Psalms 106:1--107:43
[(Title.)]
As part of the preceding Psalm is found in 1 Ch ch. 16, so the first and two last verses of this are found in the same place; and it is highly probable this was composed upon the same occasion as the former, to which it seems to be a continuation; for as that celebrates the mercies of God to Israel, so this confesses and deplores the rebellions of Israel against Jehovah.
Praise <01984 03050> [Praise ye the Lord. Heb. Hallelujah.]
Give thanks <03034> [O give.]
good <02896> [for he.]
adequately <04448> [utter.]
praiseworthy <08416> [all his praise.]
blessed <0835> [Blessed.]
who promote <08104> [keep.]
do <06213> [doeth.]
time <06256> [at all times.]
Remember <02142> [Remember.]
attention <06485> [visit.]
see <07200> [may see.]
rejoice <08055> [rejoice.]
boast <01984> [glory.]
ancestors <01> [Our.]
remember <02142> [they.]
many <07230> [multitude.]
rebelled <04784> [but.]
delivered <03467> [he saved.]
power <01369> [that he.]
shouted <01605> [He rebuked.]
In the descriptions of the Psalmist, everything has life. The sea is an animated being, behaves itself proudly, is rebuked, and retires in confusion.
<03212> [so he.]
delivered <03467> [And he.]
rescued <01350> [redeemed.]
quickly forgot <04116 07911> [They soon forgat. Heb. They made haste, they forgat.]
Three days afterwards, at the waters of Marah.
wait <02442> [waited.]
craving <0183> [But.]
insatiable craving <08378 0183> [lusted exceedingly. Heb. lusted a lust. tempted.]
granted <05414> [he gave.]
struck <07971> [but sent.]
They despised the manna, calling it light or innutritive food. God gave them flesh as they desired, but no blessing accompanied it; and, in consequence, they did not fatten, but grew lean upon it; and many, surfeited by excess, died of disease. Instead of {razon,} "leanness," however, Bp. Lowth supposes we should read {zeraâ€n,} "nausea or loathing," which appears to be supported by several ancient versions, and by Nu 11:20, where this portion of the history of the Israelites is recorded, and where the word {zara} is used, and rendered, "it be loathsome."
resented <07065> [envied.]
holy priest <06918> [the saint.]
traded <04171> [Thus.]
majestic <03519> [their glory.]
That is, their God, who ought to have been the peculiar object of their glory.
image <08403> [into.]
rejected <07911> [forgat.]
God <0410> [God.]
performed <06213> [which.]
amazing <06381> [Wondrous.]
The plagues he inflicted on the Egyptians. Egypt is called the land of Ham, or rather, Cham, because it was peopled by Mizraim the son of Ham, and grandson of Noah. Plutarch informs us, that the Egyptians called their country [Chemia,] Chemia; and the Copts give it the name of Chemi, [Chemi,] to the present day.
acts <03372> [terrible.]
threatened <0559> [he said.]
chosen one <0972> [his chosen.]
interceded <05975> [stood.]
rejected <03988> [they despised.]
fruitful land <02532 0776> [the pleasant land. Heb. a land of desire.]
believe <0539> [they believed.]
grumbled <07279> [murmured.]
obey <08085> [hearkened.]
<05375> [Therefore.]
<05375> [lifted.]
die <05307> [overthrow. Heb. make them fall. to scatter.]
worshiped <06775> [joined.]
dead <04191> [of the dead.]
The word {maithim} signifies dead men; for the idols of the heathen were generally men,--warriors, kings, or lawgivers,-- who had been deified after their death; though many of them had been execrated during their life.
actions <04611> [with their.]
plague <04046> [the plague.]
angry <07107> [angered.]
suffered <03415> [so that.]
aroused <04784> [Because.]
spoke <0981> [he spake.]
destroy <08045> [did not.]
<03068> [concerning.]
mixed <06148> [But.]
learned <03925> [learned.]
worshiped <05647> [And.]
snare <04170> [which.]
sacrificed <02076> [they sacrificed.]
However unnatural and horrid human sacrifices may appear, it is certain, that they did not only exist, but almost universally prevailed in the heathen world, especially among the Canaanites and Phoenicians.
demons <07700> [devils.]
shed <08210> [shed.]
land <0776> [the land.]
defiled <02930> [defiled.]
unfaithful <02181> [went.]
deeds ...... actions <04639 04611> [their own.]
angry <0639> [the wrath.]
despised <08581> [insomuch.]
people who belong to him <05159> [his own.]
handed <05414> [he gave.]
hated <08130> [and they.]
Many <07227> [Many.]
attitude <06098> [with their.]
degraded <04355> [brought low. or, impoverished, or weakened.]
remembered <02142> [And he.]
relented <05162> [repented.]
great <07230> [to the.]
