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Title = 'The Book of Psalms';
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<p id="Chapter78" align="center">Commentary by A. R. FAUSSET<br>PSALM 78
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<p id="Ps78_1"><a onclick="return mV('Psa',78,'1-72');">Psa 78:1-72</a>. <p>This Psalm appears to have been occasioned by the removal of the sanctuary from Shiloh in the tribe of Ephraim to Zion in the tribe of Judah, and the coincident transfer of pre-eminence in Israel from the former to the latter tribe, as clearly evinced by David's settlement as the head of the Church and nation. Though this was the execution of God's purpose, the writer here shows that it also proceeded from the divine judgment on Ephraim, under whose leadership the people had manifested the same sinful and rebellious character which had distinguished their ancestors in Egypt.
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<p><b>1. my people...my law</b>—the language of a religious teacher (<a onclick="return mV('Psa',78,2);">Psa 78:2</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Lam',3,14);">Lam 3:14</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Rom',2,16,27);">Rom 2:16, 27</a>; compare <a onclick="return mV('Psa',49,4);">Psa 49:4</a>). The history which follows was a "dark saying," or riddle, if left unexplained, and its right apprehension required wisdom and attention.
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<p id="Ps78_3"><b>3-8.</b> This history had been handed down (<a onclick="return mV('Exd',12,14);">Exd 12:14</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Deu',6,20);">Deu 6:20</a>) for God's honor, and that the principles of His law might be known and observed by posterity. This important sentiment is reiterated in (<a onclick="return mV('Psa',78,7,8);">Psa 78:7-8</a>) negative form.
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<p id="Ps78_5"><b>5. testimony</b>— (<a onclick="return mV('Psa',19,7);">Psa 19:7</a>).
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<p id="Ps78_8"><b>8. stubborn and rebellious</b>— (<a onclick="return mV('Deu',21,'18-21');">Deu 21:18-21</a>).
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<br><br><b>set not their heart</b>—on God's service (<a onclick="return mV('2Ch',12,14);">2Ch 12:14</a>).
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<p id="Ps78_9"><b>9-11.</b> The privileges of the first-born which belonged to Joseph (<a onclick="return mV('1Ch',5,1,2);">1Ch 5:1-2</a>) were assigned to Ephraim by Jacob (<a onclick="return mV('Gen',48,1);">Gen 48:1</a>). The supremacy of the tribe thus intimated was recognized by its position (in the marching of the nation to Canaan) next to the ark (<a onclick="return mV('Num',2,'18-24');">Num 2:18-24</a>), by the selection of the first permanent locality for the ark within its borders at Shiloh, and by the extensive and fertile province given for its possession. Traces of this prominence remained after the schism under Rehoboam, in the use, by later writers, of <i>Ephraim</i> for <i>Israel</i> (compare <a onclick="return mV('Hsa',5,'3-14');">Hsa 5:3-14</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Hsa',11,'3-12');">11:3-12</a>). Though a strong, well-armed tribe, and, from an early period, emulous and haughty (compare <a onclick="return mV('Jos',17,14);">Jos 17:14</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Jdg',8,'1-3');">Jdg 8:1-3</a>; <a onclick="return mV('2Sa',19,41);">2Sa 19:41</a>), it appears, in this place, that it had rather led the rest in cowardice than courage; and had incurred God's displeasure, because, diffident of His promise, though often heretofore fulfilled, it had failed as a leader to carry out the terms of the covenant, by not driving out the heathen (<a onclick="return mV('Exd',23,24);">Exd 23:24</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Deu',31,16);">Deu 31:16</a>; <a onclick="return mV('2Ki',17,15);">2Ki 17:15</a>).
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<p id="Ps78_12"><b>12-14.</b> A record of God's dealings and the sins of the people is now made. The writer gives the history from the exode [Exodus] to the retreat from Kadesh; then contrasts their sins with their reasons for confidence, shown by a detail of God's dealings in Egypt, and presents a summary of the subsequent history to David's time.
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<br><br><b>Zoan</b>—for Egypt, as its ancient capital (<a onclick="return mV('Num',13,22);">Num 13:22</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Isa',19,11);">Isa 19:11</a>).
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<p id="Ps78_15"><b>15, 16.</b> There were two similar miracles (<a onclick="return mV('Exd',17,6);">Exd 17:6</a>; <a href= "#" onclick="return mV('Num',20,11);">Num 20:11</a>).
