Psalm 78 (77):31Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Or perhaps it was to illustrate how the elect were simultaneously restrained alongside them, such that those who were distinct in thought and action might endure suffering together, serving as an example of not only righteousness but also of steadfastness. It has been observed that the holy individuals were taken captive alongside sinners for this very purpose; for in the Greek texts we discover not the term ἐ νεπόδισεν, meaning constrained, but rather συνεπόδισεν, which indicates constrained together with.

As stated, “A whole month, it is said, you shall eat until it comes out of your nostrils” (Num. 11:20). This count refers specifically to those able to bear arms from twenty years and older, excluding the younger individuals, women, and the entire tribe of Levi. In the center of the camp 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" indicates each individual's tent. The phrase, “Their desire brought them,” signifies that they received from God all that they yearned for, achieving their desires. God fulfilled their requests; thus, the term desire is used in place of what they sought, just as Paul speaks of hope in lieu of what he sought, stating, “Hope shall not be ashamed.”

However, God’s wrath fell upon them, resulting in the death of many, including those considered the elect of Israel. When they beheld the quails, they did not trust God's promise that by month’s end they would be satisfied with these birds; fear crept in that they might escape or be consumed too quickly. As a result, they “dried them for themselves round about the camp,” and while the meat was still in their mouths and had not yet been fully swallowed, the Lord's anger ignited against them, leading to a great pestilence affecting the people (Num. 11:33). It is noteworthy that they could hardly have finished eating the meat before they ceased to believe and forgot God’s might. Thus, their desires were fulfilled through a display of divine power and Providence, yet due to their disbelief and insatiability, the food turned into a cause of suffering, leading to many deaths, as Moses noted. The phrase “the greatest of them” has been interpreted by Simmachus as “fat” and Aquila as “rich,” suggesting it referred to the most affluent and strongest among the people. Therefore, it is likely that those who collected more perished more readily. However, it seems that Aquila and Symmachus derived this interpretation from the subsequent mention of the elect of Israel being affected. The term most numerous was used not to draw a comparison between the deceased and the living but rather to convey a sense of a great many. This also aligns with Moses's words, “The Lord smote the people with a very great plague,” where “great plague” signifies the demise of many. They were designated as chosen, indicating those who were valiant in battle, for all who were counted above were capable of warfare and had been chosen for this very purpose.

Consider the angels and archangels, those esteemed servants of the King; while you pray, they observe how you present your appeal to the Lord. They are filled with wonder and joy when they witness you, a mortal being, rise above earthly concerns to seek heavenly treasures. Conversely, they are saddened when they see someone abandon divine matters in favor of mundane desires.

Undoubtedly, while God could have brought the birds to them by other means, He used the winds in accordance with the positioning of their camps. The statement, “I will eat, and they will be satiated,” illustrates not that God sent forth an overwhelming supply of birds for their gluttony, but rather indicates that their request for meat stemmed from a mere whim rather than true hunger. Thus, as previously acknowledged regarding the manna that was given in abundance, here too it is made clear that they consumed the meat, revealing their indulgence which evidenced their unchecked appetites. While in other contexts God promises to fulfill the desires of the faithful, here He responded to the corrupt longings of the sinful crowd; in His grace, He would have denied them but, in His anger, He permitted it. This is made more evident by the conclusion that their greed brought them death. For while they feasted, the fire of God's wrath surged forth; even as they savored their food, the judgment of God fell upon them, resulting in the demise of their strongest. Though His anger affected all the tribes, the Prophet specifically highlights the robust and favored ones, underscoring the justice of God. Indeed, young and vigorous men, filled with confidence in their strength, boldly defied God, disregarding His sovereignty and assuming they were invulnerable. Thus, it is unsurprising that His wrath was directed toward them with severity. It was a horrifying sight to witness the downfall of such chosen and strong individuals; yet the Israelites remained unmoved by this humiliation, revealing their hardened hearts.

The Savior calls His people to listen closely, that they may not experience the same downfall as the early Israelites who disobeyed God. He instructs them to diligently consider the law of the Gospel and to heed the prophecy from their innermost being. Although the Jews displayed strength, they faltered in the struggle of Christ's Passion due to their lack of faith. Notably, the tribe of Ephraim was particularly unfaithful, having succumbed to the idolatry of the golden calf and dragging the other nine tribes into this sin. As a result of their treachery, God stripped them of their valor; despite their prowess in archery, they fell into fear and retreated in battle. They were subsequently taken into captivity and dispersed among the nations. God showed mercy to the Jews, even though He recognized that they had completely surrendered themselves to worldly wisdom and refused to repent. Only through His immense compassion did He choose not to annihilate all the Jews in the wilderness but instead spared and had pity on them. Humanity is frail, prone to passions and decay. The Spirit departs from man and does not return until the Second Coming.