Psalms 105

The Prophet exhorteth the people of God to celebrate and praise him regard of all his wonders and benefits: together with a rehearsal of the faithfulness of his promises made and performed to Abraham, to Joseph, and to Jacob if Egypt; as also of the wonders shewed to Moses and the Israelites in the wilderness.

1. Praise the LORD, [A good part of this Psalm, is extant, 1 Chron.16.8. being sung before the Ark of the LORD] call upon his Name, make known his Acts among the Nations.

2. Sing unto him, sing Psalms unto him; speak devoutly of all wonders.

3. Glory (or boast) i [Or of] the name of his holiness; let the heart of them that seek the LORD rejoice.

4. Enquire after the LORD and his strength: [Whereof they had a visible Testimony in the Ark. See 2 Chron.6.41. Psalms 78:61, and the Annot.Psalms 63:3.] seek his face continually. [i.e. his Counsel and Commands; 2 Sam.21.v.1.]

5. Remember his wonders, which he hath done; [viz. In Egypt by Moses and Aaron] his miracles and the judgements of his mouth. [understand here, the plagues of Egypt, which God had threatened before hand. The word judgements is taken for plagues, or punishments, as Rom.13.2. and 1 Cor.11.29.]

6. Ye seed of Abraham his servant [These words are likewise, 1 Chron.16.13. with this difference only, that there in stead of Abraham is put Israel] yee children of Jacob his chosen. [viz. Gods]

7. He is the LORD our God: his judgements are over all the earth; that is, over all people and nations, that his Name may be recounted throughout the whole earth, Exod.9.16.]

8. He remembered his Covenant [That namely, which he made with us] in eternity: the Word (which he instituted [Heb. Commanded; i.e. his promise which is so stedfast and assured, as if it were a solemn institution , or ordinance, and a commanded Law. See of the Hebrew word, 2 Sam.7.on v.11.] unto thousand generations: [that is, very many.]

9. (The Covenant) which he made with Abraham: [Hereof see Gen.15.18. and 17.2. and 22.16. Luke 1:73. Heb.6.13.] and his oath to Isaac.

10. Which he put likewise for an institution to Jacob, to Israel for an everlasting Covenant.

11. Saying, I will give you the Land of Canaan, the line of your inheritance. [See the Annotat. Deut.32.on v.9. and Psalms 16:6.]

12. When they were few men in number, [Heb. Men, or people of number, i.e. easy to ne numbered, soon told. See Gen.34.on verse 30.the contrary whereof is, people without number; that is, innumerable, Psalms 147:5.] yea few, and strangers therein.

13. And walked from people to people: [viz. In the Land of Canaan, wherein there were seven mighty Nations, Deut.7.1. How the Patriarchs wandered and sojourned therein, see Gen.12.8,9.10. and 13.18. and 20.1. and 23.4. and 26.1.23. and ch.33.19. and 35.1. Hebr. 11.9.13.] from the one Kingdom, to another people.

14. He suffered no man to oppress them, also he rebuked Kings for their sake, [viz. Both in word and deed; as Pharaoh Gen.12.17. and Abimelech, Gen.20.3. and divers others] (saying.)

15. Touch not [The Prophet introduceth God here, addressing his speech to Kings and Magistrates, & charging them to beware and take heed, that they do no hurt or injustice to Gods servants] my anointed (ones), [i.e. those which are sanctified and set apart for my service. Here is spoken first of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, under whose names the rest of Gods Prophets and Ministers are to be understood] and do no evil to my Prophets. [Abraham is called a Prophet, Gen.20.7. See the Annotations.]

16. He called likewise a famine into the land, [viz. Of Egypt, Canaan, and other Countrys, Gen.41.45. etc. And 42.1. The manner of speaking here, is used likewise, 2 King.8.1. Dearth and famine, like all other plagues and judgements, are pursuivants, and executioners of Gods commands and Decrees against sinners] he broke all the or aged body is supported and upheld by a staff; so doth the bread sustain and strengthen mans heart, Psalms 104:15.]

17. He sent a man before their face: Joseph was sold for a slave.

18. They pressed his feet in the stocked (or fetters.) [See Gen.39.20. and 40.15.] his person [Heb. His soul, i.e. himself. See that Annot. Gen.12.on v.5.] came into the iron fetters, Hebrew, into the iron.]

19. Until the time that his word came, [viz. The Word of the LORD; that is to say; until the time was fulfilled, that the things should come to pass, which God had decree over him, and revealed formerly unto him i a dream, Gen.36.5. etc, and 42.9 the word or verb to come, for accomplish, is likewise used. 1 Sam.9.6. Job 6:8. Jer.17.15. and elsewhere] the sayings of the LORD [i.e. the promises which God had made unto him by dreams, Gen.37.] purified him. [viz. By grievous sufferings and afflictions. See Psal.12.on v.7. and 1 Pet.1.7.]

20. The King sent [Pharaoh, namely, Gen.41.14. and 45.8.] and set him free: the ruler of people, he let him loose. [Hebr. He opened him. i.e. he opened and loosened the bonds and fetters, wherewith he was bound.]

21. He set him Lord over his house: and ruler over all his goods.

22. To bind his Princes [The Kings, Namely, Pharaohs] according to his pleasure, [Heb. According to his soul: i.e. according to his own good will, pleasure and discretion. Others, oblige to his soul] and to instinct [viz. How they should gather and preserve the Corn of the fruitful years, for provision against the dearth to come, Gen.41.47.] his Eldest. [viz. The Senators or Counsellors of Kings Pharaoh, the chief Noble men at his Court.]

