And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.
NUMBERS 20:5KJVWhat does Numbers 20:5 mean?
Numbers 20:5 records the Israelites complaining to Moses about being brought out of Egypt into what they call an "evil place," describing the land as barren—without seed, figs, vines, pomegranates, or water to drink. The verse highlights their deep dissatisfaction and sense of deprivation in the wilderness.
In this verse, the people are speaking directly to Moses, expressing frustration and longing for the comforts and produce of Egypt. The setting is the wilderness, where the Israelites have been wandering and are now facing a lack of water. The verse captures their disappointment with their current situation and their doubts about the journey’s purpose.
The Hebrew behind Numbers 20:5
- "Evil" (רַע, raʿ, H7451): This word means "bad" or "harmful" and emphasizes how harsh and unsuitable the people see their current environment, not just as unpleasant but as actively negative.
- "Place" (מָקוֹם, maqom, H4725): Repeated in the verse, this word stresses the physical location, underlining that their complaint is about the actual land they are in, not just their circumstances.
- "Seed" (זֶרַע, zeraʿ, H2233), "figs" (תְּאֵנָה, te'enah, H8384), "vines" (גֶּפֶן, gephen, H1612), "pomegranates" (רִמּוֹן, rimmon, H7416): Naming these specific foods points to the agricultural abundance they remember from Egypt, showing that their complaint is not just about survival but about missing the good things of settled life.
- "Water" (מַיִם, mayim, H4325): The lack of water is the immediate crisis, making their complaint urgent and practical, not just nostalgic.
Why Numbers 20:5 matters
- This verse shows that the Israelites’ complaints are not only about thirst but about a longing for abundance and comfort, revealing deeper dissatisfaction than just the present hardship.
- By calling the wilderness an "evil place," the people contrast it sharply with the land of Egypt, even though Egypt was a place of slavery, which highlights how hardship can distort memory and perspective.
- The verse sets the stage for the events that follow, where Moses and Aaron respond to the people’s needs, leading to a significant turning point in the narrative of Israel’s journey.