We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:

NUMBERS 11:5KJV
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Numbers 11:5 (KJV)

What does Numbers 11:5 mean?

Numbers 11:5 records the Israelites remembering and longing for the foods they ate in Egypt, listing fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic, which they say they ate "freely." The verse shows their dissatisfaction with their current situation in the wilderness and their desire for the variety and abundance of food they once had as slaves in Egypt.

In this verse, the people of Israel are speaking to Moses, expressing their complaints about the manna God is providing during their journey through the desert. Their memories focus on the specific foods of Egypt, highlighting how they are now missing the flavors and comforts of their past, even though that past included slavery. This longing for Egypt sets the stage for the larger theme of grumbling and lack of trust in God's provision that runs through this chapter.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 11:5

  • "Remember" (זָכַר, zakhar, H2142) means to recall or bring to mind. Here, it emphasizes how the Israelites are focusing on the past, possibly with some exaggeration or selective memory, rather than their current reality.
  • "Freely" (חִנָּם, khinnam, H2600) is often understood as "for nothing" or "without cost." This word adds irony, since the Israelites were slaves in Egypt and their food was not truly free; their memory glosses over the hardship.
  • The specific foods—"fish" (דָּג, dag, H1710), "cucumbers" (קִשּׁוּא, qishshu, H7180), "melons" (אֲבַטִּיחַ, avattiakh, H20), "leeks" (חָצִיר, chatsir, H2682), "onions" (בָּצָל, batsal, H1211), and "garlick" (שׁוּם, shum, H7762)—are all named to paint a vivid picture of the variety and richness they remember from Egypt, contrasting sharply with the monotony of manna.

Why Numbers 11:5 matters

  • Numbers 11:5 helps clarify that the Israelites' complaints were not just about hunger, but about missing the variety and pleasures of their old life, even if that life was harsh.
  • The verse highlights how memory can be selective, focusing on good things from the past while ignoring the suffering that came with them.
  • This longing for Egypt, despite their liberation, sets up a recurring theme in the wilderness journey: the struggle to trust God’s provision and the temptation to look back rather than forward.