1 O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.
2 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.
3 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
4 Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.
5 Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
6 O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.
7 He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth.
8 He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.
9 Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;
10 And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:
11 Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:
12 When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.
13 When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people;
14 He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;
15 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
16 Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.
17 He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:
18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:
19 Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.
20 The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.
21 He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:
22 To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.
23 Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
24 And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.
25 He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.
26 He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen.
27 They shewed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.
28 He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.
29 He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.
30 Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.
31 He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts.
32 He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land.
33 He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts.
34 He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillers, and that without number,
35 And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.
36 He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.
37 He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.
38 Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.
39 He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.
40 The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
41 He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.
42 For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.
43 And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:
44 And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;
45 That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD.
1 O give thanks H3034 unto the LORD; H3068 call H7121 upon his name: H8034 make known H3045 his deeds H5949 among the people. H5971
2 Sing H7891 unto him, sing psalms H2167 unto him: talk H7878 ye of all his wondrous works. H6381
3 Glory H1984 ye in his holy H6944 name: H8034 let the heart H3820 of them rejoice H8055 that seek H1245 the LORD. H3068
4 Seek H1875 the LORD, H3068 and his strength: H5797 seek H1245 his face H6440 evermore. H8548
5 Remember H2142 his marvellous works H6381 that he hath done; H6213 his wonders, H4159 and the judgments H4941 of his mouth; H6310
6 O ye seed H2233 of Abraham H85 his servant, H5650 ye children H1121 of Jacob H3290 his chosen. H972
7 He is the LORD H3068 our God: H430 his judgments H4941 are in all the earth. H776
8 He hath remembered H2142 his covenant H1285 for ever, H5769 the word H1697 which he commanded H6680 to a thousand H505 generations. H1755
9 Which covenant he made H3772 with Abraham, H85 and his oath H7621 unto Isaac; H3446
10 And confirmed H5975 the same unto Jacob H3290 for a law, H2706 and to Israel H3478 for an everlasting H5769 covenant: H1285
11 Saying, H559 Unto thee will I give H5414 the land H776 of Canaan, H3667 the lot H2256 of your inheritance: H5159
12 When they were but a few men H4962 in number; H4557 yea, very few, H4592 and strangers H1481 in it.
13 When they went H1980 from one nation H1471 to another, from one kingdom H4467 to another H312 people; H5971
14 He suffered H3240 no man H120 to do them wrong: H6231 yea, he reproved H3198 kings H4428 for their sakes;
15 Saying, Touch H5060 not mine anointed, H4899 and do my prophets H5030 no harm. H7489
16 Moreover he called H7121 for a famine H7458 upon the land: H776 he brake H7665 the whole staff H4294 of bread. H3899
17 He sent H7971 a man H376 before H6440 them, even Joseph, H3130 who was sold H4376 for a servant: H5650
18 Whose feet H7272 they hurt H6031 with fetters: H3525 he H5315 was laid H935 in iron: H1270
19 Until the time H6256 that his word H1697 came: H935 the word H565 of the LORD H3068 tried H6884 him.
20 The king H4428 sent H7971 and loosed H5425 him; even the ruler H4910 of the people, H5971 and let him go free. H6605
21 He made H7760 him lord H113 of his house, H1004 and ruler H4910 of all his substance: H7075
22 To bind H631 his princes H8269 at his pleasure; H5315 and teach his senators H2205 wisdom. H2449
23 Israel H3478 also came H935 into Egypt; H4714 and Jacob H3290 sojourned H1481 in the land H776 of Ham. H2526
24 And he increased H6509 his people H5971 greatly; H3966 and made them stronger H6105 than their enemies. H6862
25 He turned H2015 their heart H3820 to hate H8130 his people, H5971 to deal subtilly H5230 with his servants. H5650
26 He sent H7971 Moses H4872 his servant; H5650 and Aaron H175 whom he had chosen. H977
27 They shewed H7760 his signs H226 H1697 among them, and wonders H4159 in the land H776 of Ham. H2526
28 He sent H7971 darkness, H2822 and made it dark; H2821 and they rebelled H4784 not against his word. H1697
29 He turned H2015 their waters H4325 into blood, H1818 and slew H4191 their fish. H1710
30 Their land H776 brought forth H8317 frogs H6854 in abundance, H8317 in the chambers H2315 of their kings. H4428
31 He spake, H559 and there came H935 divers sorts of flies, H6157 and lice H3654 in all their coasts. H1366
32 He gave H5414 them hail H1259 for rain, H1653 and flaming H3852 fire H784 in their land. H776
33 He smote H5221 their vines H1612 also and their fig trees; H8384 and brake H7665 the trees H6086 of their coasts. H1366
34 He spake, H559 and the locusts H697 came, H935 and caterpillers, H3218 and that without number, H4557
35 And did eat up H398 all the herbs H6212 in their land, H776 and devoured H398 the fruit H6529 of their ground. H127
36 He smote H5221 also all the firstborn H1060 in their land, H776 the chief H7225 of all their strength. H202
37 He brought them forth H3318 also with silver H3701 and gold: H2091 and there was not one feeble H3782 person among their tribes. H7626
