Psalms 105:23

"Israel also came into Egypt;

And Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.

And he increased his people greatly,

And made them stronger than their adversaries.

He turned their heart to hate his people,

To deal subtly with his servants."

This is a thumb-nail history of four hundred years! God had told Abraham on that dreadful night of the covenant when the smoking lamp went between the carcasses what would happen to his posterity.

"Abram, know of a surety that thy seed shall be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and they shall serve them, and they shall afflict them four hundred years. That nation whom they shall serve, will I judge; and afterward shall they come out with great substance (Genesis 15:13.14).

"Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham" (Psalms 105:23). "Egypt is here called the land of Ham, because in the table of nations (Genesis 10) Egypt is listed as one of the sons of Ham."[10]

"God made them stronger than their adversaries" (Psalms 105:24). It is surprising to us that a scholar such as Leupold would question the truth of this. He wrote, "This can scarcely be intended to be understood in the most literal sense."[11] Indeed! And why not? "The king over Egypt said ... Behold the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we. Come let us deal wisely with them, etc." (Exodus 1:7).

"God turned their heart to hate his people" (Psalms 105:25). "Through his great blessings upon the Israelites, God caused the Egyptians to hate them."[12] This came about through their envy, jealousy and fear of the astounding growth of Israel.