2
But you, O Lord, did not punish your people in this way; instead, you showed them kindness. You sent them quails to eat, a rare, delicious food to satisfy their hunger.
1
3
You did all this so that the idolaters, when they were hungry, would be unable to eat because of the disgusting creatures sent to them. Your people, however, suffered hunger only a short while, and then they ate the finest food.
4
It was necessary for the oppressors to suffer relentless need, while your people saw how their enemies were being tormented.
5
When terrible, fierce snakes attacked your people and were killing them with their poison, you did not remain angry long enough to destroy your people.
2
6
This trouble lasted for only a little while, as a warning. Then you gave them a healing symbol, the bronze snake, to remind them of what your Law requires.
7
If a person looked at that symbol, he was cured of the snakebite - not by what he saw, but by you, the savior of all mankind.
8
By doing this, you also convinced our enemies that you are the one who rescues people from every evil.
9
Our enemies died from the bites of locusts and flies; no way was found to cure them, because they deserved to be punished by such creatures.
10
But even poisonous snakes could not overcome your people, because you had mercy, helped them, and cured them.
11
They were bitten so that they would remember your commands, but they were quickly rescued, in order to keep them from forgetting you completely and depriving themselves of your kindness.
12
No medicine or ointment cured them. They were restored to health by your word, O Lord, the word which heals all humanity.