Numbers 33:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The seventeenth stanza can be understood through the term brick, although some interpret it as lebbona, rendering it as whiteness. In the book of Exodus, we find references to the bricks made by the Egyptians, which caused great lamentation among the people (Ex. 1:14). The prophet Malachi speaks of bricks as well, noting that after their devastation, Idumea attempts to replace them with polished stones (Mal. 4). Additionally, Ezekiel refers to a brick, symbolizing the plight of Jerusalem during the siege (Ezek. 4:1). From these accounts, we discern that in our earthly journey, we experience both growth and decline. When the order of the Church is established, we frequently turn our focus to laboring in the creation of bricks.