Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 78:71
From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
71. From following the ewes with their young ones he brought him,
To be shepherd of Jacob his people &c.
This natural metaphor for the ruler’s care of his people was especially appropriate in the case of David, who was taken from being the shepherd of Jesse’s flock to be the shepherd of Jehovah’s flock. Cp. 2Sa 5:2.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
From following the ewes great with younq – Margin, as in Hebrew, From after. The meaning is, that he followed after them; that is, he attended them, or watched over them as a shepherd. The single word rendered the ewes great with young – ul – is a participle from alaho, to ascend, to go up; and then, to bring up, to nourish. The exact idea here is doubtless that of bringing up, or of sucking them, and the word should have been so translated here. It is so rendered by Luther. The idea in our translation has been derived from the Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate. The meaning is, that he brought him from being a shepherd to be the ruler of his people – expressed still in the language of a shepherd life.
To feed Jacob his people – Rather, to be a shepherd to them; to perform toward them the office of a shepherd, including the ideas of governing them, providing for them, and defending them. See the notes at Psa 23:1-2.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 71. From following the ewes] Instances of this kind are not unfrequent in the ancient Greek and Roman history. Croesus said that Gyges, who was the first of his race, was a slave, and rose to sovereignty, succeeding his predecessor, of whose sheep he had been the pastor.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Following the ewes great with young; by which employment he was inured to that care, and diligence, and self-denial which is necessary in a king or governor; and instructed to rule his people with all gentleness and tenderness.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
71. following . . . ewes,&c.literally, “ewes giving suck” (compare Isa40:11). On the pastoral terms, compare Ps79:13.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
From following the ewes great with young,…. Or, “from after” them a; it was usual with the shepherd to put them before him, and to follow them, and gently drive them, which is expressive of his care and tenderness of them; see Ge 33:13, the same is observed of David’s antitype, the great and good Shepherd of the sheep, Isa 40:11. David was a type of Christ as a shepherd; as he kept his father’s sheep, so Christ keeps those that the Father has given him, Joh 10:29, as David kept his flock with great care and courage, and in safety,
1Sa 17:34, so does the Lord Jesus Christ keep his flock in safety, and preserves it from Satan, the roaring lion, and from grievous wolves that enter into it, and every beast of prey that would devour it; and particularly as David took special care of those that were with young, so does the Lord take special care of such that are newborn babes, that have Christ formed in them, and are big with desires after him, carry a burden, and are weary, and heavy laden: the Targum, Jarchi, and Kimchi, interpret the word b of such that give suck, and so it most properly signifies:
he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance; that is, to rule over them: this is said in allusion to his having been a shepherd; and nothing is more common than for kings to be represented as shepherds, and their acts of government by leading and feeding; and one and the same word in the Greek language signifies to feed and rule: and so the Targum,
“he brought him to rule over Jacob his people:”
this was a great honour indeed, to be the governor of the Lord’s people, a special people above all people on the face of the earth, and whom he had chosen to be his inheritance; and in this also he was a type of Christ, who has the throne of his father David given him, and who reigns over the house of Jacob, one of whose titles is King of saints; for as the government of the world in general, so of the church in particular, is on his shoulders, Lu 1:32.
a “de post”, Montanus, Vatablus, Gejerus; “a post”, Michaelis. b “lactantes”, Vatablus, Gejerus, Michaelis.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
71. He took him from following the suckling ewes, etc. The grace of God is farther commended from the circumstance, that David, who was a keeper of sheep, was made the shepherd of the chosen people and heritage of God. There is an allusion to David’s original condition; but the Spirit of God, at the same time, shows us the difference between good and lawful kings, and tyrants, robbers, and insatiable extortioners, by telling us that whoever would aspire to the character of the former must be like shepherds.
It is afterwards added, (verse 72,) that David had faithfully performed the duties of the trust committed to him. By this the prophet indirectly rebukes the ingratitude and perverseness of the people, who not only overturned the holy and inviolable order which God had established, but who had also, in shaking off his salutary yoke, thrown themselves into a state of miserable dispersion. What follows concerning the prudence of David’s hands seems to be an improper form of expression. But it is intended forcibly to express, that he not only was successful in what he had undertaken, but that he was governed by the Spirit of God, which prevented him from putting his hand at random to any work which might come in his way, and led him prudently and skilfully to do that to which faith and duty called him; and thus, in the success of his undertakings, his wisdom appears more conspicuous than his good fortune.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(71) Ewes great with youngSo also in Isa. 40:11; but properly, ewes with lambs. Literally, giving suck.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 78:71 From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
Ver. 71. From following the ewes ] So Saul from seeking asses, Agathocles from making pots, Valentinian, ropes, &c. Placilla called upon her husband Theodosius, the emperor, to remember from what mean estate God had called him to the highest honours, , . ~
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
To feed = To shepherd.
To feed Jacob. Compare 2Sa 7:7, 2Sa 7:8.
His people. Some codices, with Septuagint and Vulgate, read “His servant”.
Israel. Note the two names: Jacob, the natural seed; Israel, the spiritual seed. See notes on Gen 32:28; Gen 43:6; Gen 45:26, Gen 45:28.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
From following: Heb. From after
ewes: Gen 33:13, Isa 40:11
brought: Psa 75:6, Psa 75:7, Psa 113:7, Psa 113:8, 1Sa 2:7, 1Sa 2:8, Jer 27:5, Jer 27:6
feed: 2Sa 5:2, 1Ch 11:2, Eze 34:23, Eze 34:24, Mic 5:2-4, Zec 11:4-17, Mat 2:6, *marg. Joh 21:15-17, 1Pe 5:2
Reciprocal: Gen 31:40 – General Deu 32:9 – the Lord’s 1Sa 10:1 – his inheritance 1Sa 11:5 – after the herd 1Sa 16:11 – There remaineth 2Sa 7:7 – feed 2Sa 8:15 – David executed 1Ki 3:8 – thy people 1Ch 17:6 – feed 1Ch 17:7 – I took thee 1Ch 18:14 – executed 1Ch 29:26 – over all Israel Psa 18:50 – Great Psa 28:9 – feed Psa 65:4 – choosest Psa 79:1 – into Isa 44:28 – my shepherd Eze 37:24 – one Luk 2:8 – abiding Act 13:36 – served