Numbers 11:2 kjv
And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched.
Numbers 11:2 nkjv
Then the people cried out to Moses, and when Moses prayed to the LORD, the fire was quenched.
Numbers 11:2 niv
When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the LORD and the fire died down.
Numbers 11:2 esv
Then the people cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the LORD, and the fire died down.
Numbers 11:2 nlt
Then the people screamed to Moses for help, and when he prayed to the LORD, the fire stopped.
Numbers 11 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 11:1 | And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord... | Previous complaint leading to judgment. |
| Num 14:13-20 | Then Moses said to the Lord, "Then the Egyptians will hear it..." | Moses' lengthy intercession for Israel's sin. |
| Num 16:46-48 | And Moses said to Aaron, "Take a censer and put fire in it..." | Aaron's intercession stopping a plague. |
| Num 21:7 | Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, "We have sinned..." | People crying to Moses for relief from snakes. |
| Deut 9:25-29 | So I fell down before the Lord; forty days and forty nights I fell down... | Moses' intercession for golden calf sin. |
| Exod 2:23 | The people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out... | People's cry of distress in Egypt. |
| Exod 15:25 | And he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree... | Moses crying to God in time of trouble. |
| Exod 17:4 | So Moses cried out to the Lord, "What shall I do with this people?" | Moses crying to God about thirsting people. |
| Exod 32:11-14 | But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, "O Lord, why does your..." | Moses' intercession preventing destruction after calf. |
| Pss 34:17 | When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them... | God hearing cries of His people. |
| Pss 78:21 | Therefore the Lord heard and was full of wrath; a fire was kindled... | God's wrath and consuming fire. |
| Pss 97:3 | Fire goes before Him and burns up His foes all around. | Fire as a manifestation of God's presence/judgment. |
| Pss 106:23 | Therefore He said He would destroy them, had not Moses His chosen one... | Moses standing in the breach for Israel. |
| Isa 48:9 | For My name’s sake I defer My anger... | God deferring wrath for His name's sake. |
| Jer 7:16 | As for you, do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer... | Contrast where God forbids intercession. |
| Joel 2:13 | Rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God... | God is gracious and slow to anger. |
| Jas 5:16 | The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. | Power of effective prayer. |
| 1 Cor 10:10 | Nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. | Warning against grumbling leading to destruction. |
| Heb 12:29 | for our "God is a consuming fire." | God's nature as consuming fire. |
| Jno 11:41-42 | And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank you that you... | Christ as intercessor whose prayers are heard. |
| 1 Tim 2:5 | For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man... | Christ as the ultimate mediator. |
| Heb 7:25 | Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near... | Christ always lives to make intercession. |
| Zech 3:1-2 | And the angel of the Lord rebuked Satan... This is a brand plucked... | Intercession averting divine judgment. |
| 2 Chr 7:14 | If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray... | God hearing prayer and healing the land. |
| Matt 7:7-8 | Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find... | God's readiness to answer prayer. |
Numbers 11 verses
Numbers 11 2 Meaning
Numbers 11:2 describes the immediate reaction of the Israelites to God's judgment by fire, which was sent because of their complaining. Confronted by the destructive fire, the people cried out in distress to Moses. Moses, in turn, fulfilled his mediatory role by praying to the Lord on their behalf. In response to Moses' intercession, the fire, which represented God's punitive wrath, immediately subsided, demonstrating God's sovereign control over His judgment and His responsiveness to faithful prayer.
Numbers 11 2 Context
This verse immediately follows Numbers 11:1, where the Israelites complained, causing God’s anger to ignite a fire among them. This fire burned "at the outskirts of the camp," highlighting the targeted nature of divine judgment against sin within the community. The incident occurs shortly after the people left Mount Sinai and were journeying toward the Promised Land, signifying their continued pattern of rebellion and lack of trust in God despite having experienced numerous miracles and received His Law. The place was consequently named Taberah (Num 11:3), meaning "burning," memorializing God's fierce, consuming response to their dissatisfaction. This event serves as a sharp reminder of the seriousness of murmuring against the Lord, setting a precedent for subsequent disciplinary actions throughout the wilderness wanderings.