38 Egypt H4714 was glad H8055 when they departed: H3318 for the fear H6343 of them fell H5307 upon them.
39 He spread H6566 a cloud H6051 for a covering; H4539 and fire H784 to give light H215 in the night. H3915
40 The people asked, H7592 and he brought H935 quails, H7958 and satisfied H7646 them with the bread H3899 of heaven. H8064
41 He opened H6605 the rock, H6697 and the waters H4325 gushed out; H2100 they ran H1980 in the dry places H6723 like a river. H5104
42 For he remembered H2142 his holy H6944 promise, H1697 and Abraham H85 his servant. H5650
43 And he brought forth H3318 his people H5971 with joy, H8342 and his chosen H972 with gladness: H7440
44 And gave H5414 them the lands H776 of the heathen: H1471 and they inherited H3423 the labour H5999 of the people; H3816
45 That they might observe H8104 his statutes, H2706 and keep H5341 his laws. H8451 Praise H1984 ye the LORD. H3050
1 Oh give thanks unto Jehovah, call upon his name; Make known among the peoples his doings.
2 Sing unto him, sing praises unto him; Talk ye of all his marvelous works.
3 Glory ye in his holy name: Let the heart of them rejoice that seek Jehovah.
4 Seek ye Jehovah and his strength; Seek his face evermore.
5 Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, His wonders, and the judgments of his mouth,
6 O ye seed of Abraham his servant, Ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
7 He is Jehovah our God: His judgments are in all the earth.
8 He hath remembered his covenant for ever, The word which he commanded to a thousand generations,
9 `The covenant' which he made with Abraham, And his oath unto Isaac,
10 And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a statute, To Israel for an everlasting covenant,
11 Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, The lot of your inheritance;
12 When they were but a few men in number, Yea, very few, and sojourners in it.
13 And they went about from nation to nation, From one kingdom to another people.
14 He suffered no man to do them wrong; Yea, he reproved kings for their sakes,
15 `Saying', Touch not mine anointed ones, And do my prophets no harm.
16 And he called for a famine upon the land; He brake the whole staff of bread.
17 He sent a man before them; Joseph was sold for a servant:
18 His feet they hurt with fetters: He was laid in `chains of' iron,
19 Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of Jehovah tried him.