Deliver .... Lord <03467 03068> [Save us.]
Gather <06908> [gather.]
give thanks <03034> [to give.]
deserves <01288> [Blessed.]
Praise ... Lord <01984 03050> [Praise ye the Lord. Heb. Hallelujah.]
[A.M. 3468. B.C. 536. (Title.)]
The author of this Psalm is unknown; but it was evidently written to commemorate the return of the Jews from the Babylonian captivity; and it may easily be perceived that it must have been sung in alternate parts, having a double burden, or two intercalary verses often recurring. Bp. Lowth considers it as written "after the method of the ancient pastorals, where, be the subject of their verse what it will, each swain endeavours to excel the other; and one may perceive their thoughts and expressions gradually to rise upon each other." "No doubt," he adds, "the composition of this Psalm is admirable throughout; and the descriptive part of it adds at least its share of beauty to the whole; but what is most to be admired is its conciseness, and withal the expressiveness of the diction, which strikes the imagination with illimitable elegance. The weary and bewildered traveller--the miserable captive in the dungeon--the sick and dying man--the seaman foundering in a storm--are described in so affecting a manner, that they far exceed any thing of the kind, though never so much laboured."
Give thanks <03034> [Give.]
good <02896> [good.]
loyal love <02617> [for his mercy.]
delivered .......... delivered <01350> [Let the.]
power <03027> [from.]
gathered <06908> [gathered.]
south <03220> [south. Heb. sea.]
wandered <08582> [wandered.]
found <04672> [they found.]
This is the first similitude; in which the Israelites in captivity are compared to travellers in a dreary, uninhabited, and barren desert, spent with hunger and thirst, as well as by the fatigues of the journey.
cried out <06817> [Then.]
delivered <05337> [he delivered.]
level <01869> [he led.]
<03212> [that they.]
give thanks <03034> [Oh that men.]
give thanks <03034> [praise.]
amazing <06381> [his wonderful.]
sat <03427> [Such.]
Here begins the second comparison; in which the state of the captives in Babylon is illustrated by that of prisoners in a dreary dungeon.
sat <03427> [as sit.]
bound <0615> [bound.]
rebelled <04784> [Because.]
rejected <05006> [contemned.]
humble <03665> [he brought.]
helped <05826> [and there.]
brought ... out <03318> [brought.]
tore off <05423> [brake.]
fools <0191> [Fools.]
This is the third comparison; the captives being compared to persons in a dangerous malady, as the consequences of their own sins.
ways ....... sins <01870 05771> [because.]
lost ......... drew near <08581> [abhorreth.]
drew <05060> [and they.]
sent <07971> [He sent.]
healed <07495> [healed.]
rescued <04422> [delivered.]
present <02076> [sacrifice.]
proclaim <05608> [declare.]
loudly <07440> [rejoicing. Heb. singing.]
traveled <03381> [They.]
This is the fourth comparison; their captivity was as dangerous and alarming as a dreadful tempest at sea; with a most natural and striking description of which we are here presented.
traveled <03381> [go down.]
amazing <06381> [his wonders.]
gave the order <0559> [he commandeth.]
<05975> [raiseth. Heb. maketh to stand. lifteth.]
sailors <05315> [their soul.]
staggered <05128> [stagger.]
[are at their wit's end. Heb. all their wisdom is swallowed up.]
led <05148> [he bringeth.]
give thanks <03034> [Oh that men.]
amazing <06381> [his wonderful.]
exalt <07311> [exalt.]
assembly <06951> [in the congregation.]
turned <07760> [turneth.]
water <04325> [water-springs.]
fruitful <06529> [a fruitful.]
barren <04420> [barrenness. Heb. saltness.]
turned <07760> [turneth.]
hungry <07457> [there he.]
city <05892> [a city.]
cultivated <02232> [sow.]
yielded <06213> [which may.]
blessed <01288> [He blesseth.]
decrease <04591> [suffereth.]
their <04591> [Again.]
The incidents detailed in these verses, which frequently occur, and mark the superintendence of a benign Providence, and the hand of a just God, appear to be brought forward to illustrate the return of the Israelites from captivity, and the punishment of their oppressors the Babylonians. Wherefore, at last, as in a common chorus, they conclude with exhorting each other to a serious consideration of these things, and to make a proper return to the Almighty.
their <04591> [they are.]
decreased <06115> [oppression.]
pour <08210> [poureth.]
contempt <0937> [contempt.]
wander <08582> [causeth.]
wasteland <08414> [wilderness. or, void place.]
needy <034> [setteth.]
oppression <06040> [from. or, after. maketh.]
godly <03477> [righteous.]
sinner <05766> [iniquity.]
wise <02450> [is wise.]
consider <0995> [they shall understand.]
