Psalm 78 (77):27Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The One who opened the gates of Heaven and provided manna to quench the hunger of the unbelievers surely possesses the power to offer the true Bread from Heaven to those who believe, which the manna foreshadowed: this Bread is genuinely the sustenance of angels, who are eternal and nourished incorruptibly by the Word of God. To enable mankind to partake of this Bread, He took on human form and dwelled among us (John 1:14). The Bread Himself is distributed across the world through the clouds of the Gospel, and the hearts of the preachers serve as the heavenly doors that present His message, intended not for the grumbling synagogue but for the Church that believes and trusts in Him. He can also sustain the faith of the weak who, though not tempted, believe through the signs conveyed by the spoken word, which transcend the earthly sphere, unlike the words from the north, characterized by cold and murkiness. Instead, they bring forth the warmth of the South Wind from Heaven, reaching out to the earthly realm; this is so that those whose faith is fragile may be strengthened to embrace the divine gifts awaiting them.

It is stated, “A whole month, it is said, you shall eat until it comes out of your nostrils” (Num. 11:20). This count included those from twenty years and older, excluding younger individuals, women, and the entire tribe of Levi.

God provided manna in the camp and around the tents, ensuring the people could gather it easily. "Camp" refers to the entire gathering of the Israelites in the wilderness, while "dwellings" signifies each individual’s tent. The phrase "Their desire brought them" implies that they received everything from God that they longed for, illustrating that what they truly desired was granted to them. Thus, it is said that their very yearning resulted in fulfillment, similar to how the apostle Paul speaks of hope—“Hope shall not be ashamed.” Yet, the wrath of God was kindled, leading to many falling victim to death, including some of Israel’s chosen ones. When the quails appeared, they doubted God’s assurance that they would be filled with the birds by month’s end, fearing they would fly away or be consumed too early. They proceeded to preserve them around the camp, and as the meat was still in their mouths, God's anger ignited against them, resulting in a severe plague upon the people (Num. 11:33).

Even before they had finished the meat, they ceased to believe and forgot the might of the Lord. Their cravings, which had been satisfied as a testament to divine authority and care, transformed into a scourge due to their lack of faith and insatiable appetite. This food, initially a blessing, turned into cholera, as Moses indicated, leading to the demise of many. In regard to “the greatest of them,” Simmachus translated it as fatty, while Aquila interpreted it as wealthy, suggesting that those who gathered the most might also have died in greater numbers. Nevertheless, it’s reasonable to assume that Aquila and Symmachus arrived at this interpretation based on the context of further words: “the elect of Israel were smitten.” The interpreters used the term most numerous not to contrast the dead with the living, but to signify many. This aligns with Moses' declaration, “The Lord smote the people with a very great plague,” where "great plague" signifies the death of many. He termed them chosen, referring to those valiant in battle, as all counted were capable of war and thus selected for this purpose.

Consequently, the birds were so plentiful that they could not be ensnared by traps or nets, but could readily be gathered by hand, as is clearly illustrated by 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."

Observe the angels and archangels, the esteemed servants of the King, as they watch you while you offer your prayers; they are astonished and rejoice to see that you, a being of the earth, have elevated your desire beyond the material and sought after divine gifts. Conversely, they are saddened when they see someone abandon heavenly aspirations in pursuit of trivial matters.

Certainly, God utilized the winds in accordance with the locations of the camps, though He had other means by which to bring the birds to them. The statement, "I will eat, and they will be satisfied," indicates not merely that a vast number of birds were sent for the Israelites to consume to excess, but reveals that their request for meat stemmed from mere caprice rather than genuine hunger. Just as previously mentioned regarding manna, which was provided to the full, the text underscores that they were consumed and filled with meat, explicitly illustrating the Israelites' gluttony and unrestrained desires. While God often pledges to fulfill the requests of the faithful as a token of His grace, in this instance, He allowed the misguided cravings of the unclean people out of wrath, which He might have denied in a spirit of mercy. This is made clearer when it is noted that this indulgence was ultimately their demise. With their appetites, they also ingested the flames of God’s fury; even as they chewed what they desired, the Lord's anger descended upon them, striking down the stout-hearted among them. Interestingly, it is said that they did not lack for their whims; indeed, they were granted what they wished for. Even as God's anger spread across the tribes, the Prophet highlights only the stout and prominent individuals to further illustrate God's justice. For just as young and strong men, relying on their own might, boldly oppose God and lose sight of reverence, it is no wonder that divine wrath was particularly harsh against them. Witnessing the downfall of the chosen and mighty was a daunting sight; however, the Israelites remained unmoved by such a disgrace, thereby showcasing their obstinacy of heart.

The Savior calls upon His people to listen attentively, warning them against falling into the same destiny as the former Jewish nation that disobeyed God. The Savior instructs them to diligently examine the Gospel law and to sincerely engage with the prophecy. Though the Jews were powerful, they stumbled in their lack of faith during the trials of Christ’s Passion. The tribe of Ephraim, particularly unfaithful, succumbed to the idol worship of the golden calf and led the other nine tribes into it. As a consequence of this betrayal, God stripped them of their valor; despite their proficiency in archery, they fell into timidity and retreated on the battlefield. They were ultimately taken captive and dispersed among the Gentiles. In His mercy, God looked upon the Jews, recognizing their complete surrender to worldly wisdom without any intention of repentance. In His profound compassion, He chose not to annihilate all the Jews in the wilderness but rather to spare and show mercy to them. Humanity is characterized by flesh, partaking in passions and corruption. The Spirit, having departed from humanity, will not return until the second coming.