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John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:66

And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts ,.... Not the Israelites, as Kimchi interprets it, but the Philistines, who in another battle were put to flight, and turned their backs, and so were smitten in their hinder parts; or rather this has reference to the Philistines being smitten with haemorrhoids, or piles in their posteriors, while the ark was retained a captive by them, 1 Samuel 5:6 , and so the Targum paraphrases it, "and he smote them that troubled them with haemorrhoids in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:67

Moreover, he refused the tabernacle of Joseph ,.... That is, the tabernacle of Moses, which had been for a long time at Shiloh, a city in the tribe of Ephraim, the son of Joseph; when the ark was brought back by the Philistines, it was not returned to Shiloh, but carried to Kirjathjearim, where it remained twenty years, and after that was had to Zion, the city of David, 1 Samuel 7:1 , so the Targum, "and he rejected the tabernacle which he had stretched out in the border of Joseph;' he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:68

But chose the tribe of Judah ,.... Both to be the seat of kingly power and government, and of religious worship; the latter is chiefly designed. Jerusalem was, at least part of it, in the tribe of Judah: here David, who was of that tribe, dwelt, and Solomon his son, and all the kings of Judah afterwards; here the temple was built, into which the ark of the covenant was put, and whither the tribes went up to worship the mount Zion, which he loved ; where was the city of David; into which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:69

And he built his sanctuary like high palaces ,.... The temple at Jerusalem, called a sanctuary, or holy place, because separated and dedicated to holy use and service; where the holy God had his residence, and was worshipped, and was a figure of the holy place not made with hands: this is said to be built by the Lord, because the materials provided for it, and which David and his people so willingly offered, were his own; "of his own" they gave him; as well as the pattern after which it was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:70

He chose David also his servant ,.... To be king of Israel, the youngest of his father's family, when he rejected all the rest; see 1 Samuel 16:6 , an eminent type of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is called by his name, Psalm 89:3 and the signification of his name "Beloved" agrees with him, who is beloved of God, as his Son, and as man and Mediator; and beloved of men, of all the saints: and so likewise his character as a servant suits with him; who not only frequently has the name of a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:71

From following the ewes great with young ,.... Or, "from after" them F1 מאחר "de post", Montanus, Vatablus, Gejerus; "a post", Michaelis. ; it was usual with the shepherd to put them before him, and to follow them, and gently drive them, which is expressive of his care and tenderness of them; see Genesis 33:13 , the same is observed of David's antitype, the great and good Shepherd of the sheep, Isaiah 40:11 . David was a type of Christ as a shepherd; as he kept his father's... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:72

So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart ,.... Or, "reigned over them", as the Targum; that is, over the people of Israel, and which he did in such manner as showed uprightness of heart, and that he was, as his character is, a man after God's own heart: it appeared, by his administration of government, that he sought not his own honour and interest, and the aggrandizing of his family, but the good of his people, and the glory of God; and this character, in the fullest extent,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78

An enumeration of the principal effects of the goodness of God to his people, vv. 1-16; of their rebellions and punishment, vv. 17-33; their feigned repentance, Psalm 78:34-37 ; God's compassion towards them, Psalm 78:38 , Psalm 78:39 ; their backsliding, and forgetfulness of his mercy, Psalm 78:40-42 ; the plagues which he brought upon the Egyptians, Psalm 78:43-51 ; the deliverance of his own people, and their repeated ingratitude and disobedience, Psalm 78:52-58 ; their... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:1

Give ear, O my people - This is the exordium of this very pathetic and instructive discourse. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:2

In a parable - Or, I will give you instruction by numerous examples; see Psalm 49:1-4 ; (note), which bears a great similarity to this; and see the notes there. The term parable, in its various acceptations, has already been sufficiently explained; but משל mashal may here mean example, as opposed to תורה torah , law or precept, Psalm 49:1 . read more

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