~ The Israelites Leave Sinai and Complain ~

On the twentieth day 
of the second month of the second year,
the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle of the Testimony.
Then the Israelites set out from the Desert of Sinai
and traveled from place to place
til the cloud came to rest in the Desert of Paran.
They set out, this first time,
at the Lord's command through Moses.

So they set out from the mountain of the Lord
and traveled for three days.
The ark of the covenant of the Lord
went before them during those three days
to find them a place to rest.
The cloud of the Lord was over them by day
when they set out from the camp.

Whenever the ark set out, Moses said,

"Rise up, O Lord!
May Your enemies be scattered;
may Your foes flee before You."

And whenever it came to rest, he said,

"Return, O Lord,
to the countless thousands of Israel."

Now the people complained about their hardships
in the hearing of the Lord
and when He heard them
His anger was aroused.
Then fire from the Lord burned among them
and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.
When the people cried out to Moses,
he prayed to the Lord
and the fire died down.
So that place was called Taberah,
because fire from the Lord had burned among them.

(Numbers 10:11-13,33-36; 2:1-3)