Psalms 106:14-21

106:14 In the wilderness they had an insatiable craving for meat;

they challenged God in the desert.

106:15 He granted their request,

then struck them with a disease.

106:16 In the camp they resented Moses,

and Aaron, the Lord’s holy priest.

106:17 The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan;

it engulfed the group led by Abiram.

106:18 Fire burned their group;

the flames scorched the wicked.

106:19 They made an image of a calf at Horeb,

and worshiped a metal idol.

106:20 They traded their majestic God 10 

for the image of an ox that eats grass.

106:21 They rejected 11  the God who delivered them,

the one who performed great deeds in Egypt,


sn They had an insatiable craving. This is described in Num 11:4-35.

tn Heb “they craved [with] a craving.”

tn Heb “they tested God.”

tn Heb “and he sent leanness into their being.”

tn Or “envied.”

tn Heb “the holy one of the Lord.”

10 tn Or “covered.”

11 tn Or “the assembly of Abiram.”

13 sn Verses 16-18 describe the events of Num 16:1-40.

16 tn Heb “their glory.” According to an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition, the text originally read “his glory” or “my glory.” In Jer 2:11 the Lord states that his people (Israel) exchanged “their glory” (a reference to the Lord) for worthless idols.

19 tn Heb “forgot.”