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<br><br><b>great depths</b>—and—<b>rivers</b>—denote abundance.
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<p id="Ps78_17"><b>17-20. yet more</b>—literally, "added to sin," instead of being led to repentance (<a onclick="return mV('Rom',2,4);">Rom 2:4</a>).
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<br><br><b>provoking</b>—and—<b>tempted</b>—illustrated by their absurd doubts,
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<p id="Ps78_18"><b>18. in their heart</b>— (<a onclick="return mV('Mat',15,19);">Mat 15:19</a>).
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<br><br><b>for their lust</b>—literally, "soul," or, "desire."
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<p id="Ps78_19"><b>19, 20.</b> in the face of His admitted power.
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<p id="Ps78_21"><b>21. fire</b>—the effect of the "anger" (<a href= "#" onclick="return mV('Num',11,1);">Num 11:1</a>).
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<p id="Ps78_22"><b>22.</b> (Compare <a onclick="return mV('Hbr',8,8,9);">Hbr 8:8-9</a>).
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<p id="Ps78_23"><b>23-29.</b> (Compare <a onclick="return mV('Exd',16,'11-15');">Exd 16:11-15</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Num',11,'4-9');">Num 11:4-9</a>).
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<p id="Ps78_25"><b>25. angels' food</b>—literally, "bread of the mighty" (compare <a onclick="return mV('Psa',105,40);">Psa 105:40</a>); so called, as it came from heaven.
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<br><br><b>meat</b>—literally, "victuals," as for a journey.
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<p id="Ps78_29"><b>29. their...desire</b>—what they longed for.
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<p id="Ps78_30"><b>30, 31. not estranged...lust</b>—or, "desire"—that is, were indulging it.
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<p id="Ps78_31"><b>31. slew...fattest</b>—or, "among the fattest"; some of them—
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<br><br><b>chosen</b>—the young and strong (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',40,31);">Isa 40:31</a>), and so none could resist.
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<p id="Ps78_33"><b>33-39.</b> Though there were partial reformations after chastisement, and God, in pity, withdrew His hand for a time, yet their general conduct was rebellious, and He was thus provoked to waste and destroy them, by long and fruitless wandering in the desert.
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<p id="Ps78_36"><b>36. lied...tongues</b>—a feigned obedience (<a onclick="return mV('Psa',18,44);">Psa 18:44</a>).
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<p id="Ps78_37"><b>37. heart...not right</b>—or, "firm" (compare <a onclick="return mV('Psa',78,8);">Psa 78:8</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Psa',51,10);">Psa 51:10</a>).
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<p id="Ps78_39"><b>39. a wind...again</b>—literally, "a breath," thin air (compare <a onclick="return mV('Psa',103,16);">Psa 103:16</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Jam',4,14);">Jam 4:14</a>).
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<p id="Ps78_40"><b>40, 41.</b> There were ten temptations (<a href= "#" onclick="return mV('Num',14,22);">Num 14:22</a>).
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<p id="Ps78_41"><b>41. limited</b>—as in <a onclick="return mV('Psa',78,19,20);">Psa 78:19-20</a>. Though some prefer "grieved" or "provoked." The retreat from Kadesh (<a onclick="return mV('Deu',1,'19-23');">Deu 1:19-23</a>) is meant, whether—
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<br><br><b>turned</b>—be for turning back, or to denote repetition of offense.
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<p id="Ps78_43"><b>43. wrought</b>—set or held forth.
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<p id="Ps78_45"><b>45.</b> The dog-fly or the mosquito.
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<p id="Ps78_46"><b>46. caterpillar</b>—the <i>Hebrew</i> name, from its voracity, and that of—
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<br><br><b>locust</b>—from its multitude.
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<p id="Ps78_47"><b>47, 48.</b> The additional effects of the storm here mentioned (compare <a onclick="return mV('Exd',9,'23-34');">Exd 9:23-34</a>) are consistent with Moses' account.
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<p id="Ps78_48"><b>48. gave...cattle</b>—literally, "shut up" (compare <a onclick="return mV('Psa',31,8);">Psa 31:8</a>).
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<p id="Ps78_49"><b>49. evil angels</b>—or, "angels of evil"—many were perhaps employed, and other evils inflicted.
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<p id="Ps78_50"><b>50, 51. made a way</b>—removed obstacles, gave it full scope.
