1An exhortation to praise God, to seek him, and remember his works. 8His providence over Abraham, 16over Joseph, 23over Israel in Egypt, 26which he plagued for their sake; 37and over his people brought out of Egypt, fed in the wilderness, and planted in Canaan.
1 O 1GIVE thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.
1 A good part of the psalm is written in 1 Chron. 16:8, being sung before the ark of the Lord.
2Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.
3Glorya ye 2in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
a Psalm 34:2.
2 Or, of the name of his holiness.
4Seek the LORD, and 3his strength: seek 4his face evermore.
3 Whereof they had a visible testimony in the ark. See 2 Chron. 6:41; Psalm 78:61, and the annotation in Psalm 63 on verse 2.
4 That is, His counsel and commands, 2 Sam. 21:1.
5Remember his marvellous works 5that he hath done; his wonders, and 6the judgments of his mouth;
5 Namely, in Egypt, by Moses and Aaron.
6 Understand here the plagues of Egypt, which God threatened beforehand. The word judgments is often taken for plagues or punishments, as Rom. 13:2; 1 Cor. 11:29.
6 O 7ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob 8his chosen.
7 These words are likewise in 1 Chron. 16:13 with this difference only that there instead of ye seed of Abraham is put ye seed of Israel.
8 Namely, God’s elect.
7He is the LORD our God: 9his judgments are in all the earth.
9 That is, He exercises and executes His judgments over all the earth, that is, over all people and nations, that His Name may be recounted throughout the entire earth, Exod. 9:16.
8He hath remembered 10his covenant for ever, the word which he 11commanded 12to a thousand generations.
10 That, namely, which He made with us.
11 Or, instituted, that is, His promise, which is so steadfast and assured, as if it were a solemn institution, or ordinance, and a commanded law. See of the Hebrew word, 2 Sam. 7 on verse 11.
12 That is, very many generations.
913Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;
13 Hereof see what is written in Gen. 15:18; 17:2; 22:16; Luke 1:73; Heb. 6:13.
10Andb confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and toc Israel 14for an everlasting covenant:
b 1 Chron. 16:17.
c Gen. 28:13; 35:11.
14 Hebr. for a covenant always.
11Saying, Unto thee will Id give the land of Canaan, 15the lot of your inheritance:
d Gen. 13:15; 15:18.
15 See the annotations on Deut. 32:9; Psalm 16:6.
12Whene they were but a 16few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.
e 1 Chron. 16:19.
16 Hebr. people of number, that is, easy to be numbered, countable. See Gen. 34 on verse 30. Whereof the contrary is people without number, that is, innumerable, Psalm 147:5.
13When they went from 17one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people;
17 Namely, in the land of Canaan, wherein were seven mighty nations, Deut. 7:1. How the patriarchs wandered and sojourned therein, see Gen. 12:8, 9, 10; 13:18; 20:1; 23:4; 26:1, 23; 33:19; 35:1, etc.; Heb. 11:9, 13.
14Hef suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he 18reproved kings for their sakes;
f Gen. 35:5.
18 Namely, both in word and deed, as Pharaoh, Gen. 12:17, Abimelech, Gen. 20:3, and divers others.
15Saying, 19Touch not 20mine anointed, and do my 21prophets no harm.
19 The prophet introduces God here, addressing His speech to kings and magistrates, charging them to beware and take heed that they do no hurt or injury to God’s servants.
20 That is, those who are sanctified and set apart for My service. Here is spoken first of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, under whose names the remainder of God’s prophets ministers are to be understood.
21 Abraham is called a prophet, Gen. 20:7. See the annotation there.
16Moreover 22he called for a famine upon the 23land: 24he brake the whole staff of bread.
22 This manner of speaking here is used likewise in 2 Kings 8:1. Dearth and famine, like all other plagues and judgments, are messengers and executors of God’s commands and decrees against sinners.
23 Namely, over the land of Egypt, Canaan and other countries, Gen. 41:54, etc.; 42:1.
24 See Lev. 26:26. Even as a weak or aged body is supported and upheld by a staff, so does the bread sustain and strengthen man’s heart, Psalm 104:15.
17He sent a man before them, even Joseph,gwho was sold for a servant:
g Gen. 37:28, 36; 45:5.
18Whose feet they hurt 25with fetters:h26he was laid in 27iron:
25 Or, in the stock. See Gen. 39:20; 40:15.
h shackles, metal bands*
26 Hebr. his soul, that is, himself. See the annotation on Gen. 12 on verse 5.
27 That is, into iron fetters. Hebr. into the iron.
19Until the time that 28his word 29came: 30the word of the LORD 31tried him.
28 Namely, the Word of the Lord. The sense is: Until the time was fulfilled that the things would come to pass which God had decreed over him, and revealed unto him in a dream, Gen. 37:5, etc.; 42:9.
29 That is, came surely to pass. The word or verb to come, for accomplish, is likewise used, 1 Sam. 9:6; Job 6:8; Jer. 17:15, and elsewhere.
30 Namely, the promises which God had made unto him by dreams, Genesis 37.
31 Namely, by grievous sufferings and afflictions. See Psalm 12 on verse 6; 1 Peter 1:7.
2032The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and 33let him go free.
32 Namely, Pharaoh, Gen. 41:14; 45:8.
33 Hebr. he opened him, that is, he opened and loosened the bonds and fetters wherewith he was bound.
21He madei him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:
i Gen. 41:40.
22To bind 34his princes 35at his 36pleasure; and 37teach 38his senators wisdom.
34 Namely, of king Pharaoh.
35 Hebr. according to his soul, that is, according to his own good will, pleasure and discretion. Other, oblige to his soul.
36 Namely, of the king; or, of Joseph.
37 Namely, how they would gather and preserve the corn of the fruitful years for provision against the dearth to come, Gen. 41:47.