20 The king sent and loosed him; Even the ruler of peoples, and let him go free.
21 He made him lord of his house, And ruler of all his substance;
22 To bind his princes at his pleasure, And teach his elders wisdom.
23 Israel also came into Egypt; And Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
24 And he increased his people greatly, And made them stronger than their adversaries.
25 He turned their heart to hate his people, To deal subtly with his servants.
26 He sent Moses his servant, `And' Aaron whom he had chosen.
27 They set among them his signs, And wonders in the land of Ham.
28 He sent darkness, and made it dark; And they rebelled not against his words.
29 He turned their waters into blood, And slew their fish.
30 Their land swarmed with frogs In the chambers of their kings.
31 He spake, and there came swarms of flies, And lice in all their borders.
32 He gave them hail for rain, `And' flaming fire in their land.
33 He smote their vines also and their fig-trees, And brake the trees of their borders.
34 He spake, and the locust came, And the grasshopper, and that without number,
35 And did eat up every herb in their land, And did eat up the fruit of their ground.
36 He smote also all the first-born in their land, The chief of all their strength.
37 And he brought them forth with silver and gold; And there was not one feeble person among his tribes.
38 Egypt was glad when they departed; For the fear of them had fallen upon them.
39 He spread a cloud for a covering, And fire to give light in the night.
40 They asked, and he brought quails, And satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
41 He opened the rock, and waters gushed out; They ran in the dry places `like' a river.
42 For he remembered his holy word, `And' Abraham his servant.
43 And he brought forth his people with joy, `And' his chosen with singing.
44 And he gave them the lands of the nations; And they took the labor of the peoples in possession:
45 That they might keep his statutes, And observe his laws. Praise ye Jehovah.
1 Give ye thanks to Jehovah -- call ye in His name, Make known among the peoples His acts.
2 Sing ye to Him -- sing praise to Him, Meditate ye on all His wonders.
3 Boast yourselves in His Holy Name, The heart of those seeking Jehovah rejoiceth.
4 Seek ye Jehovah and His strength, Seek ye His face continually.
5 Remember His wonders that He did, His signs and the judgments of His mouth.
6 O seed of Abraham, His servant, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones.
7 He `is' Jehovah our God, In all the earth `are' His judgments.
8 He hath remembered to the age His covenant, The word He commanded to a thousand generations,
9 That He hath made with Abraham, And His oath to Isaac,
10 And doth establish it to Jacob for a statute, To Israel -- a covenant age-during,
11 Saying, `To thee I give the land of Canaan, The portion of your inheritance,'
12 In their being few in number, But a few, and sojourners in it.
13 And they go up and down, from nation unto nation, From a kingdom unto another people.
14 He hath not suffered any to oppress them And He reproveth for their sakes kings.
15 `Strike not against Mine anointed, And to My prophets do not evil.'
16 And He calleth a famine on the land, The whole staff of bread He hath broken.
17 He hath sent before them a man, For a servant hath Joseph been sold.
18 They have afflicted with fetters his feet, Iron hath entered his soul,
19 Till the time of the coming of His word The saying of Jehovah hath tried him.
20 The king hath sent, and looseth him, The ruler of the peoples, and draweth him out.
21 He hath made him lord of his house, And ruler over all his possessions.
22 To bind his chiefs at his pleasure, And his elders he maketh wise.
23 And Israel cometh in to Egypt, And Jacob hath sojourned in the land of Ham.
24 And He maketh His people very fruitful, And maketh it mightier than its adversaries.
25 He turned their heart to hate His people, To conspire against His servants.
26 He hath sent Moses His servant, Aaron whom He had fixed on.
27 They have set among them the matters of His signs, And wonders in the land of Ham.
28 He hath sent darkness, and it is dark, And they have not provoked His word.
29 He hath turned their waters to blood, And putteth to death their fish.
30 Teemed hath their land `with' frogs, In the inner chambers of their kings.
31 He hath said, and the beetle cometh, Lice into all their border.
32 He hath made their showers hail, A flaming fire `is' in their land.
33 And He smiteth their vine and their fig, And shivereth the trees of their border.
34 He hath said, and the locust cometh, And the cankerworm -- innumerable,
35 And it consumeth every herb in their land, And it consumeth the fruit of their ground.
36 And He smiteth every first-born in their land, The first-fruit of all their strength,
37 And bringeth them out with silver and gold, And there is not in its tribes a feeble one.
38 Rejoiced hath Egypt in their going forth, For their fear had fallen upon them.
39 He hath spread a cloud for a covering, And fire to enlighten the night.
40 They have asked, and He bringeth quails, And `with' bread of heaven satisfieth them.
41 He hath opened a rock, and waters issue, They have gone on in dry places -- a river.
42 For He hath remembered His holy word, With Abraham His servant,
43 And He bringeth forth His people with joy, With singing His chosen ones.
44 And He giveth to them the lands of nations, And the labour of peoples they possess,
45 That they may observe His statutes, And His laws may keep. Praise ye Jehovah!
1 Give ye thanks unto Jehovah, call upon his name; make known his acts among the peoples.
2 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him; meditate upon all his wondrous works.
3 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek Jehovah.
4 Seek Jehovah and his strength, seek his face continually;
5 Remember his wondrous works which he hath done, his miracles and the judgments of his mouth:
6 Ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye sons of Jacob, his chosen ones.
