Discovery BoxPsalms 105:35-45
Context105:35 They ate all the vegetation in their land,
and devoured the crops of their fields. 1
105:36 He struck down all the firstborn in their land,
the firstfruits of their reproductive power. 2
105:37 He brought his people 3 out enriched 4 with silver and gold;
none of his tribes stumbled.
105:38 Egypt was happy when they left,
for they were afraid of them. 5
105:39 He spread out a cloud for a cover, 6
and provided a fire to light up the night.
105:40 They asked for food, 7 and he sent quails;
he satisfied them with food from the sky. 8
105:41 He opened up a rock and water flowed out;
a river ran through dry regions.
105:42 Yes, 9 he remembered the sacred promise 10
he made to Abraham his servant.
105:43 When he led his people out, they rejoiced;
his chosen ones shouted with joy. 11
105:44 He handed the territory of nations over to them,
and they took possession of what other peoples had produced, 12
105:45 so that they might keep his commands
and obey 13 his laws.
Praise the Lord!
[105:35] 1 tn Heb “the fruit of their ground.”
[105:36] 2 tn Heb “the beginning of all their strength,” that is, reproductive power (see Ps 78:51).
[105:37] 3 tn Heb “them”; the referent (the
[105:37] 4 tn The word “enriched” is supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
[105:38] 5 tn Heb “for fear of them had fallen upon them.”
[105:40] 7 tn Heb “he [i.e., his people] asked.” The singular form should probably be emended to a plural שָׁאֲלוּ (sha’alu, “they asked”), the vav (ו) having fallen off by haplography (note the vav at the beginning of the following form).
[105:40] 8 tn Or “bread of heaven.” The reference is to manna (see Exod 16:4, 13-15).
[105:42] 10 tn Heb “his holy word.”
[105:43] 11 tn Heb “and he led his people out with joy, with a ringing cry, his chosen ones.”
[105:44] 12 tn Heb “and the [product of the] work of peoples they possessed.”
