Psalm 78

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:3

Which we have heard and known - We have heard the law, and known the facts. read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:4

We will not hide them - In those ancient times there was very little reading, because books were exceedingly scarce; tradition was therefore the only, or nearly the only, means of preserving the memory of past events. They were handed down from father to son by parables or pithy sayings and by chronological poems. This very Psalm is of this kind, and must have been very useful to the Israelites, as giving instructions concerning their ancient history, and recounting the wonderful deeds of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:6

A testimony in Jocob - This may signify the various ordinances, rites, and ceremonies prescribed by the law; and the word law may mean the moral law, or system of religious instruction, teaching them their duty to God, to their neighbor, and to themselves. These were commanded to the fathers - the patriarchs and primitive Hebrews, that they should make them known to their children, who should make them known to the generation that was to come, whose children should also be instructed that... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:9

The children of Ephraim - turned back - This refers to some defeat of the Ephraimites; and some think to that by the men of Gath, mentioned 1 Chronicles 7:21 . R. D. Kimchi says this defeat of the Ephraimites was in the desert; and although the story be not mentioned in the law, yet it is written in the Books of the Chronicles, where we read, on the occasion of "Zabad the Ephraimite, and Shuthelah, etc., whom the men of Gath, who were born in the land, slew; and Ephraim their father... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:10

They kept not the covenant; of God - They abandoned his worship, both moral and ritual. Thev acted like the Ephraimites in the above case, who threw down their bows and arrows, and ran away. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:12

The field of Zoan - " In campo Taneos ," Vugate. Tanis was the capital of Pharaoh, where Moses wrought so many miracles. It was situated in the Delta, on one of the most easterly branches of the Nile. It was afterwards called Thanis; and from it the district was called the Thanitic Canton. See Calmet. Dr. Shaw thinks Zoan was intended to signify Egypt in general. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:13

He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through - The reader is requested to consult the notes on the parallel passages marked in the margin on this verse and Psalm 78:14-17 , etc., where all these miracles are largely explained. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:18

By asking meat for their lust - לנפשם lenaphsham , "for their souls," i.e., for their lives; for they said in their hearts that the light bread, the manna, was not sufficient to sustain their natural force, and preserve their lives. It seems, however, from the expression, that they were wholly carnal; that they had no spirituality of mind; they were earthly, animal, and devilish. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:22

They believed not in God - After all the miracles they had seen, they were not convinced that there was a Supreme Being! and, consequently, they did not trust in his salvation - did not expect the glorious rest which he had promised them. Their descendants in the present day are precisely in this state. Multitudes of them disbelieve the Divine origin of their law, and have given up all hopes of a Messiah. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:24

The corn of heaven - The manna. It fell about their camp in the form of seeds; and as it appeared to come down from the clouds, it was not improperly termed heavenly corn, or heavenly grain, שמים דגן degan shamayim . The word shamayim is frequently taken to express the atmosphere. read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:22

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:24

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