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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 78:40-72

The matter and scope of this paragraph are the same with the former, showing what great mercies God had bestowed upon Israel, how provoking they had been, what judgments he had brought upon them for their sins, and yet how, in judgment, he remembered mercy at last. Let not those that receive mercy from God be thereby emboldened to sin, for the mercies they receive will aggravate their sin and hasten the punishment of it; yet let not those that are under divine rebukes for sin be discouraged... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:43

How he had wrought his signs in Egypt ,.... The plagues which he brought upon the Egyptians, for refusing to let Israel go: and his wonders in the field of Zoan , or in the country of Zoan, that is, Tanis, as the Targum renders it; so the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions; see Psalm 78:12 , an enumeration of these signs and wonders follows; but not of all, nor in the order in which they were: only seven are mentioned, with which compare the seven vials or last plagues, Revelation... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:44

And had turned their rivers into blood ,.... The river Nile and its seven streams; this was the first of the plagues of Egypt, Exodus 7:20 , and was a just retaliation for drowning the infants of the Israelites in their river, Exodus 1:22 , a like plague will be inflicted on spiritual Egypt, and with equal justice; see Revelation 11:8 , and their floods, that they could not drink ; the rivulets that flowed from the Nile, and every spring or confluence of water; or rather by these... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:44

Turned their rivers into blood - See on Exodus 7:20 ; (note). read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:44

Verse 44 44.When he turned their rivers into blood. The Psalmist does not enumerate in their order the miracles by which God gave evidence of his power in the deliverance of his people. He considered it enough to bring to their remembrance the well-known histories of these events, which would be sufficient to lay open the wickedness and ingratitude with which they were chargeable; nor is it necessary for us to stay long on these things, since the narrative of Moses gives a more distinct and... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 78:1-72

Whole psalm: Warnings against unbelief. I. ITS PURPOSE . 1 . To warn Ephraim; not to taunt and exult over him, but to warn. This psalm seems to belong to the period of the disruption. Ephraim, with the other northern tribes, had broken away from Judah and from the worship of God, and this psalm seems designed, by its recital of their old sins and the consequences thereof, to warn them against like sin in the future (cf. 2 Chronicles 13:1-22 .). 2 . To warn Judah. If... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 78:9-72

The historical portion of the psalm now follows. It commences with some general remarks on the transgressions of Ephraim, i.e. of Israel while under the guidance of Ephraim—from Joshua to Samuel (verses 9-11). It then proceeds to details, and sketches the Israelite history. from the deliverance out of Egypt to the establishment of David's kingdom (verses 12-72). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 78:43

How he had wrought his signs in Egypt. The point just touched in Psalms 78:12 is now taken up and expanded, with the object of showing to the Israelites of the writer's day what cause they had for thankfulness to God in the past and for trust in him for the future. And his wonders in the field of Zoan. "The field of Zoan" ( sochet Zoan ) is said to be mentioned in an Egyptian inscription. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 78:44

And had turned their rivers into blood (see Exodus 7:19 , Exodus 7:20 ). "Their rivers" are the many branches of the Nile, some natural, some artificial (Herod; 2.17), by which Lower Egypt is traversed. And their floods; or, their streams; i.e. the smaller canals, which diffused the Nile water over the entire land. That they could not drink (see Exodus 7:21 ). read more

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