38 Namely, the counselors and the chief noble men of king Pharaoh at his court.
2339Israel also 40came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned 41in the land of Ham.
39 Namely, with all his family.
40 Being called by Pharaoh and Joseph, and admonished and strengthened by God for it, Gen. 45:17, 20; 46:3, 4.
41 That is, in the land, which the posterity of Ham had in possession, namely, in Egypt. Ham was Mizraim’s father, Gen. 10:6, from whom the land of Egypt is called Mizraim. See Psalm 78:51.
24And hej increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their 42enemies.
j Exod. 1:7, 9.
42 Or, adversaries.
25He turnedk43their heart to hate his people, 44to deal 45subtilly with his servants.
k Exod. 1:9, 10, 12.
43 Namely, the Egyptians. Other, Their heart turned about, or, was turned about.
44 Or, that they applied devices against his servants, namely, the children of Israel.
45 See the annotation on Gen. 37:18.
26He sentl Moses his servant; and Aaron 46whom he had chosen.
l Exod. 3:10; 4:12.
46 To be the mouth of Moses to the people and a prophet to Pharaoh, Exod. 4:12, 14, 16; 7:1, 2, 3.
27Theym shewed 47his signs among them, and wonders 48in the land of Ham.
m Exod. 7:9.
47 Hebr. the words of his signs, that is, the charge which God had given them to do signs.
48 See verse 23.
2849He sent 50darkness, and made it dark; and 51they rebelled not against 52his word.
49 Namely, God.
50 This was the ninth plague which God sent over Egypt, and this darkness lasted for three days together, Exod. 10:22, 23.
51 That is, the miraculous signs happened immediately upon the word uttered. Or you may understand it thus, that Moses and Aaron were ready to act and perform what they were instructed, though with the great hazard of their life.
52 That is, His command.
2953He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.
53 This was the first of the ten plagues of Egypt, Exod. 7:20; Psalm 78:44. The prophet brings in some of the plagues here which God wrought in Egypt without observing the order set down in Exodus.
30Their land 54brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of 55their kings.
54 This was the second plague, Exod. 8:3, 6; Psalm 78:45.
55 Understand here of Pharaoh and his princes, Exod. 8:3.
31He spake, and there came divers sorts of 56flies, and 57lice in all their coasts.
56 As grasshoppers, swarms of flies, and the like. See Psalm 78:45. This was the fourth plague, Exod. 8:24.
57 This was the third plague, Exod. 8:17.
32He 58gave them hail for rain, and 59flaming fire in their land.
58 This was the seventh plague, Exod. 9:23. See also Psalm 78:47.
59 Hebr. fire of the flame, as never similar was seen in Egypt, Exod. 9:24.
33He 60smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts.
60 Namely, by the hail and by the fire.
34He spake, and the 61locusts 62came, and caterpillers, and that without number,
61 Hebr. the locust and the caterpillar.
62 This was the eighth plague, Exod. 10:13; Psalm 78:46.
35And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.
3663He smote also 64all the firstborn in their land, the 65chief of all their strength.
63 This was the tenth plague. See Exod. 12:23, 29; Psalm 78:51.
64 In this verse one and the same thing is set down twice though not in the same words, which is usual with the Hebrews. See verse 20.
65 This is a description of the firstborn, as Gen. 49:3; Psalm 78:51.
37He brought them forth also with 66silver and gold: and there was not 67one feeble person 68among their tribes.
66 That is, with silver and golden vessels, Exod. 12:35.
67 Namely, of weakness or feebleness.
68 Consisting of six hundred thousand men, besides women and children, Exod. 12:37; 13:18. The like promise is made to the church of God, Isa. 33:24.
38Egyptn was glad when they departed: for the 69fear of them fell upon them.
n Exod. 12:33.
69 That is, they stood in deadly fear of the Israelites, so that they urged and pressed them to go, and gave them their best jewels, Exod. 12:33, 35, fearing God would put them all to death, if they permitted them not to go. See similar expression, Esther 8:17; 9:2.
39He spread 70a cloud for a covering; and 71fire to give light in the night.
70 Namely, for to cover and shield the Israelites against the heat of the sun.
71 That is, a fiery pillar.
40The people 72asked, and 73he brought quails, and satisfied them 74with the bread of heaven.
72 Or, it entreated or prayed, namely, the people of Israel. See Numbers 11; Psalm 78:27, 28.
73 Namely, God the Lord.
74 That is, with bread which came from heaven, that is, fell down out of the air. See Exod. 16:1-14; Psalm 78:24, 25.
4175He 76opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in 77the dry places like a river.
75 Namely, God.
76 Namely, at Rephidim, Exod. 17:6, and at Kadesh, Num. 20:11. See likewise Psalm 78:15.
77 Through which the Israelites journeyed. Where they went, the water followed them. See 1 Cor. 10:4.
42For he remembered 78his holy promise, and 79Abrahamo his servant.
78 Hebr. of the word of his holiness, that is, of His holy promises.
79 That is, of His covenant made with Abraham. Other, spoken to Abraham.
o Gen. 15:14.
43Andp he brought forth his people with joy, and 80his chosen with gladness:
p Exod. 14:8; Num. 33:3.
80 Namely, of God, as verse 6.
44And 81gave them the lands 82of the heathen: and they inherited 83the labour of the people;
81 See the books of Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua.
82 Namely, of the seven nations, of whom is spoken in Psalm 78:55.
83 That is, the goods which these heathen people had gathered together with much toil and labor, Deut. 6:10, 11.
45Thatq they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. 84Praise ye the LORD.
q Exod. 19:4, 5, 6; Deut. 4:1, 40; 6:21, 22, 23, 24, 25.
84 See the annotation on Psalm 104 on verse 35.