Psalm 78:21

21 Therefore the Lord heard, and was provoked: and fire was kindled in Jacob, and wrath went up against Israel.

Psalm 78:21 Meaning and 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 signifies; it was running upon him, upon the thick bosses of his buckler, to arraign his perfections, call in question any of his attributes, and disbelieve his word; this must greatly exasperate him, and provoke the eyes of his glory:

so a fire was kindled against Jacob;
the posterity of Jacob; or in Jacob ^F2, in the camp of Israel; which was literally true, because of the murmurings of the people against the Lord fire came down from heaven, and burnt among them, and consumed the uttermost parts of the camp; wherefore the name of the place was called Taberah, which signifies a burning, ( Numbers 11:1-3 ) , or it may be taken figuratively for the wrath of God, which is oftentimes compared to fire; see ( Nahum 1:6 ) hence it follows,

and anger also came up against Israel;
the people of Israel, the same with Jacob before; the allusion is to men when angry, in whose breasts anger burns, and from thence it rises up, and shows itself in their countenance, in their eyes, and by the words of their mouth.

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 (rbety) "transiit in hithpael de transitu vel exundatione bilis solet usurpari", Gejerus.
F2 (bqeyb) "in Jahacob", Pagninus, Montanus, Musculus.

Psalm 78:21 In-Context

19 They spoke also against God, and said, Will God be able to prepare a table in the wilderness?

20 Forasmuch as he smote the rock, and the waters flowed, and the torrents ran abundantly; will he be able also to give bread, or prepare a table for his people?

21 Therefore the Lord heard, and was provoked: and fire was kindled in Jacob, and wrath went up against Israel.

22 Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation.

23 Yet he commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,