Psalms 78

Psalms 78:1

THE title, [Maschil] see Psal. 32. in the title. My Law] the Italian, doctrine, the Hebrew, Law.

Psalms 78:4

Shewing to thee] or they, namely the generation to come shall tell the praises, &c.

Psalms 78:5

A testimony] namely the Law, and the tables thereof, see Exod. 16. 34. and 25. 21.

Psalms 78:9

The children] hee hath a reference to the children of Israels discomfiture by the Philistines, 1 Samuel 4:10. and specifieth the Tribe of Epharim; as well for the might and valour of it, which gave it a superioritie above the rest, as also because that the Ark of the Lord was then residing in Siloh a city of Ephraim, from whence it was transported to Judah; and for this cause, and by reason of Davids being chosen King, Iudah became the head of the other Tribes; and so the people was established in peace and blessing, which is the chiefe subject of this Psalme, see vers. 60. 6. 68.

Psalms 78:12

Zoan] a very ancient city of Egypt, Numbers 13:22. Isaiah 19:13. Ezech. 30. 14. Named by other authors, Thanez.

Psalms 78:16

Streames] for out of that water issued a streame which went along with the people, even ininto the land of Canaan. Deuteronomy 9:21. Psal. 105. 41. 1 Corinthians 10:4.

Psalms 78:23

Opened] a figurative terme to expresse an extreame plenty sent from above, as Genesis 7:11. 2 Kings 7:2.

Psalms 78:24

The 〈◊〉] namely, a kinde of food which was in stead of bread.

Psalms 78:25

Angels food] Hebrew, the food of the mighty, which was an epithet given to the Angels Psal. 89. 6. and 103. 20. that is to say, a food that seemed rather Angelicall, and celestiall, then earthly; as well by reason of it origine, parity, and perfection; as for the efficacie of it, to preserve the body in perfect health and strength by Gods speciall appointment, in those who did not by their distrust or rebellion make it of no efficacie: [He sent them] in his wrath he would satisfie, their unbounded desires, though hee had before provided for their necessities:[Meat] namely, quailes whereof hee speaks afterward.

Psalms 78:27

Rained] made it to fall out of the ayre, as thick as any raine.

Psalms 78:28

Of their Camp] or in his Camp God being in his Tabernacle in the middest of his people, as a generall of an Army.

Psalms 78:30

They were not] their lust was not yet satisfied, though they had eaten flesh a whole month, Num. 11. 20. 33.

Psalms 78:31

The fattest] that is to say, the lustiest, and mightiest, the choyce of the people, as Iudg. 3. 29. Or the chiefe, and most renowned, as Psal. 22. 29.

Psalms 78:33

In vanity] that is to say, in long fruitlesse labours, wandering in the wildernesse, being not able to come into the land of Canaan which was the end of their journy, Numbers 14:25. Others, reducing them to nothing. Others, in a moment. [In trouble] the Italian, 〈◊〉 terrors, namely, in perpetuall fears of Gods judgements, and of death, which they were undoubtedly to suffer in the wildernesse, according as God had threatned them, Num. 14. 23. 29. Others, suddenly.

Psalms 78:34

They sought him] they were converted unto him, and sought him.

Psalms 78:36

Flatter him] that is to say, they sought to re-obtaine his favour by fained prayers, confessions, and prorestations.

Psalms 78:38

F〈…〉ve] the Italian, cleansed, that is to say, pardoned them as if they had been sufficiently cleansed, saving the common people from corporall punishments, and as for his Elect, applying the promised redeemers bloud unto them, to cleanse them from all iniquity, and free them from everlasting punishment: [Stirre up] did not punish, with extreame rigor, see Za. 1. 15.

Psalms 78:39

But flesh] that is to say, sinners, of a corrupt nature, Genesis 6:3. Iohn 3. 6. mortall and corruptible, wherefore their misery moved the Lord to compassion, see Iob. 7. 16. and 10. 20. and 14. 6 Psal. 103 13.

Psalms 78:40

Grieve him] a 〈◊〉 taken from man, and his passions, to expresse a grievious offence, whereby God is alienated from man, as Psal. 95. 10. Isaiah 7:13. Ephes. 4 30.