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<p id="Ps78_51"><b>51. chief of their strength</b>—literally, "first-fruits," or, "first-born" (<a onclick="return mV('Gen',49,3);">Gen 49:3</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Deu',21,17);">Deu 21:17</a>).
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<br><br><b>Ham</b>—one of whose sons gave name (<i>Mizraim, Hebrew</i>) to Egypt.
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<p id="Ps78_52"><b>52-54. made his...forth</b>—or, brought them by periodical journeys (compare <a onclick="return mV('Exd',15,1);">Exd 15:1</a>).
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<p id="Ps78_54"><b>54. border of his sanctuary</b>—or, "holy border"—
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<br><br><b>this mountain</b>—(Zion) was, as the seat of civil and religious government, the representative, used for the whole land, as afterwards for the Church (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',25,6,7);">Isa 25:6-7</a>).
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<br><br><b>purchased</b>—or, "procured by His right hand" or power (<a onclick="return mV('Psa',60,5);">Psa 60:5</a>).
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<p id="Ps78_55"><b>55. by line</b>—or, the portion thus measured.
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<br><br><b>divided them</b>—that is, the heathen, put for their possessions, so tents—that is, of the heathen (compare <a onclick="return mV('Deu',6,11);">Deu 6:11</a>).
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<p id="Ps78_56"><b>56, 57. a deceitful bow</b>—which turns back, and so fails to project the arrow (<a onclick="return mV('2Sa',1,22);">2Sa 1:22</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Hsa',7,16);">Hsa 7:16</a>). They relapsed.
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<p id="Ps78_58"><b>58.</b> Idolatry resulted from sparing the heathen (compare <a onclick="return mV('Psa',78,'9-11');">Psa 78:9-11</a>).
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<p id="Ps78_59"><b>59, 60. heard</b>—perceived (<a onclick="return mV('Gen',11,7);">Gen 11:7</a>).
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<br><br><b>abhorred</b>—but not utterly.
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<p id="Ps78_60"><b>60. tent...placed</b>—literally, "caused to dwell," set up (<a onclick="return mV('Jos',18,1);">Jos 18:1</a>).
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<p id="Ps78_61"><b>61. his strength</b>—the ark, as symbolical of it (<a onclick="return mV('Psa',96,6);">Psa 96:6</a>).
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<p id="Ps78_62"><b>62. gave</b>—or, "shut up."
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<br><br><b>his people</b>— (<a onclick="return mV('Psa',78,48);">Psa 78:48</a>; <a onclick="return mV('1Sa',4,'10-17');">1Sa 4:10-17</a>).
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<p id="Ps78_63"><b>63. fire</b>—either figure of the slaughter (<a onclick="return mV('1Sa',4,10);">1Sa 4:10</a>), or a literal burning by the heathen.
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<br><br><b>given to marriage</b>—literally, "praised"—that is, as brides.
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<p id="Ps78_64"><b>64.</b> (Compare <a onclick="return mV('1Sa',4,17);">1Sa 4:17</a>); and there were, doubtless, others.
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<br><br><b>made no lamentation</b>—either because stupefied by grief, or hindered by the enemy.
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<p id="Ps78_65"><b>65.</b> (Compare <a onclick="return mV('Psa',22,16);">Psa 22:16</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Isa',42,13);">Isa 42:13</a>).
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<p id="Ps78_66"><b>66. And he smote...part</b>—or, "struck His enemies' back." The Philistines never regained their position after their defeats by David.
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<p id="Ps78_67"><b>67, 68. tabernacle of Joseph</b>—or, "home," or, "tribe," to which—
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<br><br><b>tribe of Ephraim</b>—is parallel (compare <a onclick="return mV('Rev',7,8);">Rev 7:8</a>). Its pre-eminence was, like Saul's, only permitted. Judah had been the choice (<a onclick="return mV('Gen',49,10);">Gen 49:10</a>).
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<p id="Ps78_69"><b>69.</b> Exalted as—
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<br><br><b>high palaces</b>—or, "mountains," and abiding as—<i>the earth.</i>
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<p id="Ps78_70"><b>70-72.</b> God's sovereignty was illustrated in this choice. The contrast is striking—humility and exaltation—and the correspondence is beautiful.
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<p id="Ps78_71"><b>71. following...ewes,</b> etc.—literally, "ewes giving suck" (compare <a onclick="return mV('Isa',40,11);">Isa 40:11</a>). On the pastoral terms, compare <a onclick="return mV('Psa',79,13);">Psa 79:13</a>.
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