Why did the Israelites in the wilderness complain of having no meat to eat when there were thousands of meat offerings being offered by the priests which commanded both priest and worshiper to partake?

Answer 1

Another answer from our community:

Because, even if you accept the story of the Exodus as historical fact, it is about the beginning of Judaism and all of the religious rules hadn't been developed yet. Furthermore, you can't make a meat offering if you're in the desert because there is nothing to offer. They would have eat leave a little left. Because they haven't reached the "promised land" yet. They were wandertheuing in the wilderness and does not have any meat to offer. Because only the pure and clean ones can eat the sacrifices that the priests offered them (after they left the desert they were allowed to eat meat that was not slaughtered in the temple)

The dessert does provide various types of edible meat as bighorn sheep. they could weight up to 300 pounds. There are flocks of birds that cross the desert at certain times of the year in the Biblical days.

Answer 2

Another answer from our community:

I guess they very soon ate all the cattle they had and longed to eat meat because there was a long time frame and 6000, 000+ people involved. There would have been little to keep the cattle alive in the desert. Because, even if you accept the story of the Exodus as historical fact, it is about the beginning of Judaism and all of the religious rules hadn't been developed yet. Furthermore, you can't make a meat offering if you're in the desert because there is nothing to offer. Because they haven't reached the "promised land" yet. They were wandertheuing in the wilderness and does not have any meat to offer.

Because only the pure and clean ones can eat the sacrifices that the priests offered them (after they left the desert they were allowed to eat meat that was not slaughtered in the temple) The dessert does provide various types of edible meat as bighorn sheep. they could weight up to 300 pounds. There are flocks of birds that cross the desert at certain times of the year in the Biblical days.

Answer 3

Answer #1:

Sheep were more useful for milk, which could provide protein on a repetitive basis,

than they were for meat, which could only provide protein once.

Additionally, God provided manna for them.

Answer #2:

They did !

Read the descriptions of the so-called "sacrifices" more carefully,

and you'll notice that in most cases, after the ritual and spiritual

steps in the process, the priests who officiated at it were given a

portion of the meat, and the individual or family who brought it to

the tabernacle sat down and dined on it.

I never understood why the blood part and the burning part are

always highlighted with such macabre fascination and curiosity,

while the sitting down and eating part is so ignored. Maybe it's all

a result of the unfortunate use of the word "sacrifice" to translate

the event.

In any case, no one who has not toured the route from the abattoir

to his dinner table has strong grounds for Amusement or BEmusement

at the ancient, quaint, and bloody biblical offerings.

Answer:

They wanted God to show His love by providing for them Himself. This is the secret behind most of the "complaints" in the wilderness.

Answer 4

The real reason was because they wanted God to display His love and His power by providing for them miraculously. God did so (See Numbers ch.11); but since they insisted a bit too stridently, it was held against the complainers.

Answer 5

The apparent puzzle is solved in Psalms 78:19-20. They wanted to see the power of God's miracle, rather than eat through their own efforts. God provided the miracle (Exodus 16, Numbers 11), but disapproved of their pressing for a miracle, because of the principle that one should not test God (Exodus ch.17).

More information:

Their attitude was that they were trying to express their relationship with God to the fullest. That's why they requested to hear God Himself speaking at Mount Sinai, not just Moses (Rashi commentary on Exodus 19:9). That's also why they accepted the Torah with its hundreds of commands and restrictions, many of which they had not been accustomed to during the centuries in Egypt.
This is the traditional interpretation of the parable of the two lovers in the Song of Songs: the two lovers represent God and the Israelites. The Israelites were in love with God (Jeremiah 2:2).
When approaching the topic of the complaints which the Israelites made in the wilderness (Exodus ch.15,16,17 and 32; Numbers ch.11,13,16,20 and 21), we should bear in mind the following:
1) The Israelites were intelligent and possessed strong opinions.
2) They were people of initiative.
3) They weren't perfect.
4) The prophetic books spotlight and magnify their faults because the people were being held to a superlative standard (Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi).
5) God punished them in this world, to leave them unblemished in the next world.

So here are some examples:
a) When they mentioned the lack of meat (Exodus ch.16) despite the fact that they actually did have kosher livestock (Numbers 32:1), certainly part of the reason may have been stubbornness (Exodus 32:9). But the voice of prophecy (in Psalms 78:20) reveals another reason: they wanted God to demonstrate His power and provide meat miraculously (which He soon did). They loved seeing the power of God.

b) When they mentioned the lack of water (Exodus ch.15), they had by that time journeyed for three days in the arid wilderness without finding any water (ibid). This is a case in which God was holding them to superhuman standards; and they complained not a single word until the third thirsty day. They understood that it was a test and were willing to suffer.

c) The episode of the spies (Numbers ch.13) was a case of people of strong opinions. This is the meaning of the word anashim as it is used in Numbers 13:3. The spies were men of leadership. They formed an opinion and stuck to it. Their opinion was that it was as yet too soon to attempt conquering the Holy Land, because of the losses which could occur in war. Better to wait until the nation would increase (see Exodus 23:30). The problem was that this attitude could be seen as a lack of trust in God (Deuteronomy 1:32)

d) The Golden Calf (Exodus ch.32) was a case of taking the initiative.
It was a one-time error which was quickly and decisively stamped out. And while it was a serious offense, it may be a bit less of a puzzle if we consider the following:
1) It seemed that Moses had died (Rashi commentary, Exodus 32:1); and they wanted something or someone to lead them (Exodus 32:1). They felt that this (seemingly) drastic circumstance justified quickly taking unusual measures.
2) They had a tradition that they would eventually build an edifice to God (Rashi, Exodus 26:15); and, not yet having been commanded as to the details (the Tabernacle), they thought that they might now improvise.
3) The actual intent was not to worship the Golden Calf itself, but to worship the Presence of God (Exodus 32:5) which (they hoped) would dwell upon it.
4) The entire event was instigated by Egyptians (Rashi, Exodus 32:4) who had recently joined among the mixed multitude (Exodus 12:38).
5) Those who sinned were, at most, in the thousands (Exodus 32:28). Not hundreds of thousands.
6) That generation was judged by an exacting standard, precisely because they were on a high level (Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi).
7) In each era, there are different spiritual tests. The (main) test in ancient times was whether people would succumb to the lure of idolatry and its preludes. This powerful lure has since been emasculated (Talmud, Yoma 69b), so it is hard for us now to fully comprehend.

See also:

More about the Hebrew Bible

Jewish history timeline

Answer 6

One of the great puzzles of the story of the Exodus is that the Israelites complained bitterly to Moses that they had no food (Exodus 16:3), yet they had rich herds of cattle. This can best be explained by the scholarly view that the Book of Exodus was not written until many centuries after the time attributed to the Exodus. When writing of the hardships of the Israelites, the author simply did not check back to the point in the story where it was explained that the Israelites took their cattle with them.

Answer 7

When they mentioned the lack of meat (Exodus ch.16) despite the fact that they actually did have kosher livestock (Numbers 32:1), part of the reason may have been stubbornness (Exodus 32:9). But the voice of prophecy (in Psalms 78:20) reveals another reason: they wanted God to demonstrate His power and provide meat miraculously (which He soon did). They loved seeing the power of God. See also:

More about the complaints in the wilderness

Refuting Bible-criticism

Answer 8

They wanted a change from the everyday manna food, and they wanted quail and water.