Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 11:11
And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favor in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?
11. evil entreated ] An archaism, for ‘treated evil,’ ‘caused trouble to.’
found favour in thy sight ] Cf. Exo 33:12-13; Exo 33:16-17; Exo 34:9.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 11. – 15. The complaint and remonstrance of Moses in these verses serve at once to show the deeply distressed state of his mind, and the degradation of the minds of the people. We have already seen that the slavery they had so long endured had served to debase their minds, and to render them incapable of every high and dignified sentiment, and of every generous act.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Why didst thou not hear my prayer, when I desired thou wouldst excuse me, and commit the care and government of this unruly people to some other person? See Exo 3:11; 4:10.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Moses said unto the Lord, wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant?…. Or “done evil” m to him, that which was distressing to him, and gave him trouble; namely, setting him at the head of the people of Israel, and laying the government of them on his shoulders; which surely was doing him honour, though that is not to be expected without care and trouble; Moses does not seem to be in a good frame of spirit throughout the whole of this discourse with the Lord: the best of men are not always alike in their frames, and sometimes act contrary to that for which they are the most eminent, as Moses was for his, meekness and humility:
and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight; he had found much favour in the sight of God, to have so many wonderful things done by him in Egypt, to be the instrument of the deliverance of Israel from thence, to be the leader of them through the Red sea, to be taken up to the mount with God, and receive the law from him to give to that people; but the favour he complains of that was denied him, is, his not being excused, when he desired it, from taking on him the office he was called unto, of being the deliverer and ruler of the people, Ex 4:10;
that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? with respect to matters heavier and more difficult; for as to lighter and lesser things, be was assisted and relieved by the officers placed over the various divisions of the people at the advice of Jethro, Ex 18:21; government is a burdensome thing, and especially when a people are prone to mutiny and rebellion, as the people of Israel were.
m “malefecisti”, Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(11) Wherefore hast thou afflicted.Literally, done evil to: the same verb, in a different conjugation, which is rendered displeased in Num. 11:10.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11. Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant In a moment of weak faith the most honoured person on earth honoured in bearing the largest part in the elevation of the race deems himself the subject of special afflictions. But this was only momentary and exceptional in the history of Moses. He usually “endured as seeing Him who is invisible.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Let us pause over these verses to lament the corruptions and imperfections of our poor fallen nature, which we behold even in so great a man as Moses bursting forth so unseemly. Alas! what is man in his highest attainments, when left but for one moment void of the preserving grace of GOD! Dearest JESUS! may every renewed view of the universal corruption, either in myself or others, tend to endear thee to my heart! Sweet is that scripture, Isa 45:22-25 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Num 11:11 And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?
Ver. 11. Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant. ] Antoninus the Emperor said often, Imperium oceanum esse malorum, that to be a governor of others is to be plunged into an ocean of miseries. Pope Adrian caused to be engraven upon his own tomb, Faelix si non imperitasset. Melancthon said, the three sorest labours of all were, Docentis, imperantis, parturientis, the labours of ministers, magistrates, and of travailing women.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Wherefore, &c. Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Wherefore hast thou: The complaint and remonstrance of Moses in these verses serve at once to shew the deeply distressed state of his mind, and the degradation of the minds of the people. Num 11:15, Exo 17:4, Deu 1:12, Jer 15:10, Jer 15:18, Jer 20:7-9, Jer 20:14-18, Mal 3:14, 2Co 11:28
wherefore have: Job 10:2, Psa 130:3, Psa 143:2, Lam 3:22, Lam 3:23, Lam 3:39, Lam 3:40
Reciprocal: Gen 30:27 – favour Exo 32:11 – why doth Deu 1:9 – I am not Deu 1:31 – bare thee Jer 45:3 – added Eze 3:14 – General Hos 11:3 – taught Act 6:2 – we should Gal 4:19 – of Gal 6:2 – Bear
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
11:11 And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found {f} favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?
(f) Or, how have I displeased you?