23. Then came Israel [Together with all his family, being called by Pharaoh and Joseph, and excited and strengthened by God for it, Gen.45.17,20. And 46.3.4.] and Jacob sojourned as a stranger, in the land of Cham. [i.e. in the land which the posterity of Cham had in possession: to wit, in Egypt, Cham was Mitsraims father, Gen.10.6. from whom the land of Egypt is called Mistsraim. See Psalms 78:51.]

24. And he made his people to grow much and made them mightier then his adversaries, [Or his distressours.]

25. He turned their heart about, [The Egyptians, namely, others their heart turned about, or was turned about] that they hated his people, that they dealt subtily with his powers. See the Annot. Gen.37.on verse 18. Or that they laid wiles, (plotted) against his servants, viz. Against the children of Israel.

26. He sent Moseh his servant, (and) Aaron whom he had chosen, [To be the mouth of Moseh to the people, and a Prophet to Pharaoh, Exodus 4. Verse 12,14,16. And 7.1,2,3.]

27. They did (or performed) among them the Commandments of his tokens, [Heb. The words of his signs, that is to say, the charge, which God had given them to do signs] in the land of Cham. [See above v.23.]

28. He [God namely] sent darkness and made it dark: [this was the ninth plague which God sent over Egypt: and this darkness lasted for three days together, Exod.10.22,23.] and they were not refractory to his word. [i.e. command, meaning that those miraculous sings, happened immediately upon the word uttered. Or you may understand it thus, that Moseh and Aaron, were ready to act and perform what they were enjoyened, though with the great hazard of their lives.]

29. He returned their waters into blood, and he made their fish die. [Tis was the first of the ten plagues of Egypt, Exod.7.20. Psalms 78:44. The Prophet bringeth in some of the leagues here which God wrought in Egypt, without observing the order set down in Exodus.]

30. Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, [This was the second plague, Exod.8.3.6. Psalm 68.45.] into the (very) innermost Chambers of their Kings. [understand here of Pharaoh and his Princes, Exod.8.3.]

31. he spake, and there came a mixture of insects: [As Grasshoppers, swarms of flies, and the like. See Psalm 78.v.45. this was the fourth plague, Exod.8.24.] lice throughout all their border. [this was the third plague, Exod.8.v.17.]

32. he made their rain to hail, [This was the seventh plague Exod.9.23. See also Psalms 78:47.] flaming fire in their land. [Heb. Fire of the flame, as never the like was seen in Egypt. Exod.9.24.]

33. And he smote their vine and their fig-tree, and he, brake the trees of their border, [viz. By the hail and by the fire.]

34. He spake, and there came Grasshoppers and Beetles: [Heb. The grasshoppers and the Battle: this was the eight plague, Ex.10.13. Psalms 78:46.] and that without number.

35. Which ate up all the herb in their land, yea they ate up the fruit of their Country.

36. He smote likewise all the first-born in their land; [This was tenth league, see Exod.12.23,29. Psalms 78:51.] The firstlings of all their visors [This is a description of the firstborn; as Gen.49.3. and Psalms 78:51. so that one and the same thing is twice set down in this verse, though not in the same words, which is usual with the Hebrews: See above v.20.]

37. And he led them forth with silver and gold, [That is, with silver and golden vessels, Exod.12.35.] and among their Tribes [consisting of six hundred thousand men; besides women ad children, Exod.12.37. and chap.13.18.] there was none which stumbled. [viz. Of weakness or feebleness: the like promise is made to the Church of God, Isa.33.24.]

38. Egypt was glad when they marched forth for their terror was fallen upon them: [That is, they stood in deadly fear of the Israelites, so that they urged and priest them to go, and gave them their best jewels Exod.12.33, 35. Fearing God would put them all to death, if they suffered them to go. Se the like kind of expression, Esth.8.17. and 9.2.]

39. He spread forth a cloud for a covering, [viz. For to cover and shield the Israelites against the heat of the Sun] and fire to enlighten the night. [i.e. fiery pillar.]

40. They entreated, [Or, it entreated or prayed, viz. The people of Israel. See Numb.11. and Psalms 78:27,28.] and he made Quails to come, [God namely] and he filled (or satisfied them) with heavenly bread. [i.e. with bread which came from heaven, i.e. fell down out of the Air. See Exod.16.1,2. And 13.14. Psalms 78:24.25.]

41. He [God] opened a rock, [viz. At Raphidim, Exod.17.6. and at Kades, Numb.20.11. See likewise Psalms 78:15.] and there flowed waters forth, (which) went thorough the dry places [which the Israelites past thorough: Whither they went, the water followed them. See 1 Cor.10.4.] (as) a river.

42. For he was mindful of his holy word, [Heb. Of the word of his holiess, i.e. of his holy promises] to Abraham his senate, [i.e. of his Covenant made with Abraham: Others, (spoken) to Abraham.]

43. Thus he led forth his people with gladness: his chosen [Gods namely, as above v.8.] with shouting.

44. And he gave them the Countries of the Heathen, [viz.of the seven Nations, of whom is spoken, Psalm.78. 55. See the books of Numbers, Deuteromy, and Joshua.] so that they possessed by inheritance the labour of the Nations; [i.e. the goods and possessions which these heathen people had got and gathered together with much toil and labour, Deut.6.10,11.]

45. That they might entertain his institutions, and keep his laws. Halelu-Jah. [See the Annotations, Psalm 104.on verse 35.]