Num 11:4 Added info - Some foreign people began to camp #1112

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opened 2022-08-03 17:29:24 +00:00 by SusanQuigley · 0 comments

SusanQuigley commented

2022-08-03 17:29:24 +00:00

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\v 4 Some foreign people began to camp with Israel's descendants. They wanted better food to eat. Then the people of Israel began to weep and say, "Who will give us meat to eat?

The bold phrase above could be apppriate in a dynamic translation if that idea was really implied information, but I don't think it is.

ASV: And the mixed multitude that was among them lusted exceedingly ...
ESV: Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving ...
HCSB: Contemptible people among them had a strong craving for other food. ...
SCB: The riffraff among them had a strong craving for other food.
CEV: One day some foreigners among the Israelites became greedy for food,
GNT: There were foreigners traveling with the Israelites. They had a strong craving for meat,

It could be that the rabble or the mixed multitude included Gentiles, but that does not mean that the Gentiles only recently started traveling with them. The text just says "that was among them." If the word refers to a mix of Israelites and Gentiles, those Gentiles may have been people who fled with them from Egypt.

Unfortunately the Hebrew word occurs only in the verse, so apparently we don't know quite what it means or quite who it refers to in this verse.

Suggestions:
If we want it to keep the idea of "foreigners" like the CEV and GNT:
\v 4 Some foreign people among them ...

Does "also" in Hebrew modify "wept" or "the sons of Israel"? Would knowing that help us know if "the sons of Israel" was the same as or different from the group that was craving?

If we want don't want to imply that it was just foriegners who were craving:
\v 4 The rabble/mixed multitude that was among them
\v 4 Contemptible people among them

Also "wanted better food to eat" seems weak compared to "yielded to intense craving".

\v 4 Some foreign people **began to camp with Israel's descendants**. They wanted better food to eat. Then the people of Israel began to weep and say, "Who will give us meat to eat? The bold phrase above could be apppriate in a dynamic translation if that idea was really implied information, but I don't think it is. ASV: And **the mixed multitude that was among them** lusted exceedingly ... ESV: Now **the rabble that was among them** had a strong craving ... HCSB: **Contemptible people among them** had a strong craving for other food. ... SCB: **The riffraff among them** had a strong craving for other food. CEV: One day **some foreigners among the Israelites** became greedy for food, GNT: There were **foreigners traveling with the Israelites**. They had a strong craving for meat, It could be that the rabble or the mixed multitude included Gentiles, but that does not mean that the Gentiles only recently started traveling with them. The text just says "that was among them." If the word refers to a mix of Israelites and Gentiles, those Gentiles may have been people who fled with them from Egypt. Unfortunately the Hebrew word occurs only in the verse, so apparently we don't know quite what it means or quite who it refers to in this verse. **Suggestions**: If we want it to keep the idea of "foreigners" like the CEV and GNT: \v 4 Some foreign people among them ... Does "also" in Hebrew modify "wept" or "the sons of Israel"? Would knowing that help us know if "the sons of Israel" was the same as or different from the group that was craving? If we want don't want to imply that it was just foriegners who were craving: \v 4 The rabble/mixed multitude that was among them \v 4 Contemptible people among them **Also "wanted better food to eat" seems weak compared to "yielded to intense craving".**