Psalm 68:9-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 68:9

A plentiful rain. Closely rendered, "A rain of free bounty didst thou shed forth, O God! Thine inheritance, when weary, thou strengthenedst it." In the poetic Hebrew phrase, the land suffering from drought is said to be "weary;" as if exhausted and thirsting for the rain. If the reference here (as commonly supposed) be to the manna and other blessings, even including spiritual blessings, bestowed by God on Israel; yet the image is drawn from nature. Nothing is more delightful to every... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 68:9

These words may be tken as symbolizing God's love gifts to his people. What he did to Israel in the wilderness, he will do to his Church to the end of the world. He is the great Sender, the Giver of every good and perfect gift, and evermore the thought of his love awakens gratitude and praise. His gifts are characterized by— I. SWEETNESS . They are sweet in themselves as the "rain," but they are sweeter still as sent from God. They have the impress of his hand. They are the tokens... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 68:10

Thy congregation hath dwelt therein ; thy troop, or thy host (see 2 Samuel 23:11 , 2 Samuel 23:13 ). The word used ( חיּה ) is an unusual one. Thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor; or, thou, O God, didst in thy goodness make preparation for the poor . "The poor" are the Israelites, brought low by their sufferings in Egypt and the wilderness; the preparations those by which their conquest of Palestine was facilitated ( Exodus 25:28 ; Joshua 24:12 ). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 68:9

Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain - Margin, shake out. Prof. Alexander, “a rain of free gifts.” The Septuagint and the Vulgate render it, “a voluntary or willing rain.” The Syriac, “the rain of a vow.” The Hebrew word translated “plentiful” means free, voluntary, of its own accord - נדבה nedâbâh - (See the notes at Psalms 51:12, where it is rendered free); then it means that which is given freely; and hence, abundantly. It means, therefore, in this place, plentiful, abundant. The... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 68:10

Thy congregation hath dwelt therein - In the land of promise; for the connection requires us to understand it in this manner. The idea of the writer all along pertains to that land, and to the mercy which God had shown to it. After showing by an historical reference what God had done for the people in the wilderness, he returns here, though without expressly mentioning it, to the land of promise, and to what God had done there for his people. The word tendered “congregation” - חיה châyâh -... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 68:9

Psalms 68:9. Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, &c. Hebrew, נדבות גשׁם , geshem nedaboth, a rain of spontaneousness, or liberality. The Seventy render it, βροχην εκουσιον , a spontaneous, voluntary, or free rain. As we do not read of any showers of rain that fell during the continuance of the Israelites in the wilderness, except that before mentioned on Sinai, the people being supplied with water, partly from wells which they found, and partly by miracle from rocks, Dr.... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 68:10

Psalms 68:10. Thy congregation Thy people Israel, who are all united in one body, under thee their head and governor. It is true, the word חיה , chajab, here rendered congregation, primarily signifies life, living creature, or animal, and is often put for beast, and wild beast; but, as the best lexicographers observe, it also frequently means cœtus, or caterva, a company or troop of men, as in Psa 68:30 of this chapter, and 2 Samuel 23:13, compared with 1 Chronicles... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 68:1-35

Psalms 68:0 The God of IsraelThis magnificent hymn of praise and triumph was no doubt written for some special occasion. It may have been the occasion on which David brought the ark to Jerusalem (see introductory notes to Psalms 24:0), but its language makes the psalm suitable for much wider use.When God fights for his people, their enemies are as helpless before them as smoke before wind or wax before fire. Nothing can stop him as he rides out to do battle (1-4). God is on the side of the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Psalms 68:10

Thy congregation = Thy living ones, or living host. the poor = the humbled or oppressed one. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Psalms 68:9

Psalms 68:9. Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain— What this shower was, is not by all agreed. Sometimes the Israelites were supplied with wells, and at other times God gave them miraculously water from rocks. The dropping of the heavens, in the foregoing verse, cannot be intended; because this plentiful rain is spoken of as a distinct thing from it. And the description of a shower, as it were voluntarily falling, distinguished it from a thunder-shower, occasioned by the violent bursting of... read more

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