Psalm 78:9-22

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 78:9

The children of Ephraim being armed, and carrying bows ,.... Or "casting" arrows out of the "bow" F1 רומי קשת "jacientes arcu", Pagninus, Montanus; "jaculantes arcu", Tigurine version, Musculus, Junius & Tremellius, Gejerus, Michaelis. ; they went out well armed to meet the enemy, and they trusted in their armour, and not in the Lord; and being skilful in throwing darts, or shooting arrows, promised themselves victory: but turned back in the day of battle ; fled from the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:10

They kept not the covenant of God ,.... Either the covenant of circumcision, which was neglected during their travels through the wilderness, Joshua 5:5 or the covenant made with the people of Israel at Mount Sinai, Exodus 24:7 and this is to be understood not of the children of Ephraim only, but of the Israelites in general, who in many instances broke the covenant, and were not steadfast in it, Psalm 78:37 ; see Gill on Jeremiah 31:32 . and refused to walk in his law ; the law... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:11

And forgat his works, and his wonders ,.... That is, his wonderful works, the miracles he wrought in their favour, and for their deliverance, afterwards particularly mentioned; these were not only forgotten in the next generation, Judges 15:10 , but in a few years, yea, in a few months, nay, in a few days, when they had been but three days' journey in the wilderness, after their passage through the Red sea, see Exodus 15:1 , which occasioned the observation of the psalmist, Psalm 106:12... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:12

Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers ,.... The Targum is, "before Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes of their fathers, he did marvellous things;' but these were dead before this time; the Jews have a fancy, that these were brought to the sea, and placed upon it; and the Lord showed them what he would do for their children, and how he would redeem them; but this is to be understood of the plagues which were brought upon the Egyptians, and which are called wonders,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:13

He divided the sea ,.... The Targum adds, "by the rod of Moses their master;' which he was ordered to lift up, and to stretch out his hand over the sea; which he did, and at the same time a strong east wind was raised, which caused the sea to go back, and divided the waters of it; see Exodus 14:16 . and caused them to pass through ; that is, he caused the Israelites to pass through the sea; this they did in faith, Hebrews 11:29 , in the faith of the power and promise of God, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:14

In the daytime also he led them with a cloud ,.... Which was in the form of a pillar, and went before them, and the Lord in it, and directed their way, and protected them from heat; see Exodus 13:21 , Nehemiah 9:12 this was typical of Christ, who is a shadow and security from the heat of a fiery law, the flaming sword of justice, the wrath of God, which is poured forth like fire, the fiery darts of Satan, and from hurt by any enemy whatever; see Isaiah 4:5 , and who leads his people... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:15

He clave the rocks in the wilderness ,.... The one at Rephidim, Exodus 17:1 , and the other at Kadesh, Numbers 20:1 both to be seen at this day; See Gill on Exodus 17:1 ; see Gill on Exodus 17:2 ; see Gill on Exodus 17:3 ; see Gill on Exodus 17:4 ; see Gill on Exodus 17:5 ; see Gill on Exodus 17:6 ; see Gill on Numbers 20:1 ; see Gill on Numbers 20:2 ; see Gill on Numbers 20:3 ; see Gill on Numbers 20:4 ; see Gill on Numbers 20:5 ; see Gill on Numbers 20:6 ; see... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:16

He brought streams also out of the rock ,.... Which is expressed in the singular number, as also in Psalm 78:20 , because the children of Israel were not come to Kadesh, and the second rock was not smitten when they lusted after flesh, and murmured against God, and tempted him, as is after related: and caused waters to run down like rivers ; from the descent of the rock, which followed them all the way in the wilderness; this was a most marvellous thing, that water should flow from a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:17

And they sinned yet more against him ,.... Or, "and they added yet to sin against him" F3 ויוסיפו עוד לחטוא לו "et addiderunt adhuc ad peccandum ei", Montanus, "vel peccare", Musculus, Gejerus, Michaelis. ; which was great ingratitude; they had sinned before, and it might have been hoped that the goodness of God to them would have engaged them to have sinned no more, at least at such a rate, and in such a manner, as they had done; but instead of sinning less, they sinned more... read more

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