Numbers 16:13

Translations

Modern

Is it not enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness? Must you also appoint yourself as ruler over us?

Traditional

Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?

Literal

Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you should keep acting also a prince over us?

Latin

Numquid parum est tibi quod eduxisti nos de terra, quæ lacte et melle manabat, ut occideres in deserto, nisi et dominatus fueris nostri?

Original

Hebrew

English

Is it not enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness? Must you also appoint yourself as ruler over us?

Notes

Numbers 16:13

land flowing with milk and honey: This phrase repeats the words the spies used earlier to describe Canaan (Numbers 13:27). In this story, however, the words are used with sarcasm.

The speakers twist the meaning on purpose. They use this phrase to describe Egypt in a positive way. This distorts the truth about life in Egypt, where the Israelites had lived as slaves (see study note on 11:4–15).

Numbers 16:1–17:13

Another rebellion demanded a clear separation of duties between priests and Levites. This power struggle was more serious than previous rebellions against God's authority (chapter 11; 12:1–15; 14:1–45).

In these historical events, the rebels protested minor issues and questioned their leaders' actions. Yet, Moses reminded them that they were actually rebelling against God. As a result, the Israelites suffered deadly consequences for their rebellion.

Theme notes and profiles

Moses Apostasy Remove the Evil Retribution The Dangers of Sin

Related verses

Acts 7:35
This Moses, whom they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ is the one whom God sent to be their ruler and redeemer through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.
Numbers 11:5
We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt, along with the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic.
Exodus 2:14
But the man replied, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you planning to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “This thing I have done has surely become known.”
Exodus 16:3
“If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt!” they said. “There we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, but you have brought us into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death!”
Exodus 1:11
So the Egyptians appointed taskmasters over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor. As a result, they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.
Acts 7:25–27
He assumed his brothers would understand that God was using him to deliver them, but they did not.
Exodus 17:3
But the people thirsted for water there, and they grumbled against Moses: “Why have you brought us out of Egypt—to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”
Exodus 1:22
Then Pharaoh commanded all his people: “Every son born to the Hebrews you must throw into the Nile, but every daughter you may allow to live.”
Exodus 2:23
After a long time, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned and cried out under their burden of slavery, and their cry for deliverance from bondage ascended to God.
Numbers 20:3–4
The people quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had perished with our brothers before the LORD!
Psalm 2:2–3
The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One:
Luke 19:14
But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’

Glossary

Aaron Aaron’s Rod Abiram Courts and Trials Dathan Deuteronomy, Book of Incense Jude, Letter of Kadesh, Kadesh-Barnea Korah Numbers, Book of Wilderness Wanderings

Topics

Ambition: Falsely Charged Against Moses Ambition: Korah and his Co-Conspirators Conspiracy: Miriam and Aaron, Against Moses Dathan: A Conspirator Against Moses False Accusation: Incidents Illustrative of Against Moses by Korah Honey: Abounded in Egypt Ingratitude: Israelites to Moses Israel: Rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Returned by the Way to the Red Sea: Rebellion of Korah Murmuring of Israelites Against Moses Priests: Punishment for Invading the office of The Levites: Punishment of Korah and Others of, for offering Incense Treason of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram Against Moses and Aaron

Numbers 16:13

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