The Whole Congregation Grumbles in the Wilderness of Sin

Mekhilta DeRabbi Shimon Ben Yochai 16:2

"And the whole congregation of the children of Israel grumbled" (Exodus 16:2). Rabbi Yehoshua says: Israel should have consulted the greatest among them, saying, What shall we eat? Instead they arose and spoke words of complaint against Moses. Rabbi Elazar of Modi'in says: Israel are accustomed to standing up and speaking words of complaint against Moses, and not against Moses alone but even against the Almighty. Therefore it is said, "And the whole congregation of the children of Israel grumbled."

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