Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 78:9-39

In these verses, I. The psalmist observes the late rebukes of Providence that the people of Israel had been under, which they had brought upon themselves by their dealing treacherously with God, Ps. 78:9-11. The children of Ephraim, in which tribe Shiloh was, though they were well armed and shot with bows, yet turned back in the day of battle. This seems to refer to that shameful defeat which the Philistines gave them in Eli's time, when they took the ark prisoner, 1 Sam. 4:10, 11. Of this the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:12

Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers ,.... The Targum is, "before Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes of their fathers, he did marvellous things;' but these were dead before this time; the Jews have a fancy, that these were brought to the sea, and placed upon it; and the Lord showed them what he would do for their children, and how he would redeem them; but this is to be understood of the plagues which were brought upon the Egyptians, and which are called wonders,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:13

He divided the sea ,.... The Targum adds, "by the rod of Moses their master;' which he was ordered to lift up, and to stretch out his hand over the sea; which he did, and at the same time a strong east wind was raised, which caused the sea to go back, and divided the waters of it; see Exodus 14:16 . and caused them to pass through ; that is, he caused the Israelites to pass through the sea; this they did in faith, Hebrews 11:29 , in the faith of the power and promise of God, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:14

In the daytime also he led them with a cloud ,.... Which was in the form of a pillar, and went before them, and the Lord in it, and directed their way, and protected them from heat; see Exodus 13:21 , Nehemiah 9:12 this was typical of Christ, who is a shadow and security from the heat of a fiery law, the flaming sword of justice, the wrath of God, which is poured forth like fire, the fiery darts of Satan, and from hurt by any enemy whatever; see Isaiah 4:5 , and who leads his people... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:15

He clave the rocks in the wilderness ,.... The one at Rephidim, Exodus 17:1 , and the other at Kadesh, Numbers 20:1 both to be seen at this day; See Gill on Exodus 17:1 ; see Gill on Exodus 17:2 ; see Gill on Exodus 17:3 ; see Gill on Exodus 17:4 ; see Gill on Exodus 17:5 ; see Gill on Exodus 17:6 ; see Gill on Numbers 20:1 ; see Gill on Numbers 20:2 ; see Gill on Numbers 20:3 ; see Gill on Numbers 20:4 ; see Gill on Numbers 20:5 ; see Gill on Numbers 20:6 ; see... 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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:12

Verse 12 12.He wrought marvellously in the sight of their fathers. The Psalmist is still to be regarded as condemning the posterity of the Israelites for their guilt; but he very properly, at the same time, begins to speak of the first ancestors of the nation, intimating, that the whole race of them, even from their first original, were of a perverse and rebellious disposition. But having remarked that the children of Ephraim had fallen into apostasy, because they had forgotten the wonderful... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:15

Verse 15 15.He clave the rocks in the wilderness. The Psalmist produces another evidence of the fatherly love by which God testified the greatness of the care which he exercised about the welfare of this people. It is not simply said that God gave them drink, but that he did this in a miraculous manner. Streams, it is true, sometimes issue from rocks, but the rock which Moses smote was completely dry. Whence it is evident, that the water was not brought forth from any spring, but that it was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 78:1-72

The psalm is, as the title also declares, one of "instruction." It seeks to keep the people faithful to David and his house, and to check their tendency to place themselves under the leadership of the tribe of Ephraim, by recalling the whole course of God's dealings with Israel in the past, from the time of the sojourn in Egypt to the establishment of David's kingdom. It also seeks to keep them faithful to God, by showing how all their past calamities and sufferings had arisen out of... read more

Group of Brands