Kibroth-hattaavah unto Hazeroth; sunt populus in Haseroth, et sub-
JOHN CALVIN
34. And he called the name of that place Kibroth. hattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted.
34. Et vocatum est nomen loci illius Cibroth-hathaavah: quia ibi sepelierunt populum concupiscentem.
35. And the people journeyed from Kibroth-hattaavah unto Hazeroth; and abode at Hazeroth.
35. De Cibroth-hathaavah profecti sunt populus in Haseroth, et substiterunt in eo loco.
1. And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord. 438 The ambiguous signification of the participle 439 causes the translators to twist this passage into a variety of meanings. Since the Hebrew root,אוןaven, is sometimes trouble and labor, sometimes fatigue, sometimes iniquity, sometimes falsehood, some translate it, "The people were, as it were, complaining or murmuring." Others (though this seems to be more beside the mark) insert the adverb unjustly; as if Moses said, that their complaint was unjust, when they expostulated with God. Others render it, "being sick, (nauseantes,") but this savors too much of affectation; others, "lying, or dealing treacherously." Some derive it from the root,תואנהthonah, and thus explain it, "seeking occasion," which I reject as far fetched. To me the word fainting (fatiscendi) seems to suit best; for they failed, as if broken down with weariness. It is probable that no other crime is alleged against them than that, abandoning the desire to proceed, they fell into supineness and inactivity, which was to turn their back upon God, and repudiate the promised inheritance. This sense will suit very well, and thus the proper meaning of the word will be retained. Thus, Ezekiel calls by the name,תאנים theunim, those fatigues, whereby men destroy and overwhelm themselves through undertaking too much work. Still, I do not deny that, when they lay in a state of despondency, they uttered words of reproach against God; especially since Moses says that this displeased the ears of God, and not His Lat., "And the people was, as it were, fainting (fatiscentes,) if, was displeasing in the ears of Jehovah." Fr. "Apres il adveint que le peuple fut comme gens discouragez, (margin, despitez,) ce que despleut aux aureilles de l'Eternel;" afterwards it came to pass that the people were as persons discouraged (or fretted) which displeased the ears of God.
.מתאנניםProf. Robertson and Simon agree in referring this participle Hithpahel to the rootאנןhe groaned heavily, rather than toאוןC., as usual, has given some of the Rabbinical expositions which he saw in S.M.תאנהoccurs in Judges 14:4., where A.V. has occasion;תאניםin Ezekiel 24:12, where Simon's Lexicon notices it as meaning wearinesses, placing this word under the root— .אוןW.