Not mindful of the punishment by fire, Israel still did not mend their
ways, but soon again began to murmur against God. As so often before,
it was again the mixed multitude that rebelled against God and Moses,
saying: "Who shall give up flesh to eat? We remember the fish that we
did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks,
and the onions, and the garlic. But now our soul is dried away: there
is nothing at all, beside this manna before our eyes." But all this
murmuring and these complaints were only a pretext to sever themselves
from God, for first of all, they actually possessed many herds and much
cattle, enough plentifully to satisfy their lusting after flesh if they
had really felt it; and manna, furthermore, had the flavor of every
conceivable kind of food, so all they had to do while eating it was to
wish for a certain dish and they instantly perceived in manna the taste
of the desired food. It is true that manna never gave them the flavor
of the five vegetables they mentioned, but they should have been
grateful to God for sparing them the taste of these vegetables
injurious to health. Here they showed their perversity in being
dissatisfied with measures for which they should have been grateful to
God. Manna displeased them because it did not contain the flavor
injurious to health, and they also objected to it because it remained
in their bodies, wherefore they said: "The manna will swell in our
stomachs, for can there be a human being that takes food without
excreting it!" God had, as a special mark of distinction, given them
this food of the angels, which is completely dissolved in the body, and
of which they could always partake without injury to their health. It
is a clear proof of the excellent taste of manna that a later time,
when the last manna fell on the day of Moses' death, they ate of it for
forty days, and would not make use of other food until the manna had
been exhausted to the last grain, clearly showing that the taking of
any different food was disagreeable. But while manna was at hand in
abundance, they complained about seeing before them, morning and
evening, no other food than manna. [468]
The true state of affairs was that they had a lurking dissatisfaction
with the yoke of the law. It is certain that they had not had in Egypt
better food for which they now longed, for their taskmasters, far from
giving them dainties, gave them not even straw for making bricks. But
in Egypt they had lived undisturbed by laws, and it was this
unrestrained life that they desired back. Especially hard for them were
the new laws on marriage, for in Egypt they had been accustomed to
marry those closely related by blood, from whom they were now obliged
to separate. They now trooped together in families, and awaiting the
moment when Moses, about to leave the house of study, would have to
pass them, they began to murmur publicly, [469] accusing him of being
to blame for all the sufferings they had been obliged to bear. Upon his
advice, they said, had they abandoned a most fruitful land, and instead
of enjoying the great fortune promised to them, they were now wandering
about in misery, suffering thirst from lack of water, and were
apprehensive of dying of starvation in case the supply of manna should
cease. When these and similar abuses were uttered against Moses, one
out of the people stepped forth and exhorted them not so soon to forget
the many benefactions they had known from Moses, and not to despair of
God's aid and support. But the multitude upon this became even more
excited, and raged and shouted more violently than ever against Moses.
[470] This conduct of Israel called forth God's wrath, but Moses,
instead of interceding for the people, began to complain of their
treatment of him, and announced to God that he could not now execute
the commission he had undertaken in Egypt, namely, to lead Israel in
spite of all reverses, until he had reached the promised land. He now
begged God to relieve him of the leadership of the people in some way,
and at the same time to stand by him in his present predicament, that
he might satisfy the people's desire for flesh. [471]