*H Alleluia. GIVE glory to the Lord, and call upon his name: declare his deeds among the Gentiles.
Ver. 1. Alleluia. This word occurs at the end of the preceding psalm in Heb. and means, "Praise ye the Lord," though it is also used as an exclamation of joy; for which reason it is left untranslated. See Apoc. xx. S. Aug. ep. ad Casulan. C. — It implies that we must praise God with all our power; and Catholic writers retain this (W.) and similar words in the original. H. — The first 15 verses of this psalm nearly agree with that which was composed by David, when the ark was to be removed from the house of Obededon. 1 Par. xvi. 8. 22. H. — But the last part seems to have been added by him, or by another afterwards, with some small alterations. Bert. — It was perhaps adapted to the dedication of the second temple, with the two following psalms. C. — Gentiles. Their conversion is thus insinuated. C. — The apostles preached to all. Euseb. — How much more ought we not to celebrate the mysteries of Christ? W.
* Footnote * 1_Paralipomenon 16 : 8
Praise ye the Lord, and call upon his name: make known his doings among the nations.* Footnote * Isaias 12 : 4
And you shall say in that day: Praise ye the Lord, and call upon his name: make his works known among the people: remember that his name is high.*H Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.
Ver. 3. Glory. 2 Cor. x. 17. Euseb. — Lit. "be praised," (H.) knowing to what an honor you have been raised, (Deut. xxx. 7. Jer. ix. 23.) and live accordingly.
*H Seek ye the lord, and be strengthened: seek his face evermore.
Ver. 4. Evermore. Be assiduous to obtain his favour, and present yourselves in his holy temple as often as you are able. C.
*H O ye seed of Abraham his servant; ye sons of Jacob his chosen.
Ver. 6. His servant. Or "servants." Sept. Vulg. is ambiguous. Heb. declared for servant here; but, his chosen, is certainly plural, and refers to all the people, and 1 Par. xvi. 13. we read, seed of Israel, his servants. H.
*H He hath remembered his covenant for ever: the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.
Ver. 8. Generations. Or from the call of Abraham. But this was to be understood if the Israelites continued faithful, (Deut. xxviii.) or the promise regards the spiritual children of Abraham, who are blessed for ever, (Bert.) and continue to the end of the world. H.
* Footnote * Genesis 22 : 16
By my own self have I sworn, saith the Lord: because thou hast done this thing, and hast not spared thy only begotten son for my sake:*H Saying: To thee will I give the land of Chanaan, the lot of your inheritance.
Ver. 11. Lot. Lit. "line," with which land was measured. C. — The descendants of the patriarchs would never have lost this inheritance if they had observed the law. The promise was therefore conditional; though it was absolute, in as much as all were to be blessed in their seed: as they had begun to be, when Jerusalem was destroyed by Titus.
*H When they were but a small number: yea very few, and sojourners therein:
Ver. 12. Very few. Heb. "as it were reduced to nothing," to avoid a tautology. Bert. — But this version is not necessary. H. — Jacob at this time was not married, (Bert.) and his parents had no part of the land. This manifests the power of God, and the faith of the patriarchs, (C.) who doubted not but that he would realize what he had promises. H.
*H And they passed from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people.
Ver. 13. People. This seems to be a fresh obstacle to their possession of Chanaan. C.
*H Touch ye not my anointed: and do no evil to my prophets.
Ver. 15. Prophets. The word anointed is thus explained, as the patriarchs were not kings over any but their own families, though they were equal in riches to many kings. They foresaw future events, and offered sacrifice to God, as priests, in which sense also they may be styled anointed. No visible unction, but the divine appointment, might be requisite. God protected them in a wonderful manner, and selected them for his peculiar people. C. Heb. xi. 8.
* Footnote * 2_Kings 1 : 14
David said to him: Why didst thou not fear to put out thy hand to kill the Lord's anointed?* Footnote * 1_Paralipomenon 16 : 22
Touch not my anointed: and do no evil to my prophets.*H And he called a famine upon the land: and he broke in pieces all the support of bread.
Ver. 16. And. The psalmist continues to mention the favours of God, till the Israelites entered the promised land, which the author of 1 Par. xvi. passes over. H. — Bread. In time of famine, people are not strengthened with their food. Euseb. Ezec. iv. 16. and v. 16. — God permitted, (W.) or caused the famine to rage.
*H He sent a man before them: Joseph, who was sold for a slave.
Ver. 17. He sent. Drawing good from the malice of Joseph's brethren, (H.) in which he had no hand. Bert. — Who could have thought that this event would have tended to Joseph's exaltation, and to the safety of his father's house?
