberah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions…” Naming Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.” The line’s distinctive content terms include dried, eyes, manna. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium.” The line’s distinctive content terms include colour, bdellium, coriander. Its relationship to verses 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and…” The line’s distinctive content terms include taste, baked, beat. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.” The line’s distinctive content terms include fell, camp, manna. Its relationship to verses 8 and 10 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the…” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Moses said unto the LORD , Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.” The line’s distinctive content terms include able, bear, heavy. Its relationship to verses 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not…” The line’s distinctive content terms include deal, favour, hand. Its relationship to verses 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders…” Naming Gather and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days;” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them…” The number six makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD’s hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the LORD , and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the…” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp.” Naming Eldad and Medad keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD’s people were prophets, and that the…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Moses gat him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel.” Naming Israel and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And there went forth a wind from the LORD , and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that…” The number ten makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, people, chewed. Its relationship to verses 32 and 34 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he called the name of that place Kibroth-hattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted.” Naming Kibroth keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the people journeyed from Kibroth-hattaavah unto Hazeroth; and abode at Hazeroth.” Naming Hazeroth and Kibroth keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.