The Israelites craved meat and complained about not having it. God granted their request and provided them with meat “until it comes out of your nose and it will be loathsome for you.” The Sages explain what was behind their complaint and what was the punishment described in the Torah.

Rabbi Shimon ben Yohai said: Was it meat that they were requesting? Couldn’t they taste all of the delicacies in the world in the manna? When eating the manna, anyone who craved meat would taste it; anyone who craved fish would taste it; anyone who craved rooster, pheasant, or peacock would taste it; so he would taste anything that he wished to taste. Why were they complaining? They were seeking a pretext to return to Egypt. Nevertheless, so said the Holy One, Blessed be He, to Moses: What are they requesting, meat? Tell them that I will give them meat…. Anyone who did not complain before the Lord would eat and enjoy the meat. Anyone who reviled the Lord would eat the meat and it would examine him to see if he had reviled the Lord, and it would come out of his nose, as it is stated: “Until it comes out of your nose and it will be loathsome for you” (Numbers 11:20). (Bemidbar Rabba 7)