Commentary on Psalms Volume 2 John Calvin
COMMENTARY ON PSALMS - VOLUME 2
Misraim, who gave the name to the country, was the son of Ham, Genesis 10:6. Farther, there is here celebrated the free love of God towards the posterity of Shem, as manifested in his preferring them to all the children of Ham, although they were possessed of no intrinsic excellence which might render them worthy of such a distinction.
Psalm 78:52-58
52. And he made his people to go forth like sheep, and led them in the wilderness like a flock. 53. And he conducted them in safety, and they were not afraid: and the sea covered their enemies. 54. And he brought them to his holy border, [literally to the border of his holiness,] this mountain, 834 which his right hand acquired. 835 55. He expelled the heathen from before them; and made them to fall into their part of the inheritance; 836 and made the children of Israel to dwell in their tents. 56. And they tempted and provoked the Most High God, and kept not his testimonies. 57. And they turned back and dealt treacherously, like their fathers: they turned back, like a deceitful bow. 837 58. And they provoked him to anger with their high places; and moved him to anger with their graven images.
"This mountain, i.e., Zion; which the Psalmist might point to with his finger." — Dimock.
"Ou, possedee." — Fr. marg. "Or, possessed."
"Perhaps for,נחלהwe should read' ,נחלםand he made them fall in the lot of their inheritance.' For it has been by some learned men conjectured, that the land of Canaan was originally the allotment of Heber and his descendants, and that the Canaanites had obtained it by force and violence; for which reason amongst others, they were expelled from it, and the Hebrews reinstated. See Genesis 11:15; 13:15; 1 Chronicles 1:24-27; and Bryant's Obs. But see Psalm 105:11, 12, 44, and Psalm 111:7." — Dimock
",רמיה כקשתlike a deceitful bow This comparison does not seem to convey a suitable idea either here or Hosea 7:16. Might we then venture to read in both places' כאשתlike a deceitful woman?' backsliding Israel being often represented under the character of an adulteress. See Ezekiel 16:32. And the last line of the next verse strongly countenances this reading: 'and they made him jealous with their images.' See Exodus 20:5." — Dimock There is, however, no necessity for this conjectural emendation. The image employed is natural enough. "The Eastern bow," says Dr Adam Clarke, "which, when at rest, is in the form of a, וסבmust be recurred, or turned the contrary way, in order to be what is called bent and strung If a person who is unskilful or weak attempt to recurve and string one of these bows, if he take not great heed, it will spring back and regain its quiescent position, and perhaps break his arm. And sometimes I have known it, when bent, to start aside — regain its quiescent position — to my no small danger; and, in one or two cases, to my injury. This image is frequently used in the Sacred Writings; but no person has understood it, not being acquainted with the Eastern recurved bow, which must be bent the contrary way, in order to be proper for use These Israelites, when brought out of their natural bent, soon recoiled, and relapsed into their former state."