7 He, Jehovah, is our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
8 He is ever mindful of his covenant, -- the word which he commanded to a thousand generations, --
9 Which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac;
10 And he confirmed it unto Jacob for a statute, unto Israel for an everlasting covenant,
11 Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance;
12 When they were a few men in number, of small account, and strangers in it.
13 And they went from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people.
14 He suffered no man to oppress them, and reproved kings for their sakes,
15 [Saying,] Touch not mine anointed ones, and do my prophets no harm.
16 And he called for a famine upon the land; he broke the whole staff of bread.
17 He sent a man before them: Joseph was sold for a bondman.
18 They afflicted his feet with fetters; his soul came into irons;
19 Until the time when what he said came about: the word of Jehovah tried him.
20 The king sent and loosed him -- the ruler of peoples -- and let him go free.
21 He made him lord of his house, and ruler over all his possessions:
22 To bind his princes at his pleasure, and teach his elders wisdom.
23 And Israel came into Egypt, and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
24 And he made his people exceeding fruitful, and made them mightier than their oppressors.
25 He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.
26 He sent Moses his servant, [and] Aaron whom he had chosen:
27 They set his signs among them, and miracles in the land of Ham.
28 He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.
29 He turned their waters into blood, and caused their fish to die.
30 Their land swarmed with frogs, -- in the chambers of their kings.
31 He spoke, and there came dog-flies, [and] gnats in all their borders.
32 He gave them hail for rain, [and] flaming fire in their land;
33 And he smote their vines and their fig-trees, and broke the trees of their borders.
34 He spoke, and the locust came, and the cankerworm, even without number;
35 And they devoured every herb in their land, and ate up the fruit of their ground.
36 And he smote every firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their vigour.
37 And he brought them forth with silver and gold; and there was not one feeble among their tribes.
38 Egypt rejoiced at their departure; for the fear of them had fallen upon them.
39 He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light in the night.
40 They asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
41 He opened the rock, and waters gushed forth; they ran in the dry places [like] a river.
42 For he remembered his holy word, [and] Abraham his servant;
43 And he brought forth his people with gladness, his chosen with rejoicing;
44 And he gave them the lands of the nations, and they took possession of the labour of the peoples:
45 That they might keep his statutes, and observe his laws. Hallelujah!
1 Give thanks to Yahweh! Call on his name! Make his doings known among the peoples.
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him! Tell of all his marvelous works.
3 Glory in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek Yahweh rejoice.
4 Seek Yahweh and his strength. Seek his face forever more.
5 Remember his marvelous works that he has done; His wonders, and the judgments of his mouth,
6 You seed of Abraham, his servant, You children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
7 He is Yahweh, our God. His judgments are in all the earth.
8 He has remembered his covenant forever, The word which he commanded to a thousand generations,
9 The covenant which he made with Abraham, His oath to Isaac,
10 And confirmed the same to Jacob for a statute; To Israel for an everlasting covenant,
11 Saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan, The lot of your inheritance;"
12 When they were but a few men in number, Yes, very few, and foreigners in it.
13 They went about from nation to nation, From one kingdom to another people.
14 He allowed no one to do them wrong. Yes, he reproved kings for their sakes,
15 "Don't touch my anointed ones! Do my prophets no harm!"
