Psalms 78

Psalms 78:9

The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.

Ephraim, which was the chief of the ten revolted tribes of Israel, though they were well armed, and furnished with those weapons which might gall the enemy afar off, yet, as a punishment from God upon them, they cowardly fled before the enemy, and gave a foul example of base flight to the rest of their brethren.

Psalms 78:10

They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law.

They, with their revolted associates, kept not the covenant which God had made with them, but turned aside to follow Jeroboam in his wicked idolatry; forsaking the law and temple of their God.

Psalms 78:12

In the field of Zoan.

In the territories that belong to Zoan, a chief city of Egypt, and the court of Pharaoh; where those miraculous works would be so much more noted.

Psalms 78:25

Man did eat angels’ food.

Man did eat of that bread, which descended from heaven, the glorious mansion of angels.

Psalms 78:49

By sending evil angels among them.

By giving them over into the power of evil angels, which are the executioners of God’s wrath; so as, by their hand, many VOL. III. P of those judgments, which were inflicted upon Egypt, were wrought.

Psalms 78:54

He brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand hath purchased.

He brought them into the possession of this promised land, where he hath placed his sanctuary; and to this holy hill of Sion, which he hath chosen to that purpose, having cast out the Jebusites, who formerly possessed it, by his mighty power.

Psalms 78:60

So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, &c.

So that he forsook that tabernacle of his, which was pitched in Shiloh; and had no further respect to that chosen place.

Psalms 78:61

And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy’s hand.

And withal gave up his very ark, which was the strength and glory of Israel; and that sign of his presence, whereby he manifested his strength and glory to Israel; that ark did he give up into the hands of the Philistines.

Psalms 78:65

Then the LORD awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.

Then the Lord, who seemed to sleep while he winked at the captivity of the ark, roused up himself, to a revenge of these insolencies of the Philistines; and laid about him, as some mighty giant, whose spirits are cheered with abundance of wine, dealing judgments on all sides.

Psalms 78:66

And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.

And he smote the Philistines with a grievous and shameful disease, in their hinder parts; even with sore emerods, to their great pain and reproach.

Psalms 78:67

Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:

Moreover he refused to dwell any longer in Shiloh, which was in the tribe of Ephraim, the son of Joseph, where his ark had long sojourned:

Psalms 78:68

But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.

And made choice to fix himself at Jerusalem, within the tribe of Judah; even upon Mount Sion, which he hath preferred to all the earth.