John Calvin Commentary Numbers 11:5

"We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt for nought; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic:" — Numbers 11:5 (ASV)

We remember the fish which we did eat in Egypt. By this comparison with their former way of life, they depreciate the present grace of God. And yet, they enumerate no delicacies when they speak of leeks, onions, and garlic. Some, therefore, explain it thus: when such great abundance and variety was commonly found, how painful and grievous it must be for us to be deprived of greater delicacies!

My own opinion is that these lowly people, who had been accustomed to living on humble fare, praised their accustomed food as if it had been the greatest of luxuries. Surely, rustics and artisans value their pork and beef, their cheese and curds, their onions and cabbage, as much as most of the rich value their sumptuous fare.

Scornfully, therefore, the Israelites magnify things that, in themselves, are but of little value, in order to further stimulate their depraved appetite, already sufficiently excited. Still, there is no doubt that those who had been accustomed to a diet of herbs and fish would have considered themselves happy with that kind of food.

Moreover, to make the matter more invidious, they generally say that they ate gratis¹⁵ what cost them very little, although such a phrase is common in all languages. For even secular writers testify that all that seashore abounds with fish.¹⁶ The fisheries of the Nile are also very productive and a part of the wealth of Egypt, while the country is so well watered that it produces an abundance of vegetables and fruits.¹⁷

¹⁵ A. V., “freely.” Ainsworth, “for nought;” this (he adds) may be referred to the fish which they had for nought, without price, getting them out of the rivers freely; or for nought, that is, for very little, very cheap. It may also have reference to the former, , “freely.” Ainsworth, “for nought;” this (he adds) may be referred to the fish which they had for nought, without price, getting them out of the rivers freely; or for nought, that is, for very little, very cheap. It may also have reference to the former, We remember for nought, i.e., in vain; so the Hebrew in vain; so the Hebrew Chinnam, and the Greek and the Greek δωρεὰν, sometimes signifieth a thing done or spoken in vain, and without effect; as , sometimes signifieth a thing done or spoken in vain, and without effect; as Proverbs 1:17; ; Ezekiel 6:10; ; Galatians 2:21.” Geneva Version, “for nought, .” Geneva Version, “for nought, i.e., for a small price, or good cheep.”for a small price, or good cheep.”

¹⁶ Herod., 2:93, describes the abundance of the fish in Egypt, and their migrations for the deposition of their spawn: and states that the inhabitants of the marshes, some of them, “live on nothing but fish.” — Ibid. 92.92.

¹⁷ Raphelius has a striking note on this passage from Herod. “The herbs (onions and garlic) were ordinarily given to laborers in Egypt. Whence also this was the food of the Israelites, whose labors the Egyptians used, or rather abused, in making bricks. Herod. 2:125. “It is declared by certain Egyptian inscriptions on the Pyramid itself, how much was paid to the workmen, ἔς τε συρμαίην, καὶ κρόμμυα καὶ σκόροδα, for radishes, onions, and garlic.” — Raphel., , for radishes, onions, and garlic.” — Raphel., in loco.