1.
O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.
For circumstances see note on 1 Chronicles 16:7 .
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
name. See note on Psalms 20:1 .
people = peoples.
2.
Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.
3.
Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .
4.
Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.
face. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia .
evermore = at all times, or continually.
5.
Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
that = which.
wonders: i.e. the miracles in Egypt.
judgments = just decisions (given at Sinai).
6.
O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.
Abraham. Some codices read Israel. Compare 1 Chronicles 16:13 .
servant. Septuagint and Syriac read plural, "servants".
children =. sons.
7.
He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth.
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
8.
He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.
word = promise, as in Psalms 105:42 .
9.
Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;
made = solemnized.
Abraham. Compare Genesis 12:7 ; Genesis 15:18 ; Genesis 13:14-17 .
Isaac. Compare Genesis 26:3 , Genesis 26:4 .
10.
And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:
confirmed = [He] established.
Jacob. Compare Genesis 28:13 ; Genesis 35:12 ; Genesis 48:1-4 . See note on Genesis 50:24 ; compare Micah 7:20 , and Hebrews 11:13 .
Israel: i.e. the spiritual seed; in contrast with Jacob, the natural seed. See notes on Genesis 32:28 ; Genesis 43:6 ; Genesis 45:26 , Genesis 45:28 .
everlasting covenant. See notes on Genesis 9:15 , and Isaiah 44:7 .
11.
Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:
The lot = measuring line. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the inheritance measured off by it.
12.
When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.
they. Some codices, with Aram, and Syriac, read "ye": i.e. not the three Patriarchs, but the descendants of each one respectively.
few men in number = men (Hebrew. methim. App-14 . V) of number: i.e. soon numbered (see note on "almost", Proverbs 5:14 ). Compare Genesis 34:30 . Deuteronomy 4:27 ; Deuteronomy 26:5 .Jeremiah 44:28 . (The opposite is "without number", Psalms 40:12 .) This could not be said of the Patriarchs.
13.
When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people;
When they went. Compare Psalms 105:23 .
14.
He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;
man. Hebrew ' adam . App-14 .
15.
Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
prophets: i.e. those who were men of God, and His spokesmen. Abraham so called (Genesis 20:7 ). See App-49 .
16.
Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.
17.
He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:
sent = had sent.
man. Hebrew. 'ish.
them = their face.
Even Joseph. Compare Genesis 37:28 .
18.
Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:
Whose feet. Figure of speech Hysteresis. App-6 . Further particulars Divinely revealed.
He = His soul. Hebrew. nephesh.
iron. Put by Figure of speech Metonomy (of Cause), for manacles made from it.
19.
Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.
his word: i.e. Joseph's word: i.e. his interpretation of the dreams.
came: came to pass. Compare Judges 7:13 , Judges 7:21 . 1 Samuel 9:6 .
word = utterance, as in Psalms 119:38 = what is said; here, the prophetic promise.
tried = proved: i.e. proved his faith in the Divine promise (Genesis 37:5-11 ).
20.
The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.
The king sent. Compare Genesis 41:14 , Genesis 41:39 , Genesis 41:40 , Genesis 41:44 .
the people = peoples.
21.
He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:
22.
To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.
at his pleasure = according to his soul (i.e. his will). Hebrew. nephesh.
senators = elders.
23.
Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
Israel also came = So Israel came. Compare Psalms 105:13 and Genesis 46:1 .
24.
And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.
enemies = adversaries.
25.
He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.
He turned. Compare Exodus 1:10 ; Exodus 4:21 .
26.
He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen.
Moses. Compare Psalms 105:17 above, and the Structure. See Exodus 3:10 .
27.
They shewed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.
They. Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulg, read "He". Compare Psalms 78:43 .
His signs = The words of His signs.
land of Ham: i.e. Egypt. Compare Psalms 78:51 ; Psalms 106:22 .
28.
He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.
darkness. This was the ninth plague (Exodus 10:21 ). All are not mentioned, not being needed. This is put first for the purpose implied in the next line.
they rebelled not: i.e. Israel did not rebel against the command for circumcision. According to Exodus 12:48 , no uncircumcised person could eat the Passover. This is implied in Joshua 5:2 by the expression, the "second time".
29.
He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.
30.
Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.
brought forth = swarmed with.
In. Figure of speech Ellipsis ( App-6 ) = "[and they entered] into".
31.
He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts.
And = [And there came]. coasts = borders, or boundaries.
32.
He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land.
33.
He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts.
trees of their coasts = boundary trees.
34.
He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillers, and that without number,
35.
And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.
36.
He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.
chief = firstlings.
strength. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), App-6 , for those produced by their strength or manly vigour.
37.
He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.
their = his: i.e. Israel's (or Jehovah's).
38.
Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.
Egypt. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 . for Egyptians; the People (rnasc), not "Land" ( fem .)
39.
He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.
40.
The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
41.
He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.
42.
For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.
promise. Same word as in Psalms 105:8 , "word".
43.
And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:
And His chosen. Pl = Even His chosen [People],
44.
And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;
gave. Compare Psalms 105:11 , "will I give", and see Structure.
the heathen = nations.
labour. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for that which is produced by it.
people = peoples.
45.
That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD.
Praise ye THE LORD. Hebrew Hallelujah = Praise ye Jah.