Numbers 11:14

11:14 I am not able to bear this entire people alone, ¹  because it ²  is too heavy for me!

Numbers 11:21

11:21 Moses said, “The people around me ³  are 600,000 on foot; ⁴  but you say, ‘I will give them meat, ⁵  that they may eat ⁶  for a whole month.’

Numbers 11:12

11:12 Did I conceive this entire people? ⁷  Did I give birth to ⁸  them, that you should say to me, ‘Carry them in your arms, as a foster father ⁹  bears a nursing child,’ to the land which you swore to their fathers?

Numbers 22:30

22:30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am not I your donkey that you have ridden ever since I was yours until this day? Have I ever attempted ¹⁰  to treat you this way?” ¹¹  And he said, “No.”

Numbers 22:32

22:32 The angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Look, I came out to oppose you because what you are doing ¹²  is perverse before me. ¹³ 

[11:14]  ¹ tn The word order shows the emphasis: “I am not able, I by myself, to bear all this people.” The infinitive לָשֵׂאת (lase’t) serves as the direct object of the verb. The expression is figurative, for bearing or carrying the people means being responsible for all their needs and cares.

[11:14]  ² tn The subject of the verb “heavy” is unstated; in the context it probably refers to the people, or the burden of caring for the people. This responsibility was turning out to be a heavier responsibility than Moses anticipated. Alone he was totally inadequate.

[11:21]  ³ tn Heb “the people who I am in their midst,” i.e., among whom I am.

[11:21]  ⁴ tn The Hebrew sentence stresses the number. The sentence begins “600,000….”

[11:21]  ⁵ 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 Lord.

[11:21]  ⁶ 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.

[11:12]  ⁵ sn The questions Moses asks are rhetorical. He is actually affirming that they are not his people, that he did not produce them, but now is to support them. His point is that God produced this nation, but has put the burden of caring for their needs on him.

[11:12]  ⁶ tn The verb means “to beget, give birth to.” The figurative image from procreation completes the parallel question, first the conceiving and second the giving birth to the nation.

[11:12]  ⁷ tn The word אֹמֵן (’omen) is often translated “nurse,” but the form is a masculine form and would better be rendered as a “foster parent.” This does not work as well, though, with the יֹנֵק (yoneq), the “sucking child.” The two metaphors are simply designed to portray the duty of a parent to a child as a picture of Moses’ duty for the nation. The idea that it portrays God as a mother pushes it too far (see M. Noth, Numbers [OTL], 86-87).

[22:30]  ⁷ tn Here the Hiphil perfect is preceded by the Hiphil infinitive absolute for emphasis in the sentence.

[22:30]  ⁸ tn Heb “to do thus to you.”

[22:32]  ⁹ tn Heb “your way.”

[22:32]  ¹⁰ tn The verb יָרַט (yarat) occurs only here and in Job 16:11. Balaam is embarking on a foolish mission with base motives. The old rendering “perverse” is still acceptable.