Psalms 78:28

28 He aimed them right for the center of their camp; all round their tents there were birds.

Psalms 78:28 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 78:28

And he let it fall in the midst of their camp
Or, "his camps" F12; 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 direction of the Lord himself; he caused it to fall, without whose knowledge and will a sparrow does not fall to the ground, ( Matthew 10:29 ) . These creatures fell either, as some think, being wearied with their flight over the Red sea; or through their wings being broken by the vehemency of the wind that brought them, as others; or by the moistness of the south wind, which wetted their wings, and made them flag and fall; but, by whatever means this was done, it was so ordered by the Lord that they should fall, and fall just in the place where they did:

round about their habitations;
for the space of a day's journey on every side, where they lay in heaps, here and there, two cubits high, ( Numbers 11:31 ) , so that they could gather them with great ease, and had no need of arrows to shoot at them, nor nets to spread for them; they were ready at hand, and in great plenty.


FOOTNOTES:

F12 (whnxm) "castrorum ejus", Pagninus, Vatablus, Gejerus.

Psalms 78:28 In-Context

26 He let East Wind break loose from the skies, gave a strong push to South Wind.
27 This time it was birds that rained down - succulent birds, an abundance of birds.
28 He aimed them right for the center of their camp; all round their tents there were birds.
29 They ate and had their fill; he handed them everything they craved on a platter.
30 But their greed knew no bounds; they stuffed their mouths with more and more.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.