10 Moses heard the people, family after family, crying at the entrance of their tents. The Lord was very angry;(A) Moses was also provoked.[a] 11 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?(B) 12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth so You should tell me, ‘Carry them at your breast, as a nursing woman carries a baby,’(C) to the land that You[b] swore to give their fathers?(D) 13 Where can I get meat to give all these people? For they are crying to me: ‘Give us meat to eat!’ 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.(E) If You are pleased with me,(F) don’t let me see my misery[c] anymore.”

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 11:10 Lit and it was evil in the eyes of Moses
  2. Numbers 11:12 One Hb ms, Sam, LXX, Syr, Tg read I
  3. Numbers 11:15 Ancient Jewish tradition reads Your misery

Moses Responds

10 Moses heard the people weeping throughout their entire families. Everyone gathered at the entrance to their tents so that the Lord was very angry. Moses thought the situation was bad, 11 so he[a] asked the Lord, “Why did you bring all this trouble to your servant? Why haven’t I found favor in your eyes? After all, you’re putting the burden of this entire people on me! 12 Did I conceive this people or give birth to them, so that you would tell me to carry them near my heart like a wet nurse carries a suckling baby to the land that you promised to their forefathers? 13 Where am I going to get meat to give this people? After all, they’re crying in front of me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ 14 I cannot carry this whole nation! The burden is too heavy for me! 15 If this is how you treat me, please kill me right now, if I’ve found favor in your eyes, because I don’t want to keep staring at all of this[b] misery!”

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 11:11 Lit. Moses
  2. Numbers 11:15 Lit. at my