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They challenged both God and Moses.

Israelites: What were you thinking to bring us up out of Egypt and let us die out here in this desert land? There’s nothing to eat and no water either. We are sick and tired of living on what food we have.

As a divine response, the Eternal One sent venomous snakes[a] among them and the people were bitten. A number of Israelites were indeed killed by them. They then appealed to Moses.

Israelites: We are so sorry! We know that it was wrong to speak against the Eternal and against you. Please talk to the Him, and get Him to take these awful snakes away.

So Moses appealed to God on behalf of the terrified and chastened congregation,

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Footnotes

  1. 21:6 Hebrew, seraphim, which literally is “fiery snakes”

they spoke against God(A) and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt(B) to die in the wilderness?(C) There is no bread! There is no water!(D) And we detest this miserable food!”(E)

Then the Lord sent venomous snakes(F) among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.(G) The people came to Moses(H) and said, “We sinned(I) when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord(J) will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed(K) for the people.

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