The Complaint of Moses

Hearing the people weep family by family, Moses brings his own complaint before the LORD. He says the people are too heavy for him to carry and asks for death rather than keep bearing the burden alone.

T¹⁰hen Moses heard the people of family after family weeping at the entrances to their tents, and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly, and Moses was also displeased. ¹¹So Moses asked the LORD, “Why have You brought this trouble on Your servant? Why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid upon me the burden of all these people? ¹²Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth, so that You should tell me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries an infant,’ to the land that You swore to give their fathers? ¹³Where can I get meat for all these people? For they keep crying out to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ ¹⁴I cannot carry all these people by myself; it is too burdensome for me. ¹⁵If this is how You are going to treat me, please kill me right now — if I have found favor in Your eyes — and let me not see my own wretchedness.”