Psalm 78:21-30

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 78:9-39

In these verses, I. The psalmist observes the late rebukes of Providence that the people of Israel had been under, which they had brought upon themselves by their dealing treacherously with God, Ps. 78:9-11. The children of Ephraim, in which tribe Shiloh was, though they were well armed and shot with bows, yet turned back in the day of battle. This seems to refer to that shameful defeat which the Philistines gave them in Eli's time, when they took the ark prisoner, 1 Sam. 4:10, 11. Of this the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:21

Therefore the Lord heard this ,.... What they said in their hearts, and what they expressed with their mouths, all their murmurings against him, their distrust of his power and providence, and disbelief of his promises; see Numbers 11:1 , and was wroth; exceeding wroth; he was highly displeased; there was an overflow of his indignation, as the word F1 יתעבר "transiit in hithpael de transitu vel exundatione bilis solet usurpari", Gejerus. signifies; it was running upon him, upon the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:22

Because they believed not in God ,.... That he was able to give them bread, and provide flesh for them, or bring them through the wilderness to Canaan's land, as he had promised. God, and he only, is the object of faith, and he is to be believed in at all times, and for all things temporal and spiritual; and nothing is more displeasing to him than unbelief; for as faith gives glory to him, unbelief reflects dishonour upon him; faith sets its seal to him as true, but unbelief makes him a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:23

Though he had commanded the clouds from above ,.... Which were round about him, his chariots, and the dust of his feet; and which were at his command to go here and there, and carry and let down provisions for his people, as they did: and opened the doors of heaven ; as a large granary, from whence the manna, afterwards called the corn of heaven, was given out in great abundance, which is signified by opening the doors; see Malachi 3:10 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:24

And had rained down manna upon them to eat ,.... So called, either from מנה , "manah", which signifies to prepare, appoint, and distribute, because this was food prepared of God for the Israelites without them, and was their provision, their appointed portion, and which was daily distributed to them in measure; or from the words מן הו , "man hu", what is it? which they used at first sight of the manna, they not knowing what it was, and hence called it "man"; or "manna"; this the Lord... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:25

Man did eat angels' food ,.... Or, "the bread of the mighty" F4 אבירים "fortium", Pagninus, Montanus, &c.; "magnificorum, potentium", Vatablus. ; such as Moses and Elijah ate of; so Arama; but Aben Ezra and Kimchi interpret it of the clouds, or skies, said to be strong, Job 37:18 in which the manna was prepared, and let down: but rather the words may be read, "every man did eat the bread of the mighty ones"; of princes and nobles, and the great men of the earth; it was royal... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:26

He caused an east wind to blow in the heavens ,.... In the airy heaven: or "he caused it to go" F6 יסע "fecit proficisci", Pagninus, Montanus, Gejerus. ; to go forth out of its place, out of the repositories and treasures of it, from whence he brings the wind, Psalm 130:7 the winds are under the power and government of God, they are his servants that obey him; he says to one, Go, and it goes; and to another, Come, and it comes; stormy wind fulfils his word of command, and obeys its... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:27

He rained flesh also upon them as dust ,.... By "flesh" is meant fowl, as the following clause shows; for there is flesh of birds, as well as of other creatures, see 1 Corinthians 15:39 and the quails which are here meant may be very fitly called flesh, since they are, for their size, a very plump, fat, and fleshy bird: and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea ; or "fowl of wing" F8 עוף כנף "volucres alatas", Tigurine version, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:28

And he let it fall in the midst of their camp ,.... Or, "his camps" F12 מחנהו "castrorum ejus", Pagninus, Vatablus, Gejerus. ; the four camps of Israel; for so many there were, Numbers 2:1 or the camp of God, where he dwelt, and before which he went as the General, Leader, and Commander of them; in the midst of this, or by it, by the side of it, Numbers 11:31 , the flesh or feathered fowl fell, so that they had no trouble to fetch it in; and here it fell by the order and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:29

So they did eat, and were well filled ,..... Or "exceedingly filled" F13 וישבעו מאד "et saturati sunt valde", Pagninus, Montanus, &c.; , or too much, as some versions render it; they eat to excess, not merely to satisfy nature, but to gratify their sensual appetite: gluttony is a sin; it is an abuse of the creatures; it hurts the body by filling it with gross humours, and bringing diseases on it; it is injurious to the mind; the heart may be overcharged by it; it disposes it to... read more

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