Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 78:55
He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
55. And he drove out the nations before them,
And allotted them for the portion of their inheritance:
i.e. distributed the land of the Canaanites among the Israelites by lot. Cp. Jos 23:4; Psa 105:11.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
He cast out the heathen also before them – literally, the nations. The idea of their being pagan, in the sense which is now attached to that word, is not in the original. The word is one which would be applied to any nation, without reference to its religion. These nations were, indeed, pagans according to the present use of that term, but that idea is not necessarily in the Hebrew word.
And divided them an inheritance by line – Divided to his people an inheritance by a measurement of the land. That is, the land was partitioned out among the tribes, by a survey, fixing their limits and boundaries. See Jos 13:7; 18; 19.
And made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents – To dwell securely and quietly, no longer roaming from place to place, but having a fixed habitation and a home.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
55. by lineor, the portionthus measured.
divided themthat is,the heathen, put for their possessions, so tentsthat is, of theheathen (compare De 6:11).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
He cast out the Heathen also before them,…. The seven nations, the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, De 7:1
and divided them an inheritance by line: the land of Canaan was divided among the nine tribes and a half by Joshua, the other two and a half having had their portion assigned them on the other side; this distribution was made very exactly by lot, by line, and measure, so that every tribe had their proper portion and inheritance; see
Jos 13:6,
and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents; in the cities, towns, villages, and houses of the Heathen cast out before them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
55. He expelled the heathen from before them; and made them to fall into their part of the inheritance. These words are an explanation of the concluding sentence of the preceding verse: they describe the manner in which the land of Canaan was acquired, plainly intimating that the Israelites were not such a warlike race, nor those heathen nations so cowardly, as to render it an easy matter for the former to vanquish the latter, and that it would have been impossible for the former to have expelled the latter from the country, had they not been led on to victory under the conduct of God, and been aided by his power. Besides, it would have been unlawful for them to have taken possession of the country, had it not been the will of God that the first inhabitants should be deprived of it, and that strangers should be established in it in their room.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
55. Having reached the border of the sacred territory, the psalmist now passes rapidly over the settlement of the tribes, and hastens to his ultimate object, the moral causes of the removal of the ark and tabernacle from Shiloh to Zion.
Divided them an inheritance by line The idea is, that God had originally determined everything involving the national destiny by his own sovereign authority, casting out the heathen and giving their land to Israel; dividing their tribal and family inheritances by accurate measurement. See the history, (Joshua 12-21,) and compare Psa 44:1-3; Psa 135:12. Should not, therefore, so grave a matter as the location of the ark and tabernacle be subject to his sovereign will?
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 78:55. Divided them an inheritance by line Or, Divided them by line for an inheritance.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Psa 78:55 He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
Ver. 55. He cast out the heathen also before them ] i.e. In their sight, and for their sake.
He divided them an inheritance by line
And made the tribes of Israel, &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
heathen = nations.
by line. Sometimes this is put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), for the inheritance itself which was measured off by it. Compare Psa 19:4.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
cast: Psa 44:2, Psa 105:44, Psa 105:45, Psa 135:10-12, Psa 136:18-22, Jos 6:1 – Jos 21:45, Neh 9:22-25
divided: Num 33:54, Jos 13:7, Jos 19:51
and made: Deu 6:10-12
Reciprocal: Exo 15:17 – plant Exo 34:24 – I will Num 32:22 – land Num 34:2 – is the land Deu 7:1 – the Lord Deu 12:29 – cut off Jos 10:10 – the Lord Jos 24:11 – the men Jdg 2:2 – but ye have Jdg 11:24 – whomsoever 1Sa 12:8 – made them Job 38:5 – who hath stretched Psa 9:5 – rebuked Psa 10:16 – heathen Psa 16:6 – The lines Psa 80:8 – thou hast cast Psa 105:11 – lot Psa 111:6 – that he Psa 135:12 – gave their Psa 136:21 – General Isa 34:17 – he hath cast Jer 32:23 – possessed Eze 20:28 – when I Amo 7:17 – thy land Hab 3:12 – didst march Act 7:45 – whom Act 13:19 – when Heb 4:8 – had