Discovery BoxPsalms 78:21-33
Context78:21 When 1 the Lord heard this, he was furious.
A fire broke out against Jacob,
and his anger flared up 2 against Israel,
78:22 because they did not have faith in God,
and did not trust his ability to deliver them. 3
78:23 He gave a command to the clouds above,
and opened the doors in the sky.
78:24 He rained down manna for them to eat;
he gave them the grain of heaven. 4
78:25 Man ate the food of the mighty ones. 5
He sent them more than enough to eat. 6
78:26 He brought the east wind through the sky,
and by his strength led forth the south wind.
78:27 He rained down meat on them like dust,
birds as numerous as the sand on the seashores. 7
78:28 He caused them to fall right in the middle of their camp,
all around their homes.
78:29 They ate until they were stuffed; 8
he gave them what they desired.
78:30 They were not yet filled up, 9
their food was still in their mouths,
78:31 when the anger of God flared up against them.
He killed some of the strongest of them;
he brought the young men of Israel to their knees.
78:32 Despite all this, they continued to sin,
and did not trust him to do amazing things. 10
78:33 So he caused them to die unsatisfied 11
and filled with terror. 12
[78:21] 2 tn Heb “and also anger went up.”
[78:22] 3 tn Heb “and they did not trust his deliverance.”
[78:24] 4 sn Manna was apparently shaped like a seed (Exod 16:31), perhaps explaining why it is here compared to grain.
[78:25] 5 sn Because of the reference to “heaven” in the preceding verse, it is likely that mighty ones refers here to the angels of heaven. The LXX translates “angels” here, as do a number of modern translations (NEB, NIV, NRSV).
[78:25] 6 tn Heb “provision he sent to them to satisfaction.”
[78:27] 7 tn Heb “and like the sand of the seas winged birds.”
[78:29] 8 tn Heb “and they ate and were very satisfied.”
[78:30] 9 tn Heb “they were not separated from their desire.”
[78:32] 10 tn Heb “and did not believe in his amazing deeds.”