16 He called for a famine on the land. He destroyed the food supplies.
17 He sent a man before them. Joseph was sold for a slave.
18 They bruised his feet with shackles. His neck was locked in irons,
19 Until the time that his word happened, And Yahweh's word proved him true.
20 The king sent and freed him; Even the ruler of peoples, and let him go free.
21 He made him lord of his house, And ruler of all of his possessions;
22 To discipline his princes at his pleasure, And to teach his elders wisdom.
23 Israel also came into Egypt. Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
24 He increased his people greatly, And made them stronger than their adversaries.
25 He turned their heart to hate his people, To conspire against his servants.
26 He sent Moses, his servant, And Aaron, whom he had chosen.
27 They performed miracles among them, And wonders in the land of Ham.
28 He sent darkness, and made it dark. They didn't rebel against his words.
29 He turned their waters into blood, And killed their fish.
30 Their land swarmed with frogs, Even in the chambers of their kings.
31 He spoke, and swarms of flies came, And lice in all their borders.
32 He gave them hail for rain, With lightning in their land.
33 He struck their vines and also their fig trees, And shattered the trees of their country.
34 He spoke, and the locusts came, And the grasshoppers, without number,
35 Ate up every plant in their land; And ate up the fruit of their ground.
36 He struck also all the firstborn in their land, The first fruits of all their manhood.
37 He brought them forth with silver and gold. There was not one feeble person among his tribes.
38 Egypt was glad when they departed, For the fear of them had fallen on them.
39 He spread a cloud for a covering, Fire to give light in the night.
40 They asked, and he brought quails, And satisfied them with the bread of the sky.
41 He opened the rock, and waters gushed out. They ran as a river in the dry places.
42 For he remembered his holy word, And Abraham, his servant.
43 He brought forth his people with joy, His chosen with singing.
44 He gave them the lands of the nations. They took the labor of the peoples in possession,
45 That they might keep his statutes, And observe his laws. Praise Yah!
1 O give praise to the Lord; give honour to his name, talking of his doings among the peoples.
2 Let your voice be sounding in songs and melody; let all your thoughts be of the wonder of his works.
3 Have glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who are searching after the Lord be glad.
4 Let your search be for the Lord and for his strength; let your hearts ever be turned to him.
5 Keep in mind the great works which he has done; his wonders, and the decisions of his mouth;
6 O you seed of Abraham, his servant, you children of Jacob, his loved ones.
7 He is the Lord our God: he is judge of all the earth.
8 He has kept his agreement in mind for ever, the word which he gave for a thousand generations;
9 The agreement which he made with Abraham, and his oath to Isaac;
10 And he gave it to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an eternal agreement;
11 Saying, To you will I give the land of Canaan, the measured line of your heritage:
12 When they were still small in number, and strange in the land;
13 When they went about from one nation to another, and from one kingdom to another people.
14 He would not let anyone do them wrong; he even kept back kings because of them,
15 Saying, Put not your hand on those who have been marked with my holy oil, and do my prophets no wrong.
16 And he took away all food from the land, so that the people were without bread.
17 He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was given as a servant for a price:
18 His feet were fixed in chains; his neck was put in iron bands;
19 Till the time when his word came true; he was tested by the word of the Lord.
20 The king sent men to take off his chains; even the ruler of the people, who let him go free.
21 He made him lord of his house, and ruler over everything he had;
22 To give his chiefs teaching at his pleasure, and so that his law-givers might get wisdom from him.
23 Then Israel came into Egypt, and Jacob was living in the land of Ham.
24 And his people were greatly increased, and became stronger than those who were against them.
25 Their hearts were turned to hate against his people, so that they made secret designs against them.
26 He sent Moses, his servant, and Aaron, the man of his selection.
27 He let his signs be seen among the people, and his wonders in the land of Ham.
28 He sent black night and made it dark; and they did not go against his word.
29 At his word their waters were turned to blood, and he sent death on all their fish.
30 Their land was full of frogs, even in the rooms of the king.
31 He gave the word, and there came the dog-fly, and insects over all the land.
32 He gave them ice for rain, and flaming fire in their land.
33 He gave their vines and their fig-trees to destruction, and the trees of their land were broken down.
34 At his word the locusts came, and young locusts more than might be numbered,
35 And put an end to all the plants of their land, taking all the fruit of the earth for food.
36 He put to death the first child of every family in the land, the first-fruits of their strength.
37 He took his people out with silver and gold: there was not one feeble person among them.
38 Egypt was glad when they went; for the fear of them had come down on them.
39 A cloud was stretched over them for a cover; and he sent fire to give light in the night.
40 At the people's request he sent birds, and gave them the bread of heaven for food.
41 His hand made the rock open, and the waters came streaming out; they went down through the dry places like a river.
42 For he kept in mind his holy word, and Abraham, his servant.
43 And he took his people out with joy, the men of his selection with glad cries:
44 And gave them the lands of the nations; and they took the work of the peoples for a heritage;
45 So that they might keep his orders, and be true to his laws. Give praise to the Lord.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 105
Commentary on Psalms 105 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 105
Ps 105:1-45. After an exhortation to praise God, addressed especially to the chosen people, the writer presents the special reason for praise, in a summary of their history from the calling of Abraham to their settlement in Canaan, and reminds them that their obedience was the end of all God's gracious dealings.
