Ps. 105:0 THE ARGUMENT The penman of this Psalm was David, as is manifest from 1 Chron. 16:8;c. It is a thanksgiving to God for his mercies to his people of Israel. An exhortation to praise God, and to remember his works and wonders, Ps. 105:1–6.

Call upon his name or, proclaim his name, i.e. the fame and glory of his works, as it follows. Among his people; each of you amongst his and your people, or even among the heathens, as you have opportunity.

Glory ye in his holy name; glory in the God whom you serve, as the only true God, and one of infinite power and goodness. That seek the Lord; that seek his face or presence, as it follows, his acquaintance and favour, above all the world.

The Lord, and his strength, i.e. by a figure called hendiaduo, the Lord in his strength, to wit, in his sanctuary, or before the ark, which is called God’s strength, Ps. 63:2, Ps. 78:61, and the ark of his strength, Ps. 132:8. His face, i.e.

Either, 1. The laws delivered from his mouth. Or rather, 2. The plagues or punishments (as this same word is used here, Ps. 105:7, and every where) which he brought upon Egypt by his mere word or command, as is oft noted in the history of them in Exodus.

Children of Jacob; to whom he restrains the former more general expression, because these were the only branch of Abraham’s seed to whom the following covenant and blessings belong.

Either, 1. The fame of his judgments upon the Egyptians is spread over the face of the earth. Or, 2. God executes his judgments upon all nations and people; which may be here noted as a foil to magnify God’s grace to them who were the monuments of his mercy, when all the world besides them fell…

He hath remembered, practically, so as to perform it; as that word is frequently used in Scripture. The word; the word of promise, or the covenant, as is explained both in the foregoing and following words. And so the word is taken Judg. 13:12, Luke 1:38. Commanded, i.e.

Wherewith he ratified the covenant with Isaac, Gen. 26:3.

For a law; either that it might be as firm and irrevocable, as a law; or that it might have the use and force of a law towards God, because God did hereby put himself under an obligation of making it good in regard of his own truth and righteousness.

The portion assigned to you by lot and the designation of Divine Providence. See Poole “Deut. 32:9”; See Poole “Ps. 16:6”.

A few men in number, Heb. men of number, i.e. few, who could easily be numbered, very few, as the next words explain it.

Both in Canaan, where there were seven nations, Deut. 7:1, and in Egypt, &c.

Both verbally, and really, by his judgments. See Gen. 12:17, Gen. 20:3.

Touch not; hurt not, as this word is used of these very persons, Gen. 26:11, Gen. 26:29, and elsewhere. Mine anointed; my prophets, as the next words explain it, to wit, Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, as is evident; who are called God’s anointed, because they were eminently blessed of God, and…

He called for, i.e. he effectually procured, as this word is used, 2 Kings 8:1, Isa. 47:1, Isa. 47:5, Isa. 56:7, Rom. 4:17. The whole staff of bread, i.e. bread, which is the staff or support of our animal lives. See Lev. 26:26, Ps. 104:15, Ezek. 4:16.

He sent, by the direction of his secret providence.

Heb. his soul came into iron; which seems to be added emphatically to aggravate his imprisonment, and to show how grievous it was to his very soul, which must needs sympathize with his body, and moreover was greatly vexed to consider both the great injury which was done to him, and yet the foul and…

The time; till which time his eminent prudence, and innocency, and piety gave him no relief. His word; either, 1. Joseph’s word, or his prophecy concerning the chief butler and baker; which is said to come when it was fulfilled, as that word is used, Judg. 13:12, Judg. 13:17, Ezek.

Heb. of all his possession, i.e. of his whole kingdom.

To bind his princes by his commands, and if they were refractory, to punish them. Teach his senators; his wisest counsellors, whom he commanded to receive instructions from Joseph upon all occasions.

Israel; Jacob in his person, and with his children. Of Ham, i.e. Egypt, so called here, also Ps. 78:5, Ps. 106:22; from that cursed Ham, Gen. 9:22, who was the father of Mizraim, or the Egyptians, Gen. 10:6.

Not really, but according to their enemies’ apprehensions and expressions, Ex. 1:9. Or, more numerous, as this word is elsewhere used. So this latter branch answers to the former. And this was true; for though they were not simply more in number than the Egyptians, yet they multiplied much faster.

He turned their heart to hate his people; not by putting this wicked hatred into them, which is not consistent either with the holiness of God’s nature, or with the truth of his word, and which was altogether unnecessary, because they had that and all other wickedness in them by nature; but partly,…

To be the companion and interpreter of Moses in this expedition, of which see Ex. 3:10, Ex. 4:12;c. This clause he adds, to show that Aaron was no less called and chosen by God to this work than Moses, which otherwise was not so evident from the history; or this clause may belong to both Moses and…

His signs, Heb. the words of his signs; an emphatical expression. First they boldly declared the word and will of God concerning the several plagues, and then they actually inflicted them.

Either, 1. The darkness and other plagues; which obeyed God’s word, and instantly came at God’s call. So this may be a reflection upon the Egyptians, that those brutish or unreasonable creatures were more obedient to the will and command of God than they were.

Their land; their country; for otherwise they were produced by their rivers, Ex. 8:3. In the chambers; which entered into the chambers. Of their kings; of Pharaoh and his sons, and his chief nobles and governors of provinces under him; for such persons are oft called kings in Scripture, Judg.

Or, borders, i.e. in all their land, even to the utmost ends or borders of it.

To wit, their first-born, as it is in the first clause, who are so called, Gen. 49:3, Ps. 78:51, and the beginning of their strength, Deut. 21:17.

Feeble person; diseased or unable for his journey; which in so vast a body, and in a time of such mortality as it had been in Egypt, and in a people which had been so long and so dreadfully oppressed as the Israelites were, was wonderful; but they all journeyed on foot, Ex. 12:37.

Of them, i.e. of the Israelites, lest God for their sakes should destroy them.

For a covering, to protect them from the heat of the sun, which in that hot and open country had otherwise been intolerable to them, especially in so long a journey.

He speaks of the first giving of quails, Ex. 16:13, which God gave them as a refreshment, notwithstanding their sin in desiring them, which he graciously pardoned; and not of that second giving of quails, which God gave them in judgment, Num.

They flowed in channels which God provided for them, and followed the Israelite’s in their march, as is noted, 1 Cor. 10:4. Hence they complained no more of want of water till they came to Kadesh, Num. 20:0, which was many years after this time.

Or rather, with (as this particle is oft used) Abraham; made with or to Abraham.

The fruits of their labour, their cities, vineyards, olive, yards, &c.