* Footnote * Genesis 37 : 1
And Jacob dwelt in the land of Chanaan, wherein his father sojourned.*H They humbled his feet in fetters: the iron pierced his soul,
Ver. 18. Fetters. Heb. cebel, (H.) "a chain, or the stocks." The meaning is not ascertained. C. — Soul. Lu. ii. 35. He was in great distress, (H.) and in danger of perishing. Theod.
* Footnote * Genesis 39 : 20
And cast Joseph into the prison, where the king's prisoners were kept, and he was there shut up.*H Until his word came. The word of the Lord inflamed him.
Ver. 19. His word. By which he foretold his own glory, or what should befall the king's two officers, which brought him into notice. Gen. xxxvii. 9. and xl. 22. His word, may also refer to God's decree. C. — Inflamed him. He received the gift of prophecy, (H.) and being inflamed with the love of God, resisted the solicitations of Putiphar's wife.
* Footnote * Genesis 41 : 14
Forthwith at the king's command Joseph was brought out of the prison, and they shaved him: and changing his apparel brought him in to him.*H That he might instruct his princes as himself, and teach his ancients wisdom.
Ver. 22. Instruct. Heb. "bind" by precepts or chains, (Bert.) as he had all power. — Wisdom. Joseph was considered as the oracle of Egypt, and the prime minister. C. — We cannot doubt but he would strive to undeceive the people with regard to many superstitions. Theod. S. Aug.
*H And Israel went into Egypt: and Jacob was a sojourner in the land of Cham.
Ver. 23. Cham. Who resided there, and was worshipped under the name of Jupiter Ammon. Bochart, Phaleg. iv. 1. C. — Misraim was his son, and peopled the land. Gen. x. 13. W.
* Footnote * Genesis 46 : 6
And all that he had in the land of Chanaan: and he came into Egypt with all his seed;*H And he increased his people exceedingly: and strengthened them over their enemies.
Ver. 24. Exceedingly. In 215 years, 600,000 warriors sprung from seventy people, (C.) or from seventy-five, as Sept. and S. Stephen read, comprising eight wives, Jacob, and sixty-six of his descendants. Seventy might naturally produce two million and a half in such a space of time. But the Hebrews had been cruelly oppressed. God's blessing enabled them to increase as they did. Bert.
* Footnote * Exodus 1 : 7
The children of Israel increased, and sprung up into multitudes, and growing exceedingly strong they filled the land.* Footnote * Acts 7 : 17
And when the time of the promise drew near, which God had promised to Abraham, the people increased and were multiplied in Egypt.*H He turned their heart to hate his people: and to deal deceitfully with his servants.
Ver. 25. He turned their heart, &c. Not that God (who is never the author of sin) moved the Egyptians to hate and persecute his people; but that the Egyptians took occasion of hating and envying them, from the sight of the benefits which God bestowed upon them. Ch. S. Aug. — He permitted the malice of the Egyptians, (Theod.) and employed them to chastise his people, who had adored idols. Euseb. Acts vii. 43. Felix, Prot. &c. translate the Heb. "their heart was turned." Bert. — The perversity of the Egyptians came from themselves, though it was turned to a good account. W.
* Footnote * Exodus 3 : 10
But come, and I will send thee to Pharao, that thou mayst bring forth my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.*H He gave them power to shew them signs, and his wonders in the land of Cham.
Ver. 27. He gave. Heb. "they placed in them the words of their signs." C. Houbig. — But the Chal. and S. Jerom are conformable to the Sept. Bert.
* Footnote * Exodus 7 : 10
So Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharao, and did as the Lord had commanded. And Aaron took the rod before Pharao and his servants, and it was turned into a serpent.*H He sent darkness, and made it obscure: and grieved not his words.
Ver. 28. Grieved not his words. That is, he was not wanting to fulfil his words: or he did not grieve Moses and Aaron, the carriers of his words: or he did not grieve his words, that is, his sons, the children of Israel, who enjoyed light whilst the Egyptians were oppressed with darkness. Ch. — He performed what he had threatened without reluctance. W. — We may also translate, "he added no threat (H.) before this ninth plague was inflicted." Heb. "and they did not irritate (or transgress) his word." The envoys of God were obedient to him. The copies of the Sept. are not uniform; (C.) some omit the negation, which would give a very good sense; though it must be allowed to be inaccurate, unless the Heb. be read with an interrogation, "did they not resist his word?" alluding to the Egyptians. Bert. — Almost all the ancients have the plural exacerbaverunt, except S. Jerom, in his commentary. C.
* Footnote * Exodus 10 : 21
And the Lord said to Moses: Stretch out thy hand towards heaven: and may there be darkness upon the land of Egypt so thick that it may be felt.*H He turned their waters into blood, and destroyed their fish.
Ver. 29. Blood. In reality, so that the fishes were killed. S. Athan.
