What Does Numbers 11:18 Mean in the King James?
And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
A craving makes Egypt sound like home by keeping the meat in memory and leaving the narrowness out.
THE MEANING
Longing can make constriction sound like well-being: Egypt is remembered through its meat, while its name carries the narrowness the memory leaves out. The LORD gives the requested flesh, but receiving what appetite demands does not make the place it misses whole.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The food I miss proves the place I left was good to me.
THE ROOT
בָּשָׂר
basar
GROWS FROM
ב־ש־ר
b-s-r
Flesh, bodily substance; these same consonants also form a verb for announcing tidings.
“flesh” in this verse is basar. The verse repeats בשר as the desired food, while the same three consonants also appear in a word for bringing good tidings. The remembered meal becomes part of the report that makes Egypt sound good.
ALSO GROWS
basar: Flesh, body
בָּשָׂר
This noun is repeated as the desired food, giving the memory of Egypt a bodily center.
mevaser: One who brings tidings or good news
מְבַשֵּׂר
This verbal form shares the three consonants, linking the desired flesh with the report that shapes what is remembered as good.
הִתְקַדְּשׁוּ
hitqaddeshu
GROWS FROM
ק־ד־ש
q-d-sh
Set apart; reserve as distinct.
“sanctify” in this verse is hitqaddeshu. The verse places a command of setting apart beside the promised meat. The same root names what is reserved as a sanctuary, so appetite appears in the language of consecration.
ALSO GROWS
qadosh: Set apart, dedicated
קָדוֹשׁ
It names the quality expressed by the command to set themselves apart.
miqdash: Sanctuary, a set-apart place
מִקְדָּשׁ
It carries the same root from a people set apart to a place reserved as distinct.
THE PATTERN
Present hunger compresses memory around remembered provision and makes return seem like relief.
And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!THE THREAD
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!Isaiah uses the verb from בשר for the one who brings good tidings, sharing the consonants that name the flesh desired here. The remembered flesh becomes part of the report that makes Egypt sound good.
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