Numbers 11:21-23
Context11:21 Moses said, “The people around me 1 are 600,000 on foot; 2 but you say, ‘I will give them meat, 3 that they may eat 4 for a whole month.’ 11:22 Would they have enough if the flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? If all the fish of the sea were caught for them, would they have enough?” 11:23 And the Lord said to Moses, “Is the Lord’s hand shortened? 5 Now you will see whether my word to you will come true 6 or not!”
1 tn Heb “the people who I am in their midst,” i.e., among whom I am.
2 tn The Hebrew sentence stresses the number. The sentence begins “600,000….”
3 tn The word order places the object first here: “Meat I will give them.” This adds to the contrast between the number and the statement of the
4 tn The verb is the perfect tense with a vav (ו) consecutive, carrying the sequence from the preceding imperfect tense. However, this verb may be subordinated to the preceding to express a purpose clause.
5 sn This anthropomorphic expression concerns the power of God. The “hand of the
6 tn Or “will happen” (TEV); KJV “shall come to pass unto thee.”