^{11 Ref} And Moses said to the Lord, Why have you done me this evil? and why have I not grace in your eyes, that you have put on me the care of all this people?

^{12 Ref} Am I the father of all this people? have I given them birth, that you say to me, Take them in your arms, like a child at the breast, to the land which you gave by an oath to their fathers?

^{13 Ref} Where am I to get flesh to give to all this people? For they are weeping to me and saying, Give us flesh for our food.

^{14 Ref} I am not able by myself to take the weight of all this people, for it is more than my strength.

^{15 Ref} If this is to be my fate, put me to death now in answer to my prayer, if I have grace in your eyes; and let me not see my shame.

^{16 Ref} And the Lord said to Moses, Send for seventy of the responsible men of Israel, who are in your opinion men of weight and authority over the people; make them come to the Tent of meeting and be there with you.

^{17 Ref} And I will come down and have talk with you there: and I will take some of the spirit which is on you and put it on them, and they will take part of the weight of the people off you, so that you do not have to take it by yourself.

^{18 Ref} And say to the people, Make yourselves clean before tomorrow and you will have flesh for your food: for in the ears of the Lord you have been weeping and saying, Who will give us flesh for food? for we were well off in Egypt: and so the Lord will give you flesh, and it will be your food;

¹⁹ Not for one day only, or even for five or ten or twenty days;