1. call … name—(Ps 79:6; Ro 10:13). Call on Him, according to His historically manifested glory. After the example of Abraham, who, as often as God acquired for Himself a name in guiding him, called in solemn worship upon the name of the Lord (Ge 12:8; 13:4).
among the people—or, "peoples" (Ps 18:49).
deeds—or, "wonders" (Ps 103:7).
3, 4. Seeking God's favor is the only true mode of getting true happiness, and His strength [Ps 105:4] is the only true source of protection (compare Ps 32:11; 40:16).
Glory … name—boast in His perfections. The world glories in its horses and chariots against the Church of God lying in the dust; but our hope is in the name, that is, the power and love of God to His people, manifested in past deliverances.
5, 6. judgments … mouth—His judicial decisions for the good and against the wicked.
6. chosen—rather qualifies "children" than "Jacob," as a plural.
7. Rather, "He, Jehovah, is our God." His title, "Jehovah," implies that He, the unchangeable, self-existing Being, makes things to be, that is, fulfils His promises, and therefore will not forsake His people. Though specially of His people, He is God over all.
8-11. The covenant was often ratified.
word—answering to "covenant" [Ps 105:9] in the parallel clause, namely, the word of promise, which, according to Ps 105:10, He set forth for an inviolable law.
commanded—or, "ordained" (Ps 68:28).
to a thousand generations—perpetually. A verbal allusion to De 7:9 (compare Ex 20:6).
9. Which covenant—or, "Word" (Ps 105:8).
10, 11. Alluding to God's promise to Jacob (Ge 28:13). Out of the whole storehouse of the promises of God, only one is prominently brought forward, namely, that concerning the possession of Canaan [Ps 105:11]. Everything revolves around this. The wonders and judgments have all for their ultimate design the fulfilment of this promise.
12-15. few … in number—alluding to Jacob's words (Ge 34:30), "I being few in number."
yea, very few—literally, "as a few," that is, like fewness itself (compare Isa 1:9).
strangers—sojourners in the land of their future inheritance, as in a strange country (Heb 11:9).
13. from one nation to another—and so from danger to danger; now in Egypt, now in the wilderness, and lastly in Canaan. Though a few strangers, wandering among various nations, God protected them.
14. reproved kings—Pharaoh of Egypt and Abimelech of Gerar (Ge 12:17; 20:3).
15. Touch not—referring to Ge 26:11, where Abimelech says of Isaac, "He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death."
mine anointed—as specially consecrated to Me (Ps 2:2). The patriarch was the prophet, priest, and king of his family.
my prophets—in a similar sense, compare Ge 20:7. The "anointed" are those vessels of God, consecrated to His service, "in whom (as Pharaoh said of Joseph, Ge 41:38) the Spirit of God is" [Hengstenberg].
16. God ordered the famine. God
called for a famine—as if it were a servant, ready to come at God's bidding. Compare the centurion's words, as to disease being God's servant (Mt 8:8, 9).
upon the land—namely, Canaan (Ge 41:54).
staff of bread—what supports life (Le 26:26; Ps 104:15; Isa 3:1).
17-21. Joseph was sent of God (Ge 45:5).
18. hurt with fetters—(Ge 40:3).
was laid in iron—literally, "his soul" (see on Ps 16:10), or, "he came into iron," or, he was bound to his grief (compare Ps 3:2; 11:1). The "soul" is put for the whole person, because the soul of the captive suffers still more than the body. Joseph is referred to as being an appropriate type of those "bound in affliction and iron" (Ps 107:10).
19. his word came—His prophecy (Ge 41:11-20) to the officers came to pass, or was fulfilled (Jud 13:12, 17; 1Sa 9:6, explain the form of speech).
the word of the Lord—or, "saying," or "decree of the Lord."
tried him—or, "proved him," by the afflictions it appointed him to endure before his elevation (compare Ge 41:40-43).
22. To bind—Not literally bind; but exercise over them absolute control, as the parallel in the second clause shows; also Ge 41:40, 44, in which not literal fettering, but commanding obedience, is spoken of. It refers to Ps 105:18. The soul that was once bound itself now binds others, even princes. The same moral binding is assigned to the saints (Ps 149:8).
teach … senators wisdom—the ground of his exaltation by Pharaoh was his wisdom (Ge 41:39); namely, in state policy, and ordering well a kingdom.
