Psalm 74:14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 74:12-17

The lamenting church fastens upon something here which she calls to mind, and therefore hath she hope (as Lam. 3:21), with which she encourages herself and silences her own complaints. Two things quiet the minds of those that are here sorrowing for the solemn assembly:? I. That God is the God of Israel, a God in covenant with his people (Ps. 74:12): God is my King of old. This comes in both as a plea in prayer to God (Ps. 44:4; thou art my King, O God!) and as a prop to their own faith and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 74:14

Thou breakest the heads of leviathan in pieces ,.... A large fish, generally thought to be the whale, by some the crocodile, described in Job 41:1 to which the king of Egypt or Babylon is compared, Isaiah 27:1 and so the Romish antichrist in one of his characters is represented as a sea beast with many heads, which will all be broken in pieces in due time, Revelation 13:1 , as here is one "leviathan" with heads in the plural number. Aben Ezra thinks the word כל is wanting, and may be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 74:14

The heads of leviathan - Leviathan might be intended here as a personification of the Egypttan government; and its heads, Pharaoh and his chief captains. To the people inhabiting the wilderness - Probably meaning the birds and beasts of prey. These were the people of the wilderness, which fed on the dead bodies of the Egyptians, which the tides had cast ashore. The Vulgate, Septuagint, Ethiopic, and Arabic read, "Thou hast given him for meat to the Ethiopians," or Abyssinians. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 74:1-23

In favour of the first is the ascription of the psalm in the "title" to Asaph. But all other considerations are against it. There is no evidence that Shishak ever entered Jerusalem. He certainly did not break down the carved work of the temple, or set the temple on fire, much less "cast it down to the ground." His invasion was a mere raid, and Rehoboam seems to have bought his retreat by the sacrifice of the temple treasury ( 2 Kings 14:25-28 ; 2 Chronicles 12:2-12 ). The circumstances... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 74:12-17

Comfort springs from the thought of God's previous deliverances of his people, and of his other great mercies. The deliverance from Egypt has the foremost place ( Psalms 74:13 , Psalms 74:14 ), as the most striking. Then the deliverance from the wilderness, and the passage of Jordan ( Psalms 74:15 ). From these the poet passes to God's mercies in nature—day and night, light and sun, set bounds of earth and sea, alternations of the seasons—all formed and arranged by the Almighty ( Psalms... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 74:14

Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces. Here the metaphor is only slightly varied, leviathan, "the crocodile," being substituted for tannim, "the dragon," or "sea monster," as the representative of the might of Egypt. And gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness. The corpses of the Egyptians thrown up upon the Red Sea shores ( Exodus 14:30 ) are certainly the "meat" intended. Whether the "people of dwellers in the wilderness" are cannibal tribes, or jackals... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 74:14

Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces - On the meaning of the word “leviathan,” see the notes at Job 41:1. The word is used here as descriptive of sea monsters.And gavest him to be meat - Gavest him for “food.”To the people inhabiting the wilderness - That is, the sea monsters were killed, and, being thrown on shore, were gathered for food. The “inhabitants of the wilderness” or the desert, may refer either to the wild and savage tribes of men that lived on the shores of the sea, and... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 74:13-14

Psalms 74:13-14 . Thou didst divide the sea, &c. “The first part of this verse alludes to that marvellous act of omnipotence which divided the Red sea for Israel to pass over; the second part to the return of its waves upon the heads of the Egyptians, who, like so many sea-monsters, opening their mouths to devour the people of God, were overwhelmed, and perished in the mighty waters.” Horne. Thou brakest the heads of the dragons The crocodiles, meaning Pharaoh’s mighty men, who were... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 74:1-23

Psalms 74:0 Israel in captivityThis psalm belongs to the time that followed the destruction of the nation Israel. Assyria conquered the northern kingdom in 722 BC, and Babylon the southern kingdom during the years 605-587 BC. The people were taken captive into foreign lands and the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed (2 Kings 25:8-12). Now, with the centre of their religious life gone, the people feel cut off from God. Worse than that, the bitter years in captivity lead them to doubt God’s... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Psalms 74:14

people inhabiting = inhabitants: i.e. the wild beasts. read more

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