How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)
Quote #1
Now when the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, the Lord heard it and his anger was kindled. Then the fire of the Lord burned against them, and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. But the people cried out to Moses; and Moses prayed to the Lord, and the fire abated. So that place was called Taberah, because the fire of the Lord burned against them. (Numbers 11:1-3, NRSV)
When the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire was quenched. And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the Lord burnt among them. (Numbers 11:1-3, KJV)
Right off the bat, God is getting angry. The people are complaining that they're miserable (wandering in the wilderness will do that to you). God hears and starts a huge fire to teach them a lesson. It's not that God is annoyed that they're bummed. It's more that he's sad they don't trust him to help them through these difficult times. Hey, Israel, just lean on him and everything will be okay.
Quote #2
"And say to the people: Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat; for you have wailed in the hearing of the Lord, saying, 'If only we had meat to eat! Surely it was better for us in Egypt.' Therefore the Lord will give you meat, and you shall eat. You shall eat not only one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you—because you have rejected the Lord who is among you, and have wailed before him, saying, 'Why did we ever leave Egypt?'" (Numbers 11:18-20, NRSV)
And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the Lord, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the Lord will give you flesh, and ye shall eat. Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days; But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the Lord which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt? (Numbers 11:18-20, KJV)
The old do-it-til-you-hate-it punishment. This would be like eating a whole carton of ice cream in one sitting. At first, it's delicious, but pretty soon you're sick to your stomach and you can't stand to look at a cone for the rest of the summer. Talk about the punishment fitting the crime.
Quote #3
Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married[…] When the cloud went away from over the tent, Miriam had become leprous, as white as snow. And Aaron turned towards Miriam and saw that she was leprous. Then Aaron said to Moses, "Oh, my Lord, do not punish us for a sin that we have so foolishly committed. Do not let her be like one stillborn, whose flesh is half consumed when it comes out of its mother's womb." And Moses cried to the Lord, "O God, please heal her." But the Lord said to Moses, "If her father had but spit in her face, would she not bear her shame for seven days? Let her be shut out of the camp for seven days, and after that she may be brought in again." (Numbers 12:1-2, 10-15, NRSV)
Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married[…] And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous. And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned. Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb. And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee. And the Lord said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again. (Numbers 12:1-2, 10-15, KJV)
Miriam complains about God's appointed leader, so he doles out another harsh punishment. She'll have to leave camp for seven days to heal from the skin disease he gave her. Young lady, you march right out to that desert and think about what you did.