Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 68:26
Bless ye God in the congregations, [even] the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.
26. This verse is best regarded as a part of the processional hymn. Cp. Jdg 5:2; Jdg 5:9.
from the fountain of Israel ] Kay and Cheyne compare Psa 118:26, Psa 135:21, and suppose that ‘the fountain of Israel’ is the Temple. But it is better to render with R.V., and A.V. marg., (ye that are) of the fountain of Israel; the patriarch being regarded as the fountain-head from which the nation is derived. Cp. Isa 48:1, “O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah”; Psa 51:1-2; and Deu 33:28. The address reminds them of the privileges of their ancestry. It is however possible that the preposition from is an accidental repetition of the initial letter of the word for ‘fountain,’ and should be omitted. ‘The fountain of Israel’ will then be the Lord Himself, the source of His people’s life. Cp. Jer 2:13; Jer 17:13; Psa 36:9. The P.B.V. (Great Bible, not Coverdale) Give thanks, O Israel, unto God the Lord in the congregations, from the ground of the heart appears to be due to a misunderstanding of Mnster’s In congregalionibus benedicite deo atque domino ex origine ( cordis) Israel, Israel being wrongly taken as a vocative.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Bless ye God in the congregations – In the assemblages of the people; not only as individuals, but in solemn precessions; in triumphal marches; when the people are assembled together. In this public manner acknowledge God as the true God, and render him praise.
Even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel – Margin, Ye that are of; that is, of the fountain of Israel. The margin has undoubtedly expressed the correct idea. The appeal is to the Hebrew people represented as descending from a common stock or ancestor – Jacob or Israel – as a stream or river flows from a fountain. Compare the notes at Isa 48:1; see also Isa 51:1; Deu 33:28. All the descendants of Jacob or Israel are thus called on to unite in solemnly praising the Lord their God.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 68:26-28
Bless ye God in the congregations, oven the Lord, from the fountain of Israel, etc.
Public worship
I. Expound the passage.
1. Israel had ordinary congregations every Sabbath and national ones three times a year, and their business was to bless God.
2. All Israel was to unite in this.
3. All the tribes are supposed to be present.
4. Those tribes which are named had each some speciality belonging to it.
5. Princes and people were together, etc.
II. Apply the subject. Two things are here exemplified–diligence and brotherly union. Three things are recommended–united praise, acknowledgment of mercies, and prayer. (Andrew Fuller.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 26. Bless ye God] This is what they sung.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Or, as it is rendered in our margin, and by many others, ye that are of or from the fountain of Israel, or Jacob, i.e. all ye people of Israel, who are called the
fountain of Jacob, Deu 33:28, and said to come forth out of the waters of Judah, Isa 48:1, and consequently of Jacob or Israel. See also Pro 5:18; Isa 51:1. And this sense seems to be confirmed by the following verse, wherein this fountain is distributed into its several streams, the tribes of Israel. But these words may be and are by some joined with the former, either thus, Blessthe Lord for the fountain of Israel, i.e. for that fountain which God hath opened to Israel for the purging away of sin and uncleanness, as it is expressed Zec 13:1, even the blood and Spirit of Christ. and all those spiritual blessings which God confers upon his people in his sanctuary, and by his ordinances; which are oft compared to waters, as Isa 12:3; Eze 47:1; and to a fountain or well, as Joe 3:18; Joh 4:14. See also Pro 14:27; Jer 2:13. Or thus, Blessthe Lord who is of the fountain of Israel, i.e. who though he be the most high God, yet according to the flesh is descended from Israel, as is noted, Rom 9:5. But the first sense seems most natural and easy.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
26. fromor literally, “of”
the fountain of Israelthatis, lineal descendants of Jacob, are invited to unite in thedoxology. Then by one of the nearest tribes, one of the most eminent,and two of the most remote, are represented the whole nation ofIsrael, passing forward (Nu7:1-89).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Bless ye God in the congregations,…. This was what they said as they sung and played; they called upon the churches, and the members of them, and upon one another, to bless the Lord Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh; not by invoking or bestowing a blessing on him, which cannot be, and of which he has no need; but by proclaiming him to be God over all, blessed for evermore, as he is in himself; and the perfections of his nature, by attributing all the blessings of nature, grace, and glory to him, in whom they are, and from whom they come; and by exercising faith upon him for them particularly, and for pardon, righteousness, supplies of grace, and everlasting salvation; and by giving him the glory of all, and ascribing blessing and honour to him on account of them; which should be done openly and publicly, in the several particular congregated churches of Christ; and this shows the psalm still refers to Gospel times, in which only such churches are;
