11:34 So the name of that place was called Kibroth Hattaavah, 1 because there they buried the people that craved different food. 2
21:6 So the Lord sent poisonous 4 snakes 5 among the people, and they bit the people; many people of Israel died.
35:20 “But if he strikes him out of hatred or throws something at him intentionally 7 so that he dies,
1 sn The name “the graves of the ones who craved” is again explained by a wordplay, a popular etymology. In Hebrew קִבְרוֹת הַתַּאֲוָה (qivrot hatta’avah) is the technical name. It is the place that the people craved the meat, longing for the meat of Egypt, and basically rebelled against God. The naming marks another station in the wilderness where the people failed to accept God’s good gifts with grace and to pray for their other needs to be met.
2 tn The words “different food” are implied, and are supplied in the translation for clarity.
3 sn The question indicates that they had been murmuring against Aaron, that is, expressing disloyalty and challenging his leadership. But it is actually against the
5 tn Heb “fiery.”
6 tn The designation of the serpents/ snakes is נְחָשִׁים (nÿkhashim), which is similar to the word for “bronze” (נְחֹשֶׁת, nÿkhoshet). This has led some scholars to describe the serpents as bronze in color. The description of them as fiery indicates they were poisonous. Perhaps the snake in question is a species of adder.
7 tn The verb is “yoked” to Baal-peor. The word is unusual, and may suggest the physical, ritual participation described below. It certainly shows that they acknowledge the reality of the local god.
9 tn The Hebrew text is more vivid: “by lying in wait.”