Psalm 78:21,Psalm 78:22

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 78:21

Therefore the Lord heard this ,.... What they said in their hearts, and what they expressed with their mouths, all their murmurings against him, their distrust of his power and providence, and disbelief of his promises; see Numbers 11:1 , and was wroth; exceeding wroth; he was highly displeased; there was an overflow of his indignation, as the word F1 יתעבר "transiit in hithpael de transitu vel exundatione bilis solet usurpari", Gejerus. signifies; it was running upon him, upon the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:21

Verse 21 21.Therefore Jehovah heard, and was wroth. This hearing of God implies full and perfect knowledge; and it is a figure taken from earthly judges, who cannot punish criminals until they have become thoroughly acquainted with the cause. He is said to hear his own people, when he shows his favor and mercy towards them by granting their requests; and, on the other hand, he is said to hear those blasphemies which he does not allow to pass unpunished. To remove all ground for thinking that... 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 78:12-31

God's marvellous doings. The marvel of God's doings is always this—He is ever rescuing, delivering, restoring, redeeming, saving, or, as we may say, putting things straight. The type of all God's doings was, to the Jew, the rescue of the race from Egyptian bondage. The Divine attributes are not best seen in punishments or scenes of terror; throughout the history of the world they have been most fully revealed in God's savings, deliverings, and redeemings. Moses composed a song when the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 78:21

Therefore the Lord heard this. Though these might be unspoken thoughts, yet God would "hear" them, i.e. be aware of them; for "he knoweth the very secrets of the heart." And was wroth (comp. Psalms 78:59 , Psalms 78:62 ; Deuteronomy 3:26 ). So a fire was kindled against Jacob. Not a material fire, as in Le Psalms 10:2 ; Numbers 11:1-3 ; and Numbers 16:35 ; but the fire of God's displeasure. And anger also came up against Israel (comp. Numbers 16:30 , Numbers 16:31 ; ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 78:21

National judgments. This psalm is emphatically a judgment psalm. It teaches that— I. NATIONS ARE JUDGED AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS . History is almost entirely occupied with the judgments of God upon nations. Hence it is that we say, "Happy is that nation which has no history!" for if it has, we know the nature of the record for the most part. II. THEIR JUDGMENT IS JUST . Study the causes of the decline of empires, nations, and peoples, and it will generally be... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 78:21

Therefore the Lord heard this, and was wroth - See Numbers 11:1, Numbers 11:10.So a fire was kindled against Jacob ... - Fire may be used here, as in Numbers 11:1, as an emblem of wrath; a fire may have been literally sent down to consume them. read more

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:21

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:21

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 78:1-72

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 78:1-72

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 78:9-72

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 78:12-31

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 78:21

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 78:21

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 78:21

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