Psalm 78 (77):26Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This Bread is genuinely the sustenance of angels, who are nourished incorruptibly by the Word of God. To enable humanity to partake in this divine nourishment, He took on flesh and dwelt among us (Jn. 1:44). This Bread, through the clouds of the Gospel, is disseminated throughout the world, and the hearts of preachers act like heavenly portals, delivering the message not to the grumbling synagogue but to the Church, which believes and places its trust in Him. He is also prepared to sustain the faith of those who may be weak but still believe, using signs conveyed through spoken words that float like birds in the air. These are not the charming yet hollow words that emerge from worldly comfort but are instead the life-giving words that provide the warmth of divine inspiration, allowing those of fragile faith to be uplifted and nourished, preparing them to receive heavenly gifts.

11:20). This number refers specifically to those capable of military service aged twenty and older, excluding the younger individuals, women, and the entire tribe of Levi. Within the encampment and around the tents, God provided manna, ensuring it was easy to collect. The term "camp" refers to the entire gathering of the people in the wilderness, while "dwellings" designates each person's individual tent. The phrase “Their desire brought them” indicates that they received everything they wished for, fulfilling their desires. God provided what they longed for; thus, “desire” is used in place of the specific request, much like how the Apostle Paul uses “hope” in reference to his aspirations, stating, “Hope shall not be ashamed.” The wrath of God fell upon them, resulting in many deaths among the elect of Israel. Upon seeing the quails, they doubted God’s promise that they would be filled with these birds by the month's end and feared they might escape or be consumed too quickly. Consequently, they “dried them for themselves around the camp,” and while the meat was still in their mouths and uneaten, the Lord’s anger was ignited against them, causing Him to smite the people with a very great pestilence (Num. 11:33). Observe that immediately after they consumed the meat already in their mouths, they ceased to believe and forgot the might of God. Therefore, their desire was fulfilled, demonstrating divine power and providence for them; because of their unbelief and insatiable greed, this provision turned into a plague, as Moses indicated, resulting in many fatalities. The phrase “the greatest of them” was translated by Simmachus as “fat” and by Aquila as “rich,” denoting the most affluent and robust among the people. Thus, it is likely that those who collected more suffered greater losses. Nevertheless, it seems Aquila and Symmachus arrived at this interpretation based on subsequent statements, and many of the elect of Israel were afflicted. The interpreters employed the term “most numerous” not to compare the deceased with the survivors, but rather in the sense of many. This interpretation aligns with Moses’ assertion that “the Lord smote the people with a very great plague,” which signifies the death of many. He referred to them as chosen because they were valiant in battle. Those numbered above were all capable of military service, and for this reason, they were selected.

Therefore, the birds were so abundant that they could not be ensnared by traps or nets but could be taken easily by hand, as illustrated in the following: ‘And they attacked them in the midst of their camp, round about their tents. And they ate, and were satiated, and the things which they desired he gave them.’

Consider the angels and archangels, the esteemed servants of the King, who witness your prayers and the nature of your petitions; they are filled with wonder and joy when they observe that you, a being of dust, have transcended your earthly concerns to seek the divine. Conversely, they are saddened when they see one who turns from heavenly treasures to seek after mere scraps.

Undoubtedly, God utilized the winds in accordance with the location of their camps, even though He could have summoned the birds through other means. The phrase "I will eat, and they will be satiated" indicates not merely that God sent an abundance of birds that filled their stomachs to excess, but rather illustrates that their request for meat stemmed from a mere tendency, rather than true hunger. Just as He previously stated about the manna that it was given in abundance, similarly here He notes regarding the flesh, "And they were eaten, and were filled with meat," which clearly reveals the gluttony of the Israelites, exposing their uncontrolled cravings.

While God, in various instances, promises to grant the faithful their true desires, here, in contrast, He allowed the wrongful aspirations of this impure people to be fulfilled out of an angry disposition that contrasted with His usual grace. This is further emphasized as this indulgence ultimately led to their downfall. As they partook of the food, they also ignited the fire of God’s anger; while the meat was still in their mouths, His wrath descended upon them, causing the demise of the robust among them.

Yet, despite their unsatiated cravings, it is noted that their desires were not thwarted. Even though God’s anger spread across all the tribes, the prophet highlights only the strong and selected ones, intending to illustrate the justice of God more evidently. Young and vigorous men, relying on their own might, boldly opposed God, dismissing His fear and believing themselves above His scrutiny. Therefore, it is not astonishing that His wrath was visited upon them with greater severity. The sight of such a devastating fate befalling the chosen and robust men was indeed alarming; however, the Israelites remained unmoved by this disgrace, further demonstrating their hardened hearts.

The Saviour calls upon His people to listen attentively, warning them to avoid the fate of the earlier Jewish community who disregarded God's commands. The Saviour instructs them to scrutinize the Gospel law and to sincerely heed the prophecies. Although the Jews were formidable, they faltered on the day of Christ's Passion due to their unbelief. Particularly unfaithful was the tribe of Ephraim, which fell into the sin of idolatry with the golden calf, leading the other nine tribes into similar transgressions. As a consequence of this betrayal, God stripped them of their valor: despite their skill in archery, they succumbed to cowardice, and retreated in fear during battle. Consequently, they were taken captive and dispersed among the Gentiles. God showed compassion to the Jews; He recognized that they were wholly given over to worldly wisdom and reluctant to repent. Yet, in His great mercy, He did not annihilate all the Jews in the wilderness, but chose to spare them. Humanity is bound by the flesh, experiencing passions and decay. The Spirit departs from humanity and does not return until the second coming.