SEV Biblia, Chapter 11:32
Entonces el pueblo estuvo levantado todo aquel día, y toda la noche, y todo el día siguiente, y recogieron codornices; el que menos, recogió diez montones; y las tendieron para sí a lo largo en derredor del campamento.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Numbers 11:32
Verse 32. The people stood up, &c.] While these immense flocks were flying at this short distance from the ground, fatigued with the strong wind and the distance they had come, they were easily taken by the people; and as various flocks continued to succeed each other for two days and a night, enough for a month's provision might be collected in that time. If the quails had fallen about the tents, there was no need to have stood up two days and a night in gathering them; but if they were on the wing, as the text seems to suppose, it was necessary for them to use despatch, and avail themselves of the passing of these birds whilst it continued. See Harmer, and see the note on "Exodus xvi. 13". And they spread them all abroad] Maillet observes that birds of all kinds come to Egypt for refuge from the cold of a northern winter; and that the people catch them, pluck, and bury them in the burning sand for a few minutes, and thus prepare them for use. This is probably what is meant by spreading them all abroad round the camp.
Some authors think that the word µywlŤ salvim, rendered quails in our translation, should be rendered locusts. There is no need of this conjecture; all difficulties are easily resolved without it. The reader is particularly referred to the note on See "Exodus xvi. 13".
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 32. And the people stood up all that day , etc.] The day on which they fell in the morning: and all [that] night ; the night following: and all the next day ; after that, even the space of thirty six hours: and they gathered the quails ; not took them flying, as the Jewish writers suggest, before observed, but from the earth where they fell, in order to lay them up as a provision for time to come; or otherwise, had they taken them only for present use, they would not have been so long in gathering them; but they seemed greedy of them, and therefore took up all they could, or knew what to do with: he that gathered least gathered ten homers ; or so many ass loads, as some interpret it; the words for an ass and an homer being near the same: an homer in measure is the same with the “cor”, and held ten ephahs; and, according to Bishop Cumberland f138 , contained seventy five wine gallons, seven pints, and somewhat more, which must hold a vast quantity of quails; though not the measure, but the number of fowls, is commonly given.
Some render the word “heaps”, as in ( Exodus 8:14); and is supposed better to agree with locusts; but then it will be difficult to assign a reason why the number of them should be given, since heaps might be greater or lesser: and they spread [them] all abroad for themselves round about the camp ; according to some, they were taken alive, and put into cages, which were hung round the camp, so that all places were full of them, in which they were kept, and used as they wanted them; but they seem rather, be they what they will, to be dead, and to be spread about to be dried in the sun, being salted; and so the Vulgate Latin version renders the word, “and they dried them” f139 ; and agrees both with quails, which, according to some writers f140 , used to be salted for food for time to come; and with locusts, on which the inhabitants of some parts of Ethiopia always lived, as Pliny f141 says, being hardened in smoke, and with salt, and was their food for the year round. And this custom was used in Arabia; for Leo Africanus f142 relates, that the people of Arabia Deserta, and of Lybia, reckon the coming of the locusts an happy omen; for either boiled, or dried with the sun, they beat them into meal (or powder) and eat them: and of the Nasamones, a people in Africa, it is said f143 , that they hunt locusts, and dry them in the sun, and grind them, and then, sprinkling milk upon them, sup them up.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 31-35 - God performed his promise to the people, in giving them flesh. How muc more diligent men are in collecting the meat that perishes, than i labouring for meat which endures to everlasting life! We ar quick-sighted in the affairs of time; but stupidity blinds us as to the concerns of eternity. To pursue worldly advantages, we need n arguments; but when we are to secure the true riches, then we are all forgetfulness. Those who are under the power of a carnal mind, wil have their lusts fulfilled, though it be to the certain damage and rui of their precious souls. They paid dearly for their feasts. God ofte grants the desires of sinners in wrath, while he denies the desires of his own people in love. What we unduly desire, if we obtain it, we have reason to fear, will be some way or other a grief and cross to us. An what multitudes there are in all places, who shorten their lives by excess of one kind or other! Let us seek for those pleasures whic satisfy, but never surfeit; and which will endure for evermore __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
ויקם 6965 העם 5971 כל 3605 היום 3117 ההוא 1931 וכל 3605 הלילה 3915 וכל 3605 יום 3117 המחרת 4283 ויאספו 622 את 853 השׂלו 7958 הממעיט 4591 אסף 622 עשׂרה 6235 חמרים 2563 וישׁטחו 7849 להם שׁטוח 7849 סביבות 5439 המחנה׃ 4264