[even] the Lord, from the fountain of Israel; or, “the Lord, [who is] of the fountain of Israel” w; that is, whose natural descent is from Israel, or Jacob, as Christ’s was, according to the flesh, Ro 9:5; though some take this to be a description of the posterity of Jacob, those that go out from the fountain of Israel, as Aben Ezra and Kimchi; see Isa 48:1; so the Tigurine version, and others; who are called upon to bless the Lord: but then it must be understood not of the carnal Israelites, they rejected the Messiah, Jesus, and called him accursed; but the spiritual seed of Jacob, whether Jews or Gentiles; Israelites indeed, in whom is no guile. The Targum, and so Jarchi, interpret it of the seed of Israel; compare with this Lu 1:41; the words may be read, “for”, or “because of [the fountain of] Israel” x: God, who is the fountain of living wafers; Christ, whose blood is the fountain opened for sin and uncleanness; the Spirit, who, in the operations of his grace, is a well or fountain of living water, springing up unto eternal life; and all spiritual blessings, and the abundance of them, which the spiritual Israel of God enjoy, may be designed by this phrase; and so be considered as the reason why God the Lord is to be blessed. Some understand it of the Scriptures, from whence all divine knowledge, blessing, and praise are derived; and others of the heart, and the abundance of it, from whence, and not with the lips only, men should bless and praise the Lord.
w “qui est ex fonte Israelis”, i.e. “natus ex semine Israelis”, Tillius & Vitringa apud Michael x “Ob vel propter fontem lsrael”, Gejerus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(26) Bless ye.Apparently these words are part of the processional hymn. But in Jdg. 5:9 a similar outburst of praise appears to come from the poet.
From the fountain of Israel.A comparison with Isa. 48:1; Isa. 51:1, certainly allows us to understand this in the congregations sprung from the head waters (as we say) of the races, i.e., the patriarchal ancestors. At the same time if there were any mode of taking the words literally instead of figuratively it would be preferable.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
26. From the fountain of Israel That is, Ye who are of the fountain of Israel; of the pure Hebrew stock or ancestry.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 68:26. Bless ye God in the congregations i.e. “Let all the assemblies of his people, and all who join them, celebrate the wonderful works and praises of God; even the Lord (repeat the words bless ye) from the fountain of Israel;” i.e. all you who are of the posterity of Israel: Deu 11:28. It became them in an especial manner to bless God for the signal favours that he had bestowed upon them. See Hosea 13.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Psa 68:26 Bless ye God in the congregations, [even] the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.
Ver. 26. Bless ye God in the congregations ] i.e. Catervatim ac turmatim, by troops and companies.
Even the Lord from the fountain of Israel
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
congregations = assemblies.
from. Supply the Ellipsis, “[Ye that are] from, or of, the fountain of Israel”.
fountain: i.e. the patriarch Abraham, or, Israel. Ginsburg suggests “the called of Israel”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the God of the Whole Earth
Psa 68:26-35
The constituent parts of the procession are now described, and in these closing verses the triumphal note rings out. It tells of the confidence of Israel in her ultimate dominance of the world, which was to be not physical, but moral and spiritual.
The psalmist sees tribe after tribe passing into the sanctuary, and indicates each as it goes by Zebulun and Naphtali were mentioned in Deborahs song, already quoted. They are specially noticed here, because they who have done well in the wars of the Lord will ever be rewarded. Among the results of Gods enthronement among His people is the submission of the kings of unnamed lands. In Psa 69:30, r.v., the beast of the reeds is probably the crocodile, and refers to Egypt. Bulls and calves refer to the princes of surrounding nations and their subjects. Ethiopia reaches out her hands, offering tribute. The whole world is subdued to worship before the great God of Israel. He giveth strength and power unto His people. Let us avail ourselves of His gracious provisions. Let us ask Him to command our strength, Psa 68:28; Psa 68:35.
Fuente: F.B. Meyer’s Through the Bible Commentary
Bless: Psa 107:32, Psa 111:1, Psa 135:19-21, 1Ch 16:7, 8-36
from the fountain: or, ye that are of the fountain, Deu 33:28, Pro 5:16, Isa 48:1
Reciprocal: Num 24:7 – pour 2Ch 5:13 – with the trumpets Psa 149:1 – in the congregation Isa 7:15 – Butter Isa 45:15 – O God
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
68:26 Bless ye God in the congregations, [even] the Lord, from the fountain {u} of Israel.
(u) Who come of the patriarch Jacob.