23-25. Israel … and Jacob—that is, Jacob himself is meant, as Ps 105:24 speaks of "his people." Still, he came with his whole house (Ge 46:6, 7).
sojourned—(Ge 47:4).
land of Ham—or, Egypt (Ps 78:51).
25. turned their heart—God controls men's free acts (compare 1Sa 10:9). "When Saul had turned his back to go from (God's prophet) Samuel, God turned (Margin) him another heart" (see Ex 1:8, &c.). Whatever evil the wicked man plots against God's people, God holds bound even his heart, so as not to lay a single plan except what God permits. Thus Isaiah (Isa 43:17) says it was God who brought forth the army of Pharaoh to pursue Israel to their own destruction (Ex 4:21; 7:3).
26. Moses … chosen—both what they were by divine choice (Ps 78:70).
27. signs—literally, "words of signs," or rather, as "words" in Hebrew means "things," "things of His signs," that is, His marvellous tokens of power (Ps 145:5, Margin). Compare the same Hebraism (Ps 65:3, Margin).
28-36. The ninth plague is made prominent as peculiarly wonderful.
they rebelled not—Moses and Aaron promptly obeyed God (Heb 11:27); (compare Ex 7:1-11:10 and Ps 78:44-51, with which this summary substantially agrees). Or, rather, the "darkness" here is figurative (Jer 13:16), the literal plague of darkness (Ex 10:22, 23) being only alluded to as the symbol of God's wrath which overhung Egypt as a dark cloud during all the plagues. Hence, it is placed first, out of the historical order. Thus, "They rebelled not (that is, no longer) against His word," refers to the Egyptians. Whenever God sent a plague on them, they were ready to let Israel go, though refusing when the plague ceased.
his word—His command to let Israel go [Hengstenberg]. Of the ten plagues, only eight are mentioned, the fifth, the murrain of beasts, and the sixth, the boils, being omitted.
29-31. He deprived them of their favorite "fish," and gave them instead, [Ps 105:30] out of the water, loathsome "frogs," and (Ps 105:31) upon their land tormenting "flies" (the dog-fly, according to Maurer) and "lice" (gnats, according to Hengstenberg).
32. gave them—referring to Le 26:4, "I give you rain in due season." His "gift" to Israel's foes is one of a very different kind from that bestowed on His people.
hail for rain—instead of fertilizing showers, hail destructive to trees. This forms the transition to the vegetable kingdom. The locusts in Ps 105:34 similarly are destructive to plants.
33. their coasts—all their land (Ps 78:54).
34. caterpillars—literally, "the lickers up," devouring insects; probably the hairy-winged locust.
36. the chief—literally, "the firstlings." The ascending climax passes from the food of man to man himself. The language here is quoted from Ps 78:51.
37. with silver and gold—presented them by the Egyptians, as an acknowledgment due for their labors in their bondage (compare Ex 12:35).
one feeble person—or, "stumbler," unfit for the line of march. Compare "harnessed," that is, accoutred and marshalled as an army on march (Ex 13:18; Isa 5:27).
38. (Compare Ex 12:33; De 11:25).
39. covering—in sense of protection (compare Ex 13:21; Nu 10:34). In the burning sands of the desert the cloud protected the congregation from the heat of the sun; an emblem of God's protecting favor of His people, as interpreted by Isaiah (Isa 4:5, 6; compare Nu 9:16).
42-45. The reasons for these dealings: (1) God's faithfulness to His covenant, "His holy promise" of Canaan, is the fountain whence flowed so many acts of marvellous kindness to His people (compare Ps 105:8, 11). Ex 2:24 is the fundamental passage [Hengstenberg]. (2) That they might be obedient. The observance of God's commands by Abraham was the object of the covenant with him (Ge 18:19), as it was also the object of the covenant with Israel, that they might observe God's statutes.
remembered … and Abraham—or, "remembered His holy word (that is, covenant confirmed) with Abraham."
44. inherited the labour—that is, the fruits of their labor; their corn and vineyards (Jos 21:43-45).