Why the Murmurers at Taberah Sought a Pretext Against God

"And the people were as murmurers" (Numbers 11:1) — like those seeking a pretext for how to break away from following the Holy One, blessed be He, for "murmurers" (mit'onenim) denotes nothing other than a pretext (ilah), as it is said, "for he sought a pretext (to'anah)" (Judges 14:4). And what were they saying? "The Omnipresent has done us harm, for He has troubled us to walk three consecutive days." But the Holy One, blessed be He, did this only for their good, so that they might enter the Land at once. Yet because they reckoned it as evil, therefore it was evil in the ears of the Lord, "and the Lord heard, and His anger was kindled." But does He not hear everything that human beings say? Did not the prophet say thus: "He who plants the ear, shall He not hear?" (Psalms 94:9). Rather, in every place where it says "and He heard," He exacts His judgment from there at once; and in every place where it does not say "and He heard," He does not lay it to heart at that hour. "And it consumed at the edge (bi-ktzeh) of the camp" — among the thorns (kotzim) that were in the camp. And some say: among the officers (ketzinim) that were in the camp.