Numbers 20:3 - The people quarreled with Moses, and spoke, saying, “We wish that we had died when our brothers died before Yahweh!
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What does "Numbers 20:3" mean?
Numbers 20:3 describes a moment of intense frustration and despair among the Israelites during their wanderings in the desert. Let's break down what this verse means:
"The people quarreled with Moses..." This indicates a breakdown in the relationship between Moses, their leader appointed by God, and the Israelites. The people are expressing their dissatisfaction and anger directly to him.
"...and spoke, saying, 'We wish that we had died when our brothers died before Yahweh!'" This is the crux of the verse. It expresses a deep-seated yearning for death, even to the point of envying those who had previously died due to divine punishment.
"We wish that we had died..." This shows the depth of their despair. They are so overwhelmed by their current situation (lack of water in the desert - Numbers 20:2) that they see death as preferable to continuing their journey.
"...when our brothers died before Yahweh!" This refers to specific past instances when God had punished the Israelites with death. The most likely reference is to the plagues and punishments of the Exodus, or other events where the Israelites died due to disobedience to God. They are suggesting that a quick, direct punishment from God would have been better than the slow suffering they are currently enduring. The people view God's punishent as preferable to the slow death that is possible in their situation.
In essence, the verse reveals:
Extreme Frustration: The people are at the end of their rope, emotionally and physically exhausted.
Lack of Faith: They have lost trust in God's ability to provide for them.
Regret and Bitterness: They question their decision to follow Moses and God out of Egypt, suggesting that death would have been preferable to their current circumstances.
The verse sets the stage for Moses' actions in the subsequent verses, where he strikes the rock to provide water, but also disobeys God in how he does so, leading to consequences for him as well.
Numbers 20:3 - The people quarreled with Moses, and spoke, saying, “We wish that we had died when our brothers died before Yahweh!
What does "Numbers 20:3" mean?
Numbers 20:3 describes a moment of intense frustration and despair among the Israelites during their wanderings in the desert. Let's break down what this verse means:
"The people quarreled with Moses..." This indicates a breakdown in the relationship between Moses, their leader appointed by God, and the Israelites. The people are expressing their dissatisfaction and anger directly to him.
"...and spoke, saying, 'We wish that we had died when our brothers died before Yahweh!'" This is the crux of the verse. It expresses a deep-seated yearning for death, even to the point of envying those who had previously died due to divine punishment.
"We wish that we had died..." This shows the depth of their despair. They are so overwhelmed by their current situation (lack of water in the desert - Numbers 20:2) that they see death as preferable to continuing their journey.
"...when our brothers died before Yahweh!" This refers to specific past instances when God had punished the Israelites with death. The most likely reference is to the plagues and punishments of the Exodus, or other events where the Israelites died due to disobedience to God. They are suggesting that a quick, direct punishment from God would have been better than the slow suffering they are currently enduring. The people view God's punishent as preferable to the slow death that is possible in their situation.
In essence, the verse reveals:
Extreme Frustration: The people are at the end of their rope, emotionally and physically exhausted.
Lack of Faith: They have lost trust in God's ability to provide for them.
Regret and Bitterness: They question their decision to follow Moses and God out of Egypt, suggesting that death would have been preferable to their current circumstances.
The verse sets the stage for Moses' actions in the subsequent verses, where he strikes the rock to provide water, but also disobeys God in how he does so, leading to consequences for him as well.