Numbers 21:4-5

Context

Fiery Serpents

21:4 Then they traveled from Mount Hor by the road to the Red Sea,¹ to go around the land of Edom, but the people² became impatient along the way. 21:5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness, for there is no bread or water, and we³ detest this worthless⁴ food.”

[21:4] ¹tn The “Red Sea” is the general designation for the bodies of water on either side of the Sinai peninsula, even though they are technically gulfs from the Red Sea.

[21:4] ²tn Heb “the soul of the people,” expressing the innermost being of the people as they became frustrated.

[21:5] ³tn Heb “our souls.”

[21:5] ⁴tn The Israelites’ opinion about the manna was clear enough – “worthless.” The word used is קְלֹקֵל (qÿloqel, “good for nothing, worthless, miserable”).