14 I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.(A) 15 If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me(B)—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”

16 The Lord said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders(C) who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people.(D) Have them come to the tent of meeting,(E) that they may stand there with you. 17 I will come down and speak with you(F) there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them.(G) They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone.(H)

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14 I can’t carry all these people by myself. They are too much for me. 15 If You are going to treat me like this, please kill me right now.(A) If You are pleased with me,(B) don’t let me see my misery[a] anymore.”

Seventy Elders Anointed

16 The Lord answered Moses, “Bring Me 70 men from Israel known to you as elders and officers of the people. Take them to the tent of meeting and have them stand there with you. 17 Then I will come down and speak with you there. I will take some of the Spirit who is on you and put the Spirit on them.(C) They will help you bear the burden of the people, so that you do not have to bear it by yourself.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 11:15 Ancient Jewish tradition reads Your misery

14 I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy! 15 If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!”

Moses Chooses Seventy Leaders

16 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Gather before me seventy men who are recognized as elders and leaders of Israel. Bring them to the Tabernacle[a] to stand there with you. 17 I will come down and talk to you there. I will take some of the Spirit that is upon you, and I will put the Spirit upon them also. They will bear the burden of the people along with you, so you will not have to carry it alone.

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Footnotes

  1. 11:16 Hebrew the Tent of Meeting.

14 I can't be responsible for all these people by myself; it's too much for me! 15 If you are going to treat me like this, have pity on me and kill me, so that I won't have to endure your cruelty any longer.”

16 The Lord said to Moses, “Assemble seventy respected men who are recognized as leaders of the people, bring them to me at the Tent of my presence, and tell them to stand there beside you. 17 I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the spirit I have given you and give it to them. Then they can help you bear the responsibility for these people, and you will not have to bear it alone.

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14 I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.

15 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 see my wretchedness.

16 And the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.

17 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 them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.

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