INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 114 The title of this psalm in the Arabic version is "hallelujah", as in some preceding ones; it is part of the great "Hallel" sung at the passover, and with great propriety; since the subject matter of it is the departure of the children of Israel out of Egypt, typical of our... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN ISRAEL WENT OUT OF EGYPT,.... The people of Israel in a body, publicly, openly, and not by stealth; freely and willingly, not forced and drove out; though urged by the Egyptians to go, through the hand of God upon them; and so went out with the mighty hand and outstretched arm of the Lord, and... [ Continue Reading ]
JUDAH WAS HIS SANCTUARY,.... Meaning not the tribe of Judah only, though that in many things had the preeminence; the kingdom belonging to it, the chief ruler being out of it, especially the Messiah; its standard was pitched and moved first; it offered first to the service of the Lord; and the Jews... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SEA SAW IT, AND FLED,.... When the Word of the Lord appeared at it, as the Targum in the king's Bible; the Red sea, to which the Israelites came when they went out of Egypt; this saw that Judah was the Lord's holy and peculiar people, and that Israel were the subjects of his kingdom; it saw the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MOUNTAINS SKIPPED LIKE RAMS,.... The mountains of Sinai and Horeb quaked and moved at the presence of the Lord, when he descended thereon to give the law; these saw his glory and trembled, Exodus 19:18. AND THE LITTLE HILLS LIKE LAMBS; very beautiful are the larger mountains of Sinai and Horeb... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT AILED THEE, O THOU SEA, THAT THOU FLEDDEST?.... What was the matter with thee? what appeared to thee? what didst thou see? what didst thou feel, which caused thee to flee in such haste? THOU JORDAN, THAT THOU WAST DRIVEN BACK? what is the meaning that thou didst not continue to flow as usual?... [ Continue Reading ]
YE MOUNTAINS, THAT YE SKIPPED LIKE RAMS,.... Not for joy, but fear; what caused these trembling motions, these violent agitations, and quakings, and movings to and fro like the skipping of rams? AND YE LITTLE HILLS, LIKE LAMBS? what was it that disturbed you, and put you into a panic, that you skip... [ Continue Reading ]
TREMBLE, THOU EARTH, AT THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD,.... Or, "the earth has trembled at the presence of the Lord"; so the Syriac and Arabic versions render it; the imperative is sometimes put for the preterite or past tense, see Psalms 22:9, likewise the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions thus rende... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH TURNED THE ROCK INTO A STANDING WATER,.... Both at Rephidim and at Kadesh; which being smitten, streams of water flowed out like rivers, as if the rock itself was changed into water; and which came a constant and continual supply for the Israelites, for it is said to follow them; see Exodus 17... [ Continue Reading ]