The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 119

g1rve their beMts over to the murr11.in." -the abodes of the Hivitee, Hit.Htee, Amor• Th0ugh no "pestilence" ie expressly men- ites, Perizzites, Girgashites, nod Jebusites. tioned in Exod. xii. as having caused the Ver. 56.-Yet they tempted and provoked death of the firstborn, yet pcstiknce may the most high God (comp. above, rnr. 17), RFsurcdly have been the means employed. The Israelites continued to "tempt nnd Ver. 51.-A.nd smote all the flrstborn in provoke God" after they had obtained pos- Egypt (see Exod. xii. 29). The ohief of session of the Holy L1md, and divided it their strength in the ta.bemaoles of !lam ; among them (see Judg, ii. 11-1!}; iii. 12; or, "the beginning (literally, firstjruits) of iv. I; vi. I; x. G-15; xiii. 1, eto.). And their strength" (comp. Gen. xlix. 3). "The kept not his testimonies; or, hia ordi'11ance, tnbernacles of Hum" is a periphrasis for (Cheyne). "Egypt "-the Egyptians, according to the Ver. 57.-Bnt turned baok, and dealt un- nuthor of Genesis (Gen. x. 6), being de- faithfully like their fathers ( corn p. ver. 8, scendants of Ham (comp. Pss. cv. 23, 27; and the comment ad loo.). They were Yi. 22). There are no sufficient grounds for turned -~side like a deoeitful bow (comp. c-.onnecting the name of Ham either with Hos. vu. 16). A "deceitful bow" is one the Egyptian Kem, Kemi-the native name that fails in the hour of need, either break- for the country-or with Khem, one of the ing, or losing its strength, or sending its principal Egyptian gods. The literation arrows wide of the mark. is, no don bt, close in the latter case ; but Ver. 58.-For they provoked him to anger etymologists lay it dowu that close approxi- with their high plo.ces. The "high pince" mations are especially deceptive. worship was always displeasing to God. H Ver. 52.-Bnt made hie own people to go was, no doubt, deeply tinged with idolatry. forth like sheep (comp. Pss. lxxvii. 20; And moved him to jealousy with their graven. xcv. 7). And gnided them in the wilderness images. In the time of the Judges, both like a :!look. The guidance began from graven and molten images were employed Succoth, and was effected by means of the by the Israelites in a worship which they pillar of the cloud and the pillar of fue (see nevertheless regarded as the worship of Exod. xiii. 20-22). Jehovah (see the history of Micah in Judg. Ver. 53.-A.nd he led them on. safely, so xvii. and :xviii., especially eh. :xvii. 4, 13, e.nd cb. xviii. 14, 17, 18, 81). that they feared not (comp. Exod. xiv. 13- Ver. 59.-When God heard this, he we.a 22). At Pi-hahiroth they " were sore wroth (comp. above, ver. 21). And gree.tly afraid" (Exod. xiv. 10), but after Mosea abhorred Israel Not Israel, as distinct from had exhorted them (ver. 13), they showed Judah, but Israel in the broadest sense, the no more signs of fear. But the sea over- entire nation, as in ver. 55. whelmed their enemies (Exod. xiv. 26-31 ; Ver. 60.-So that he forsook the taber- xv. 1, 4, 10). nacle of Shiloh. The " tabernacle of the Ver. 54.-And he brought them to the congregation" was first set up under Joshua border of his sa.n.otne.ry. The "eanctue.ry " (Josh. xviii.) at Shiloh, a city of Ephraim, is here probably the Holy Le.nd, as in Exod. and here the national sanctuary conlinued xv. 17; or we may tralllllate iehp "1:IJ "hie throughout the period of the Judges (Judg. holy territory." Even to this moUD.tain. xviii. 31 ; xxi. 19; 1 Sam. i. 3, 24; ii. 14; Mount Zion, on whlch the writer regards iii. 21; iv. 4, etc.). God wos regarded as himsdf as Etanding while hie words are having" forsaken" this sanctuary, when he chanted in the temple service. Whlch his allowed the ark of the covenant, its chief right he.nd had purchased; or, had gotkn, treasure, to be taken (I Sam. iv. 11-22). "had won." God's right hand won the Subsequently, but at what exact time is un- whole la.nd for hie people. known, the tabernacle wns removed from Ver. 55.-He cast out the heathen also Shiloh to Nob (l So.m. xxi. 1), and later on before them (comp. Exod. xxxiv. 24; Dent. to Gibeon (1 King~ iii. 4). The tent which ,·ii. 1; 1 Kings x:xi. 26: Pe. xliv. 2, etc.). he pitched among mtn. (On the form and "They gat not the land in possession by materials of the taberoacle, see Exod. xxvi. tueir owu sword, neither did their own arm 1-37, encl compare Mr. Fergusson's article fave them; but God's right hand, and his on the subject in Smith'11 'Dictionnry of r:rm, e.nd the light of his countenance" (Ps. the Bible,' vol. iii. pp. 1451-1455.) i.Jiv. 3). And divided them an. inheritance Ver. 61.-And delivered his atrength into by line. The measuring-line, wliich was captivity, and his glory in.to the enemy'• employed in parcelling out territory, is in- hand. God's "strength" and "glory " ia tended (comp. Jer. .ux.i. 39; Amos vii. 17). the ark of the covenant (compare the ex- Joshua's d.iviBion of the le.nd (Josh. xv.- pression in 1 8am. iv. 21, 22, "The glory is xix.) among the tribt:B is specially pointed at. departed from lerael "). (l!'or the capture And ma.de the tribes of Israel to dwell in and "captivity" of the o.rk, eeo 1 80.w. iv, Lheir tent■; i.~. in the tents of the heathen 17, and v., vi,) PS, LXXVJII, 1-72.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 129