See the marginal reference. Taberah was the name of a spot in or near the station of Kibroth-hattaavah, and accordingly is not named in the list of encampments given in Num 33:16. The separate mention of the two is, however, appropriate here, for each place and each name was a memorial of an act of rebellion. The instances in this and the next verse are not given in order of occurrence. The speaker for his own purposes advances from the slighter to the more heinous proofs of guilt.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Deu 9:22

And at Taberah . . . ye provoked the Lord to wrath.

Warning examples

In the histories here referred to we have examples of some of the methods of the Divine government of the world which reappear in all ages.

I. God does not always lead peoples and individuals to repentance by visitations of his goodness. He sometimes uses the rod.

1. The more a people has been blessed, etc., so much the more certainly will God visit their sins with judgment.

2. But He does not overthrow at once and without warning. Signal fires which tell of coming danger are lighted afar, showing what is coming.

3. When the people repent, then His wrath against sin passes them by. This is seen in all the incidents mentioned here.

II. Such warning examples are seen in all the history of the Church and the world.

1. The Reformation was a time of blessing. The light of knowledge and of Divine truth shone throughout Christendom. The Gospel was set on its candlestick. A reformation in social, political, and domestic life occurred in conjunction with the religious movement.

2. But Gods ways are ways of earnest effort and quiet waiting through endurance and self-sacrifice. Many would not wait. Progress was too slow for them. They would reform the world at one stroke. Discontent and murmuring broke out among some sections of the people. Then came the peasant war. Like a terrible conflagration, the flames of sedition burst out and threatened to destroy the stays of political and religious existence. Yet God had mercy, as on Israel in the wilderness. He permitted only the outermost defences to be destroyed; and there was left behind a fire-swept ruin to remind Christendom whither impatience, murmuring, discontent, and self-will lead.

3. See a hundred years later. Had the people realised with thankfulness the great blessings of freedom and the Gospel divinely given them? The prophets of the Reformation had warned men what the result of such ingratitude would be. What had been the result of a hundred years preaching of the Gospel among the peoples and their rulers? The judgment came. The Thirty Years War, with its blind passions, sent a warning column of flame heavenward. But God again had mercy, although for years Germany was like a burnt-up house. Still, the holiest was preserved, and a new time began.

4. Look a hundred years later. Through the whole of Europe a spirit of apostasy had spread. It swept through England as Deism; as scoffing in France, with accompanying libertinage. In Germany, and indeed in all Europe, the bonds of Christian life and morality were unloosed. Like a shallow but broad stream, the spiritual revolution overflowed all lands. With it came the outer overturning. Uneasiness and discontent were over all. The flame of revolt broke out in France, and Europe was enveloped. But God again, in His mercy, gave space for repentance.

III. The lessons to our time of these incidents.

1. We should have eyes to see what the signs of our time mean. If the spirit of discontent, rebellion, etc., be not repressed, whither shall it lead? Already the flames begin to appear–political incendiarism, audacity in speech, universal agitation. Men who look for no hereafter storm fully grasp at material good. How shall it be when the Divine patience ends?

2. At the beginning of Israels history those warning fire columns were seen. Fifteen hundred years later the impenitent descendants of Israel saw the temple in flames, Jerusalem destroyed, the nation a ruin.

3. Will the New Testament Zion not understand those warnings? A people remained to God even after Jerusalem fell. So will it be although the present form of Christendom passes; and the New Testament foretells such perilous times.

4. Let the individual learn the need of watchfulness. Was not that dangerous sickness a warning signal? But in mercy He spared, and life and health are yours. Let those signs be like beacon lights on your lifes voyage. Murmur not, cultivate contentment, learn to say: I shall go as God leads me, without seeking to choose for myself. (W. Grashoff.)

Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell

Verse 22. At Kibroth-hattaavah] See Clarke on Nu 11:34.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

12-29. Arise, get thee down quicklyfrom hence; for thy people . . . have corrupted themselvesWitha view to humble them effectually, Moses proceeds to particularizesome of the most atrocious instances of their infidelity. He beginswith the impiety of the golden calfan impiety which, while theirmiraculous emancipation from Egypt, the most stupendous displays ofthe Divine Majesty that were exhibited on the adjoining mount, andthe recent ratification of the covenant by which they engaged to actas the people of God, were fresh in memory, indicated a degree ofinconstancy or debasement almost incredible.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And at Taberah, and at Massah, and at Kibrothhattaavah, ye provoked the Lord to wrath. These places are not mentioned in the strict order in which the provocations were made at them; for they provoked the Lord at Massah by murmuring for water, before they provoked him at Taberah, by complaining as it should seem of their journeying; for Massah was before they came to Sinai, and Taberah after they departed from thence; though some, as Aben Ezra observes, say that Taberah is Massah; but it could not be the Massah in Rephidim, for that was on one side of Mount Sinai, and Taberah on another; though different places might be so called from their tempting the Lord at them; rather Taberah and Kibrothhattaavah seem to be the same; where the people died with the flesh in their mouths they lusted after, and were buried; since no mention is made of their removal at that time from the one place to the other, nor of Taberah in the account of their journeys, only Kibrothhattaavah; see Ex 17:7.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

Verses 22-29:

Other instances of Israel’s provoking of Jehovah:’

(1) Taberah, Num 11:1-3, the “place of burning,” where Israel complained against Jehovah and His provision for them.

(2) Massah, Exo 17:1-7, where water came from the rock.

(3) Kibroth-hattavah, Num 11:16-35, the miraculous supply of meat.

(4) Kadesh-barnea, Numbers 13, 14, Israel’s refusal to enter Canaan.

In each of these instances, Moses’ intercession on behalf of Israel stayed the judgment of God. This intercession was based upon the sanctity of God’s Covenant, and His reputation as the God of grace and power.

The principle of intercession is relevant today. The New Testament gives examples of intercession, Joh 17:20; Luk 23:34; Act 7:60; Rom 10:1. God’s people today are commanded to make intercession “for all men,” 1Ti 2:1-4.

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

22. And at Taberah. He briefly adverts to several cases whereby he may convince the people of ingratitude and persevering obstinacy, and thus of a corrupt nature: for it is just as if he had said, that they had been rebellious against God not once only, nor in one particular way, but that they had heaped together many offences, so that it was wonderful that God had so often pardoned them. He also recounts the names given to the places as memorials of their sins, in order that they may at length cease to transgress, since, although so often provoked, God had borne with them already too long.

Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary

(22) At Taberah.The first place mentioned after they left Sinai.

At Massah.The last scene described before they reached it. Sinai is made the centre of provocation.

At Kibroth-hattaavah.The first encampment named after Sinai. It is not certain that they halted at Taberah. (See Numbers 11)

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

22, 23. Not only at Horeb was Jehovah angry with the people, but at Taberah, where they were discontented with the divine guidance, (Num 11:1,) and at Massah, where they murmured on account of water, (Exo 17:1,) and at Kibroth-hattaavah, the graves of lust, (Num 11:4,) where they showed their loathing for the food Jehovah furnished, and longed for the abundant provisions of Egypt, and at Kadesh-barnea, where they were unbelieving, disobedient, and rebellious. Taberah, burning, is not named in the list of the encampments. It was probably near the place called Kibroth-hattaavah.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Taberah, means burning. Massah, the temptation. Kibrothhataavah, the graves of lust.

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

Deu 9:22 And at Taberah, and at Massah, and at Kibrothhattaavah, ye provoked the LORD to wrath.

Ver. 22. And at Taberah. ] Catalogues should be kept of our sins, and oft perused, yea, though they be pardoned, that we may renew our repentance, and keep our souls humble, supple, and soluble.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

And, &c. Note the Parenthesis of verses: Deu 9:22-24.

Taberah. Compare Num 11:1-3.

Massah. Compare Exo 17:7.

Kibroth-hattaavah. Compare Num 11:34.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

Taberah: Num 11:1-5

Massah: Exo 17:7

Kibrothhattaavah: Num 11:4, Num 11:34

Reciprocal: Num 14:11 – provoke Psa 78:40 – How oft Psa 106:14 – But Isa 1:2 – they have Isa 63:10 – they rebelled Jer 32:30 – children Heb 3:8 – as

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge