Psalms 105:11

"Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan,

The lot of your inheritance;

When they were but a few men in number,

Yea, very few, and sojourning in it.

And they went about from nation to nation.

From one kingdom to another people.

He suffered no man to do them wrong;

Yea, he reproved kings for their sakes,

Saying, Touch not mine anointed ones,

And do my prophets no harm."

These verses conclude the portion of the psalm which is given in 1Chronicles.

"I will give thee the land of Canaan" (Psalms 105:11). This promise to the patriarchs was indeed a marvel. They were at the time of the promise merely a handful of men; and there were seven mighty nations in Canaan. That God actually made this promise is proved by the fact of the Patriarchs' believing it and purchasing the Cave of Machpelah in Canaan as the family burial place (Genesis 23).

For long generations, this promise was a matter of faith. The patriarchs were landless; they were but a handful of people; they wandered about from nation to nation; "But God was at work protecting and blessing his people, looking to the ultimate fulfilment of the promise."[6]

"From nation to nation" (Psalms 105:13). "Abraham was in Egypt awhile, and Isaac was in Gerar"[7] (Genesis 12; Genesis 20; Genesis 26). Also Jacob was at Manahaim (Genesis 32), Shechem (Genesis 33), Bethel (Genesis 35), Ephraph (Genesis 35:16) and Egypt (Genesis 45-46).

"He reproved kings for their sakes" (Psalms 105:14). Those kings were Pharaoh (Genesis 12:17) and Abimelech (Genesis 10:7).

"Touch not mine anointed ones ... do my prophets no harm" (Psalms 105:15). "These words do not appear in Genesis, but they accurately express the lesson which the events taught."[8]

"Anointed ones" is a reference to the patriarchs as God's special servants, although there is no record of their being anointed. Abraham is called a prophet in Genesis 20:7.