Numbers 11 2 Word analysis
- Then: Signifies a temporal sequence, indicating the immediate consequence and reaction to the preceding event (God sending fire due to their complaints in Num 11:1).
- the people: Refers collectively to the Israelites, the specific group who had been complaining. This highlights the widespread nature of the murmuring.
- cried out: Hebrew: צָעַק (tsa'aq). Denotes a loud cry, usually one of distress, anguish, or fear, seeking deliverance. It signifies their pain and terror in response to the fire, not necessarily repentance.
- to Moses: Shows their immediate turn to their earthly leader for mediation and help, even though they had recently complained against him.
- and Moses prayed: Hebrew: וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל (vayitpallēl, from palal). Indicates Moses' specific act of intercession. This is a deliberate, targeted request to God on behalf of another, distinct from the people’s fearful outcry. It emphasizes his role as a mediator between God and Israel.
- to the Lord: Hebrew: יהוה (YHWH). Specifies the recipient of Moses' prayer—the covenant God of Israel. Moses addresses the very One whose fire was consuming them, appealing to His covenant faithfulness.
- and the fire: Hebrew: הָאֵשׁ (ha'esh). The specific punitive judgment sent by God in Num 11:1. It symbolizes divine wrath and the holiness of God in consuming what is unholy.
- died down: Hebrew: וַתִּשְׁקַע (vattishqa, from shaqa'). Meaning to sink, abate, subside, or settle down. It implies a complete cessation of the burning, a supernatural halt to the destructive force. It is an immediate and visible demonstration of God's direct response to Moses’ intercession.
Words-group analysis:
- "Then the people cried out to Moses": This phrase portrays the swift shift from human complaint to terrified realization and desperate appeal. Their cry highlights human vulnerability and immediate reliance on their established leader when faced with divine consequence, indicating a reactive rather than truly repentant posture.
- "and Moses prayed to the Lord": This clause emphasizes Moses’ critical role as an intercessor. Unlike the people's outcry, Moses' prayer is a focused and deliberate act of mediation to God. It exemplifies his faithful leadership, willingness to stand in the gap, and consistent communion with the Almighty. This prayer acts as the turning point for the situation.
- "and the fire died down": This part reveals God's immediate and merciful response to Moses' intercession. The visible abatement of the fire serves as undeniable proof of God's attentiveness to prayer and His willingness to mitigate judgment when petitioned by His faithful servant. It underscores God's sovereignty over His own expressions of wrath and His compassion.
Numbers 11 2 Bonus section
- The rapidity of the events – sin, judgment, distress, intercession, cessation – underscores God's immediate response to both disobedience and faithful prayer.
- The "fire" can be understood as a physical manifestation of God’s fiery judgment against sin, aligning with biblical depictions of God's holiness as a consuming fire (Deut 4:24; Heb 12:29).
- Moses' unwavering dedication to the people, even those who grumbled against him, mirrors a selfless pastoral heart.
- This episode serves as a clear historical example that illustrates the enduring theological principle that fervent prayer from a righteous person (like Moses) can profoundly impact situations and avert divine wrath.
- The naming of the place "Taberah" provides an etiological account, solidifying the historical reality and significance of the event for future generations, serving as a cautionary tale.
Numbers 11 2 Commentary
Numbers 11:2 vividly portrays the consequence of sin, the desperation of humanity, the power of intercessory prayer, and the character of God. The fire, sent as divine discipline for the Israelites' complaining, prompts a panicked cry for help. Significantly, their cry is to Moses, the appointed mediator, rather than directly to God in genuine repentance. This immediate appeal highlights their fear-driven pragmatism rather than deep contrition. Yet, Moses faithfully steps into his God-ordained role, lifting a specific prayer to the Lord. His intercession acts as a conduit for God's mercy. The immediate subsidence of the fire demonstrates God's sovereignty over His judgments and His responsiveness to His servant’s petitions. This sequence reinforces that while God judges sin swiftly, He also provides avenues for relief through grace-empowered intercession, thereby tempering His justice with mercy.