The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 116

,2), and hia wonders that he had showed appetites (comp. Exod. xvi. 3; Numb. them (eee vers. 12-15, 2-1-28, 48-58). xi. 5). Ver, 12.-lllia.rvelloua thingo did he in the Ver. 19.-Yeo., they apo.ke against God; eight of their fa.there, in the land of Egypt, they said, Can God furnish a te. ble in the in the fteld of Zo11n. The mimcles of wilderne111 (see Numb. xi. 4). But the Egypt o.ro, perlll\pe, the most striking series psalmist either feels himself at liberty to in Jewish history. A more particular expnnd the Recount given in the Penta- account or lhem is given below (vers. 44- tench, or ha.a a further knowleclge of the 58),. They were wrought "in the field of real feelings of the people, which has come Zoan," i.e. in the rich flat tract east and to him by tradition (compare the commen\ south or the city or Zoan, the Greek on ver. 12). Tanis, now San. ( On this place, see Mr. Re- Ver. 20.-Behold, he smote the rock, that ginald Poole's' Cities of Egypt,' pp. 64-BB.) the waters gushed out, and the streams This foot could not have been gathered (literally, fhe torrent-courses) over:0.owed; from Exodus, but must have come to the can he give bread also 1 can he provide writer from the tradition of which he fiesh for his people 1 These were probably speaks in ver. 8. the people's thoughts rather than their Ver. 18.-Xe divided the sea., and caused words. An "evil heart or nnbelief" under- them to pass through (see Exod. xiv. 21, lay their clamours and their murmurings. 22). And he made the waters to atll.Ild as They doubted God's power to relieve their an heap. The expression is taken from wants, notwithatanding all the proofs that the Song or Moses (Exod. xv. 8). It must they he.d had of his omnipotence. be understood poetically. Ver. 21.-Therefore the Lord heard this. Ver. 14.-In the daytime also he led them Though these might be unspoken thoughts, with a. cloud. The "pillar of the clond" yet God wonltl "hear" them, i.e. be a.ware is, of course, intended (see Exod. xiii. 21, 22; of them ; for " he knoweth the very secrets xiv. 19, 24; xl. 88; Numb. ix. 15; x. 84; of the heart." And was wroth (comp. vera. xiv. 14; Deut. i. 83). And all t41e night 59, 62 ; Deut. iii. 26). So a fire was with a light of fire. The "pillo.r of fire" kindled ago.inst 1acob. Not a material fire, (Exod. xiii. 21; xl. 88; Numb. ix. 16, as in Lev, x. 2; Nnmb. xi. 1-3; and xvi. etc.). 85; but the fire of God's displeasure. And. Vere. 15, 16.-Re clave the rocks in the anger also came up against Israel (comp. wilderness; rather, he clave rocks. The vers. 30, 31; Numb. xi. 33). word hos no o.rticle. The reference is Ver. 22.-Becanse they believed not in probably to both Exod. xvii. 6 and Numb. God, 11.Ild trusted not in his salvation. They xx. B-11. And gave them drink as out of trusted neither in God's power nor in his the great depths; rather, "and gave them love; they neither believed that he would drink abundantly, as out of the depths" (so nor that he conld save them. Cheyne and the Revised Version). On the Ver. 28.-Thongh he had oom.mll.Ilded the abundance of the water, see Numb. xx. 11, clouds from a.hove; rather, and he com- and compare the next verse : Xe brought manded (Hengstenberg, Cheyne, Revised streams also out of the rock, and oaused Version). The commund was subsequent, waters to run down like rivers. not previous, to the want of fa.Uh (see Ver. 17.-And they sinned yet more Numb. xi. 4-81). And opened the doors age.inst him by provoking the Most High in of heaven (comp. Gen. vii. 11, "The the wilderneas. The two provocations or a wiudows of heaven were opened"). 'l'ho tlemo.nd for breo.d (Exod. xvi. 8) o.nd a expressions ure, of course, poetical (see also demand for flesh (Numb. xi. 4) are joined 2 Kings vii. 2). together in the present pnssnge, as the two Ver. 24.-And had rained down manna occasions of giving water are in vers. 15, upon them to ee.t, and had given them; 16. Only the second of these two provoca- ro.ther, and rained down manna to eat, and tions wo.s subsequent to the (first) giving of gave them (comp. Exod, xvi. Ill, 14). Of water; but the psulmist does not Rliow the com of heaven ( corn p. Exod. u i. 4 ; Ps. himself to be bound by considerations of cv. 40; John vi. 6, 7). strict ohronologico.l accuracy. He is a Ver. 25.-Ma.n did eat angels' food; poet, aun not a.n historian; though at literally, bread of the mighty ones, by which present he is tree.ting of history. the LXX. o.nd wost commentators under- Ver. 18.-And they tempted God in their stand "angels" to be meant. " Angels' heart by asking meat for their lust; rather, food" mo.y mean either the actual food by asl&ing food (Ko.y, Cheyno, Alexander). on which angels subsist, or food supplied The term used ( ',:,t,t) is wide enough to by the ministration or angels, and derived include both brco.d (en',) o.ud flesh (i.-1.i). from their dwelling-place. It canuot be "For their lust" (literally," for their soul") laid down dogmatically that I\Ugels require me11ns for the gr11tific11tion of their ctnn11l no food. lh sent thelll meat to the full  126 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [rs. LXXVm. 1-72.