Psalm 78:65-66 ESV

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 78:65

Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep ,.... He seemed to be asleep, while he suffered the ark to be taken, and the Israelites to be slain; and he may be said to awake when he exerted his power in smiting the Philistines, and causing their idol to fall before his ark; see Psalm 7:6 , and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine ; who having taken a free draught of generous wine, not to excess, goes forth with great courage and cheerfulness to meet his adversary, shouting as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:66

And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts ,.... Not the Israelites, as Kimchi interprets it, but the Philistines, who in another battle were put to flight, and turned their backs, and so were smitten in their hinder parts; or rather this has reference to the Philistines being smitten with haemorrhoids, or piles in their posteriors, while the ark was retained a captive by them, 1 Samuel 5:6 , and so the Targum paraphrases it, "and he smote them that troubled them with haemorrhoids in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:65

Then the Lord awaked - He seemed as if he had totally disregarded what was done to his people, and the reproach that seemed to fall on himself and his worship by the capture of the ark. Like a mighty man - כגבור kegibbor , like a hero that shouteth by reason of wine. One who, going forth to meet his enemy, having taken a sufficiency of wine to refresh himself, and become a proper stimulus to his animal spirits shouts - gives the war-signal for the onset; impatient to meet the foe,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:66

He smote his enemies in the hinder part - This refers to the hemorrhoids with which he afflicted the Philistines. See the note on 1 Samuel 5:6-10 ; (note). read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:65

Verse 65 65.But the Lord awoke as one asleep. Some understand this as spoken of the Israelites, implying that the Lord awoke against them; and others, as spoken of their enemies. If the first sense is adopted, it need not excite our surprise, that the Israelites are termed, in the 66th verse, the enemies of God, even as they are so designated in Isaiah 1:24, “Therefore, saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah! I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine... 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 78:65

Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep (comp. Psalms 7:6 ; Psalms 35:23 ; Psalms 73:20 ). God is said to "awake," when, after a time of inaction, he suddenly exerts his Almighty power, to the discomfiture of his enemies. That God never really slept was the profound conviction of the Israelites generally (see 2 Kings 18:27 ; Psalms 121:3 , Psalms 121:4 ). And like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine (comp. Zechariah 10:7 ; Isaiah 42:13 ). read more

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:65

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:66

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:65

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:66

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:65

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 78:65

Group of Brands