* Footnote * Exodus 7 : 20
And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord had commanded: and lifting up the rod, he struck the water of the river before Pharao and his servants: and it was turned into blood.*H Their land brought forth frogs, in the inner chambers of their kings.
Ver. 30. Land. Including the rivers. Ex. vii. 1. and viii. 3. — Kings, or noblemen. Bert.
* Footnote * Exodus 8 : 6
And Aaron stretched forth his hand upon the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.*H He spoke, and there came divers sorts of flies and sciniphs in all their coasts.
Ver. 31. Flies. This was revealed to David, or known by tradition, as it is not recorded by Moses. W. — Some copies of the Sept. have, "the dog-fly," cinifes (Ex. viii. 16.) gnats, (H.) which are very common and tormenting in Egypt. The Jews understand lice. Joseph and the Chal. C.
* Footnote * Exodus 8 : 16
And the Lord said to Moses: Say to Aaron: Stretch forth thy rod, and strike the dust of the earth; and may there be sciniphs in all the land of Egypt.* Footnote * Exodus 8 : 24
And the Lord did so. And there came a very grievous swarm of flies into the houses of Pharao and of his servants, and into all the land of Egypt: and the land was corrupted by this kind of flies.*H He gave them hail for rain, a burning fire in the land.
Ver. 32. Rain. Which fall in Egypt, though less frequently. C. Wisd. xvi. 17.
*H He spoke, and the locust came, and the bruchus, of which there was no number.
Ver. 34. Bruchus. An insect of the locust kind, (Ch.) or a worm which spoils corn, &c. W.
* Footnote * Exodus 10 : 12
And the Lord said to Moses: Stretch forth thy hand upon the land of Egypt unto the locust, that it come upon it, and devour every herb that is left after the hail.*H And he slew all the firstborn in their land: the firstfruits of all their labour.
Ver. 36. Labour. This explains the first part of the verse. Gen. xlix. 3. Ps. lxxvii. 51. H. — The fifth and sixth plagues are not specified. W.
* Footnote * Exodus 12 : 29
And it came to pass at midnight, the Lord slew every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharao, who sat on his throne, unto the firstborn of the captive woman that was in the prison, and all the firstborn of cattle.*H And he brought them out with silver and gold: and there was not among their tribes one that was feeble.
Ver. 37. Gold. Which the Egyptians gave to get quit of them, (Ex. xi. 1.) and that with joy, (v. 38.) though they might at first only intend to lend. S. Aug. Bert. — Feeble. This refutes the notion which the enemies of the Jews had propagated, saying that they were banished on account of the leprosy. They felt none of the inconveniences which fell on the Egyptians, and God removed every obstacle which might retard their flight. C. — According to the course of nature, out of two million and a half, 150 people die daily. Bert.
* Footnote * Exodus 12 : 35
And the children of Israel did as Moses had commanded: and they asked of the Egyptians vessels of silver and gold, and very much raiment.* Footnote * Exodus 13 : 21
And the Lord went before them to shew the way, by day in a pillar of a cloud, and by night in a pillar of fire; that he might be the guide of their journey at both times.* Footnote * Psalms 77 : 14
And he conducted them with a cloud by day: and all the night with a light of fire.* Footnote * 1_Corinthians 10 : 1
For I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud: and all passed through the sea.*H They asked, and the quail came: and he filled them with the bread of heaven.
Ver. 40. Asked. Chal. and ancient psalters add, "for meat." Heb. "he (Moses or all the people) asked, and the quail came," at Sin. Ex. xvi. 13.
* Footnote * Exodus 16 : 13
So it came to pass in the evening, that quails coming up, covered the camp: and in the morning a dew lay round about the camp.*H He opened the rock, and waters flowed: rivers ran down in the dry land.
Ver. 41. Rivers. The waters from the rock were so abundant. C. Ex. xvii. 6. Bert.
* Footnote * Numbers 20 : 11
And when Moses bad lifted up his hand, and struck the rock twice with the rod, there came forth water in great abundance, so that the people and their cattle drank,* Footnote * Genesis 17 : 7
And I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and between thy seed after thee in their generations, by a perpetual covenant: to be a God to thee, and to thy seed after thee.*H And he gave them the lands of the Gentiles: and they possessed the labours of the people:
Ver. 44. People. Whose crimes have deserved death. Num. xxxiii. 51. Deut. vii. 5. C.
*H That they might observe his justifications, and seek after his law.
Ver. 45. His justifications. That is, his commandments: which here, and in many other places of the Scripture, are called justifications, because the keeping of them make men just. The Protestants render it by the word statutes, in favour of their doctrine, which does not allow good works to justify. Ch. — The design of God in granting Chanaan to the Israelites, was to encourage them to preserve the true religion. C.