In the Book of Numbers, particularly in Numbers 11:5, the term ‘sea cows’ is believed to refer to a type of marine creature, often identified with the flesh of sea animals that the Israelites craved while wandering in the desert. The Israelites reminisced about the fish they used to eat in Egypt, and the mention of ‘sea cows’ is part of their nostalgic recollection of the variety of food available to them in Egypt. This craving for the flavors of their past highlights their dissatisfaction with the manna provided by God during their journey.
Although the exact identification of ‘sea cows’ is debated among scholars, it is commonly thought that it may refer to some kind of aquatic animal or could even be a metaphorical expression to describe the abundance of food enjoyed in Egypt. The phrase evokes a sense of longing for the comfort and familiarity of their previous lives, contrasting sharply with the harshness of their desert experience.