John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 136:17
To him which smote great kings ,.... Either the thirty one kings in the land of Canaan; or those who are after particularly mentioned; which seems best, since the kings of Canaan were petty kings, when these were greater ones; for his mercy endureth for ever ; the smiting of those kings were in mercy to Israel; both to preserve them from falling into their hands, and that they might possess their countries, as is later declared. read more
John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 136:16
To him which led his people through the wilderness ,.... Where there was no path. This the Lord did by going before them in a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night, to show them the way in which they should go, Exodus 13:21 ; see Psalm 78:14 ; for his mercy endureth for ever ; among the manifold mercies of God, shown to Israel in the wilderness, this is one taken notice of by Nehemiah, Nehemiah 9:19 ; that the pillar of cloud and fire, to direct them, never... read more