Psalms 78:41

Limited] they would subject God unto their own wills, prescribing his works within certaine bounds of times, meanes, and other circumstances, see Psal. 106. 13. Ier. 49. 19. or restraining through incredulity his power, within the bounds of their naturall sense, by believing him no farther, then they were able to apprehend; or through their incredulity they hindered God from working any greater miracles for their deliverence, as Mark 6:5.

Psalms 78:42

They remembred not] the Psalmist seemes here to goe on againe with the matter left off, verse 12.

Psalms 78:47

Sycomore] a kinde of tree which by reason of the frequentnesse of it in Egypt, is called an Egyptian figge-tree: [With frost] or with haile stones.

Psalms 78:48

Gave up] left them to bee kild; and destroyed.

Psalms 78:49

Evill Angels] namely, devils, who being Princes of the ayre, caused these tempests.

Psalms 78:50

Made away] caused these calamities which were sent by him in his wrath, to showre down upon them without any stay or hinderance.

Psalms 78:51

The chiefe of] the Italian, the firstings, namely, their first-borne, according to the phrase of Scripture, see Genesis 49:3. [Of Ham] that is to say, of Egypt; for Mizraim father of theEgyptians, that gave Egypt its name, was the son of Ham, Genesis 10:6.

Psalms 78:53

They feared not] that is to say, without any reasonable cause of feare, being continually safe under Gods protect on, though they did alwayes through diffidence give themselves causes of feares and vaine terrors.

Psalms 78:54

Mountaine] namely, Sion, upon which Ierusalem stood, the chiese seat of Church and Kingdome; or the whole hill countrey of Israel.

Psalms 78:56

They tempted] this is the continuation of verse 42 [His testimonies] namely, his Lawes, Exod, 16. 34.

Psalms 78:57

Turned aside] that is to say, that whereas God led them by the hand, to direct their actions and motions to his obedience, they were turned aside even as a bow turning in the Archers hand when he is shooting, which causeth him to misse his aime, Hosea 7:16.

Psalms 78:58

High places] namely, Altars, Chappels, and such like places, to celebrate divine service in, out of the only place which was by him consecrated and was onely acceptable unto him, or peradventure also dedicated to Idols, and were so called because that they chose out the choicest hills for those purposes.

Psalms 78:60

He forsook] namely, when the Arke which was in Siloh was taken by the Phili〈…〉nes after which time it was never brought thither againe, nor into any place belonging to the tribe of Ephraim, see Ier. 7. 14.

Psalms 78:61

His strength] the Arke is oftentimes called the strength and glory of God, because it was as it were the throne of his glory upon earth, from whence hee shewed his power, see 1 Samuel 4:21. 1 Chronicles 16:11 Psal. 132. 8.

Psalms 78:62

His inheritance] his owne proper peculiar people, in which hee had gotten a particular and peculiar interest.

Psalms 78:63

The fire] that is to say, the wrath of God, or furie of watre: [Not given to marriage] the Italian, not praised, they had not been honoured with nuptiall songs according to the customes of those times, see Ier. 7. 34. and 16. 9. and 25. 10. The meaning is, they had not been honourably married, because that men were killed in the warres, Isaiah 4:1 e. 31. 22. Or they had been married without any solemnitie, like poore bond-women, or privately in the time of publike calamities.

Psalms 78:64

No lamentation] they had not made any funerall for their husbands, either because the conquering enemies did forbid, it, or because the miseries of the living caused them to forget the dead, see Iob 27. 15 Ezech. 24. 23.

Psalms 78:65

By reason of wine] the Italian, after wine, after he waked, and had evaporated his wine, or by reason of wine, that is say, having his hea full of wine, termes taken from souldiers heated with wine; yet no way blemishing Gods sacred Majesty.

Psalms 78:66

Hinder parts] namely, with the painefull and shamefull disease of Emerods, 1 Sam. 5. 6. 9. 12.

Psalms 78:67

Of Ioseph] namely, Siloh, of the Tribe of Ephraim, which Tribe descended from Ioseph, where the Arke was settled for a long time, vers. 60.

Psalms 78:68

Chose] to bee the place of residence for his Arke.

Psalms 78:71

Ewes great with young] the Italian, milch cattell, or great with young, of which your shepheards had an especiall care, see Genesis 3:1-24〈…〉 13 Isa 40:11.