But the evil was soon worse than before. Instead of leading the survivors to humiliation and repentance, this fearful judgment seemed only to increase their murmurings. In all directions the people were gathered at the door of their tents, weeping and lamenting. "The mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic: but now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes." Thus they manifested their discontent with the food provided for them by their Creator. Yet they had constant evidence that it was adapted to their wants; for notwithstanding the hardships they endured, there was not a feeble one in all their tribes.

Men ondskaben blev snart værre end før. I stedet for at få de overlevende til at ydmyge sig og angre syntes denne frygtelige straf blot at forøge deres knurren. Alle vegne samledes folk grædende og klagende i deres teltdøre. "Den sammenløbne hob, som fandtes iblandt dem, blev lysten. Så tog også israelitterne til at græde igen, og de sagde: "Kunne vi dog få kød at spise! Vi mindes fiskene, vi fik at spise for intet i Ægypten, og agurkerne, vandmelonerne, porrerne, hvidløgene og skalotterne, og nu vansmægter vi; her er hverken det ene eller det andet, vi ser aldrig andet end manna." Således viste de deres utilfredshed med den kost, som deres skaber havde givet dem. Og dog havde de til stadighed fået bevis for, at den var tilpasset deres behov, for til trods for de strabadser, de havde gennemgået, var der ikke en eneste svækling i nogen af stammerne.