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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 135:5-14

The psalmist had suggested to us the goodness of God, as the proper matter of our cheerful praises; here he suggests to us the greatness of God as the proper matter of our awful praises; and on this he is most copious, because this we are less forward to consider. I. He asserts the doctrine of God's greatness (Ps. 135:5): The Lord is great, great indeed, who knows no limits of time or place. He asserts it with assurance, ?I know that he is so; know it not only by observation of the proofs of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 135:7

He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth ,.... Up to the heavens. Aben Ezra interprets this of the mist which went up out of the earth, and watered it, Genesis 2:6 ; and still vapours are exhaled out of the earth by the force of the sun, and carried up into the air, and form various things, as wind, rain, &c.; The Targum, Kimchi, and others, explain it of the "clouds", so called from their elevation on high: these rise up out of the sea, the borders, and boundaries,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 135:8

Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast. Which was the last of the plagues inflicted on the Egyptians; and is particularly mentioned, because, by means of it, they were made willing to let the children of Israel go out of their land: and so this includes the deliverance of the Israelites, God's firstborn, when he slew the firstborn of Egypt; and who were typical of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven; and the deliverance of them, through the blood of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 135:9

Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt ,.... Or, "signs and wonders". Meaning the other extraordinary plagues sent among the Egyptians, before that of slaying their firstborn; and which have some likeness to the vials of God's wrath, which will be poured out on the city called spiritually Sodom and Egypt, Revelation 11:8 ; upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants : his courtiers: some of them are particularly observed to affect him and his court; as the plagues of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 135:10

Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings. Or "many nations" F12 גויים רבים "gentes multas", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Musculus; "plurimas gentes", Tigurine version; so Ainsworth. . The seven nations of the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites; the kings of which were mighty and many, even thirty one in number, Joshua 12:1 . This the Lord did by Joshua, a type of Christ; who has overcome the world by his sufferings and death, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 135:11

Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan ,.... These are particularly named, because they were the first that were slain, and were the most mighty and powerful; see Deuteronomy 3:11 . These the Lord slew by the hand of Moses, a type of Christ; who has destroyed the god and prince of this world, that had the power of death, the devil; and has spoiled all his principalities and powers; and all the kingdoms of Canaan ; thirty one of them. These words explain the former; as the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 135:12

And gave their land for an heritage ,.... The land of the two kings before mentioned, which was given to the Reubenites, and Gadites, and half tribe of Manasseh, Deuteronomy 3:12 ; and the lands belonging to the several kingdoms of Canaan were given to the rest of the tribes; an heritage unto Israel his people ; a type of the heavenly Canaan, the glorious, incorruptible, undefiled, and eternal inheritance; which is of God's free grace, chosen, prepared, and given; even a right unto... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 135:13

Thy name, O Lord, endureth for ever ,.... The Lord himself endures for ever, in his nature, being, and perfections; and the fame of him, the fame of those acts of power and goodness before mentioned: the name of Christ endures for ever; his person and offices, his Gospel, which is his name; his children and people, who are called by his name, and in whom his name is perpetuated; the fame of his wondrous works in nature, providence, and grace; and especially of his great work of redemption... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 135:14

For the Lord will judge his people ,.... Rule and govern, protect and defend them; plead their cause, and avenge them of their enemies; judge between them, distinguish them by his care and providence, make them visible, so that others shall see the difference between them; especially at the last day, when he will judge them, and, as the righteous Judge, give them the crown of righteousness. Or "though the Lord judges his people" F13 כי "quod si", Junius & Tremellius; "nam etsi",... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 135:7

He causeth the vapours to ascend - Dr. Shaw thinks that the account here refers to the autumnal rains in the east. Of them he speaks as follows: "Seldom a night passes without much lightning in the north-west quarter, but not attended with thunder; and when this lightning appears in the west or south-west points, it is a sure sign of the approaching rain, which is often followed by thunder. A squall of wind and clouds of dust are the sure forerunners of the first rain." This account induces... read more

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