Numbers 11:31-32
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The verse describes the quail falling "as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth," which most likely means they were piled up in heaps two cubits deep, rather than flying at that height. This detail emphasizes the sheer overwhelming abundance of the provision, highlighting both God's power and the people's ensuing gluttony.
Then a wind from the LORD sprang up, and it brought quail from the sea and let them fall beside the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and a day’s journey on the other side, around the camp, and about two cubits above the ground. And the people rose all that day and all night and all the next day, and gathered the quail. Those who gathered least gathered ten homers. And they spread them out for themselves all around the camp.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Israelites have just complained bitterly about their lack of meat after leaving Egypt, and God, angered by their ingratitude despite His provision of manna, promises them flesh to eat. This miraculous event follows their complaining and God's subsequent judgment, with a divine wind driving vast numbers of quail into their camp for them to gather and consume. This abundance of food, however, will soon lead to further judgment for their lustful desires.
The Israelites had grumbled and longed for the comforts of Egypt. In response, God sent an incredible, supernatural provision. But how did it arrive?
The verse highlights God's power over creation, even the winds and migratory birds. This wasn't just a random flock of birds; it was a deliberate act initiated by 'a wind from the LORD.'
A Directed Force
The wind wasn't a natural phenomenon occurring at its usual time or place. It was sent by God, a divine agent to fulfill His purpose. This emphasizes that even natural forces are under His command and can be used to execute His will.
Unprecedented Scale
The sheer quantity of quail described—covering an area of 'a day’s journey' wide and falling 'two cubits high'—stresses the miraculous nature of this event. This wasn't a small, easily overlooked occurrence, but a massive, undeniable demonstration of God's ability to provide far beyond human expectation.
The quail were a response to the people's grumbling and longing for Egypt. What does this divine provision reveal about their hearts?
This miraculous provision of quail, while seemingly a gift, was deeply intertwined with the Israelites' discontent and lustful desires. It serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of focusing on worldly comforts over God’s guidance.
A Response to Rebellion
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Numbers 11:4-6 records the Israelites crying out for flesh, complaining about the manna and longing for the food they ate in Egypt. God's provision of quail here is a direct, albeit complex, answer to this grumbling and their lustful craving. They didn't simply ask for food; they craved it with dissatisfaction for God's provision.
Consequences of Ungrateful Longing
The story doesn't end with a joyous feast. Verses 32-34 reveal that while the flesh was still being consumed, God's wrath fell upon them, and a great plague struck them down. This illustrates that even when God grants the desires of a discontented heart, it doesn't necessarily mean His approval; it can, in fact, lead to judgment because of the underlying sin of unbelief and ingratitude.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The supreme God of Israel, the covenant name (Yahweh) by which He revealed Himself. It signifies His eternal, self-existent nature and His faithfulness to His promises.
selav · Hebrew Noun
A migratory bird provided by God in the wilderness. In this context, it represents both God's miraculous provision and a manifestation of His judgment upon the people's insatiable desires.
ammah · Hebrew Noun
A unit of measurement, approximately 18 inches, representing the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. Often used in the Bible for construction or spatial descriptions.
homer · Hebrew Noun
A Hebrew dry measure, often equal to ten ephahs. It represents a significant, abundant quantity, highlighting the vastness of the quail provided.
c. 1446 BC
The Exodus from Egypt
Following centuries of slavery, the Israelites were miraculously delivered from Egypt under Moses' leadership.
c. 1446 BC
Wandering in the Wilderness
After crossing the Red Sea, the Israelites began their 40-year journey through the Sinai wilderness toward the Promised Land.
c. 1445 BC
Complaints and the First Divine Judgment (Taberah)
The people began to grumble against God and Moses, leading to a fire that consumed some at the edge of the camp.
c. 1445 BC— this verse
The Mixed Multitude Craves Flesh
A group of non-Israelites among them, and then the Israelites themselves, began to intensely desire meat, lamenting the lack of variety in their diet of manna.
c. 1445 BC
Plague at Kibroth-hattaavah
God sent a massive flock of quails, fulfilling the people's desire for meat, but followed it with a deadly plague upon those who had lusted.
This passage describes a similar miraculous provision of quail for the Israelites, highlighting God's power to supply their needs in the wilderness, even when they crave something beyond manna.
Psalm 78:27-28This Psalm recounts the event of the quail falling, adding poetic language about God raining down flesh and feathered fowls like sand, emphasizing the sheer abundance and divine orchestration of the event.
Psalm 105:40This verse directly mentions God sending quail, linking it with manna, and framing it as a fulfillment of His word and a sign of His provision for His people.
1 Corinthians 10:6The Apostle Paul references this event as a warning against craving evil things, showing how God's provisions can lead to judgment when met with discontent and lust.
Nehemiah 9:15This prayer recalls God providing 'bread from heaven' and 'water from the rock,' and also mentions 'victuals' in the wilderness, encompassing miraculous provisions like the quail.
jfbNumbers 11:31: "And there went forth a wind from the LORD, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth."
31-35. There went forth a wind from the Lord, and brought quails from the sea, &c.—These migratory birds (see on [76]Ex 16:13) were on their journey from Egypt, when "the wind from the Lord," an east win…
ellicottNumbers 11:31: "And there went forth a wind from the LORD, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth."
(31) And there went forth a wind.— In Psalm 78:26 we read thus: “He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.” A south-east wind would bring the quails fro…
The verse describes the quail falling "as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth," which most likely means they were piled up in heaps two cubits deep, rather than flying at that height. This detail emphasizes the sheer overwhelming abundance of the provision, highlighting both God's power and the people's ensuing gluttony.
The Israelites have just complained bitterly about their lack of meat after leaving Egypt, and God, angered by their ingratitude despite His provision of manna, promises them flesh to eat. This miraculous event follows their complaining and God's subsequent judgment, with a divine wind driving vast numbers of quail into their camp for them to gather and consume. This abundance of food, however, will soon lead to further judgment for their lustful desires.
The Israelites have just complained bitterly about their lack of meat after leaving Egypt, and God, angered by their ingratitude despite His provision of manna, promises them flesh to eat. This miraculous event follows their complaining and God's subsequent judgment, with a divine wind driving vast numbers of quail into their camp for them to gather and consume. This abundance of food, however, will soon lead to further judgment for their lustful desires.
"Then a wind from the LORD sprang up, and it brought quail from the sea and let them fall beside the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and a day’s journey on the other side, around the camp, and about two cubits above the ground. And…" — The verse describes the quail falling "as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth," which most likely means they were piled up in heaps two cubits deep, rather than flying at that height.…
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Last reviewed October 2026
