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Quail from Heaven

Illustration of Quail from Heaven
Israel craved meat instead of manna, so God sent quail by the millions on the wind - provision that became a judgment on their greed.

When Israel wearied of manna and craved meat in the wilderness, complaining bitterly, God promised to give them flesh - not for one day but for a whole month, until it came out their nostrils. He sent a wind that brought vast flocks of quail from the sea, dropping them around the camp a day's journey on every side. It was both provision and judgment: God met their demand, but a plague struck those consumed by craving, and the place was named Kibroth-hattaavah, 'the graves of lust.'

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Details

Category
Provision
Testament
Old Testament
Performed by
God

Key Chapters

Key Passages

A Wind Brings the Quail

Numbers 11:31-32

A31nd 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 dayโ€™s journey on this side, and as it were a dayโ€™s journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth.

32 And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp.

Did You Know?

1

God sent quail on the wind when Israel craved meat instead of manna.

2

The birds fell a day's journey deep all around the camp.

3

It was provision and judgment together - a plague struck the greedy.

4

The place was named Kibroth-hattaavah, 'the graves of craving.'