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quails in the Bible
The Israelites were twice relieved in their deprivation in the wilderness by a miraculous supply of quails, (1) in the wilderness of Sin (Exodus 16:13), and (2) again at Kibroth-hattaavah (Numbers 11:31).
God “rained flesh upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations. So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire” —Psalm 78:27-29 KJV
And 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 day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth. —Numbers 11:31 KJV
The words in Numbers 11:31 King James Version (above) appear to denote that the quails lay one above another to the thickness of two cubits above the ground. The Revised King James Version, however, reads, “about two cubits above the face of the earth”, i.e., the quails flew at this height, and were easily killed or caught by the hand.
The more recent Legacy Standard Bible translates this verse as…
Now there went forth a wind from Yahweh, and it brought quail from the sea, and let them fall beside the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and a day’s journey on the other side, all around the camp and about two cubits over the surface of the ground. —Numbers 11:31 LSB
Being caught in vast numbers by the people (“he that gathered least gathered ten homers” — perhaps 80 bushels), they spread them all out (Num. 11:32) in order to salt and dry them for presevation on their journey.
These birds (the Coturnix of naturalists) are found in countless numbers on the shores of the Mediterranean, and their annual migration is an event causing great excitement.
More information
- Wilderness of Sin
- Kibroth-hattaavah
- About miracles of the Bible, including a comprehensive list
- Is it logical to believe that the biblical miracles really happened? Answer
- “Miracles are not possible,” some claim. Is this true? Answer
- About birds in the Bible
- Animals of the Bible