Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 136:13
To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy [endureth] forever:
13. O give thanks unto him that hath chosen Zion (Psa 132:13), for &c.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
13. into parts ] R.V. in sunder. In two parts of P.B.V. is a printer’s error. The Great Bible of 1539 has into partes.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
To him which divided the Red sea into parts – More literally, Parted it into parts; made parts of that which before was unbroken and a whole. It was actually divided into two parts, so that the Hebrews passed between them: Exo 14:21-22.
For his mercy … – This, too, was an exercise of mercy, or a manifestation of benevolence toward them and toward the world, to be measured by all the good which would result from it in itself, and by all the power which was put forth to effect it.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 13. Divided the Red Sea into parts] Some of the Jews have imagined that God made twelve paths through the Red Sea, that each tribe might have a distinct passage. Many of the fathers were of the same opinion; but is this very likely?
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
To him which divided the Red sea into parts,…. Into two parts, so that the waters of it stood as a wall on the right and left hand of the Israelites, as they passed through; this was done by means of a strong east wind, Ex 14:21. The Jews have a tradition, which Jarchi, Kimchi, and Arama, make mention of, that the sea was divided into twelve parts, according to the twelve tribes of Israel, and every tribe had a path by itself to walk in; but for this there is no foundation: however, the dividing it into parts was a wonderful work, and a rich display of mercy to Israel;
for his mercy [endureth] for ever; the children of Israel were encompassed about, and in the utmost distress: the rocks were on each side, Pharaoh and his host behind them, the Red sea before them; and so no visible way of escape; but the Lord cut a way for them through the sea, and saved them. The sea is an emblem of this world, which is like a tempestuous troubled sea; where everything is restless, fluctuating, and passing away; where the people of God are tossed with tempests; and where afflictions, like the waves and billows of the sea, come over them one after another; and through which they must pass and enter the kingdom: and God, that wills, orders, and appoints them, sets these proud waves of the sea their bounds, or makes them a calm; and, sooner or later, makes a way through them and out of them, which is owing to his enduring mercy, 1Co 10:13.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
13. Who divided the Red Sea I have already (Psa 106:7) spoken of the word סוף, suph, and have not therefore hesitated to render it the Red Sea The Psalmist speaks of divisions in the plural number, which has led some Jewish authors to conjecture that there must have been more passages than one — an instance of their solemn trifling in firings of which they know nothing, and of their method of corrupting the Scriptures entirely with their vain fancies. ‘We may well laugh at such fooleries, yet we are to hold them at the same time in detestation; for there can be no doubt that the Rabbinical writers were led to this by the devil, as an artful way of discrediting the Scriptures. Moses plainly and explicitly asserts that the heaps of waters stood up on both sides, from which we infer that the space between was one and undivided. (176) But as the people passed through in troops, and not one by one, the pathway being so broad as to admit of their passing freely men and women, with their families and cattle, the Psalmist very properly mentions divisions, with a reference to the people who passed through, this circumstance not a little enhancing the mercy of God, that they saw large depths or channels dried up, so that they had no difficulty in advancing in troops abreast. Another circumstance which confirmed or enhanced the mercy shown, was, that Pharaoh was shortly afterwards drowned; for the very different issue proved that it could not be owing to any hidden cause of a merely natural kind, that some should have perished, while others passed over with entire safety. The distinction made afforded a conspicuous display of God’s mercy in saving his people. Much is included in the single expression that God was the leader of his people through the wilderness. It was only by a succession of miracles of various kinds that they could have been preserved for forty years in a parched wilderness, where they were destitute of all the means of subsistence. So that we are to comprehend, under what is here stated, the various proofs of divine goodness and power which are mentioned by Moses as having been vouchsafed, in feeding his people with bread from heaven — in making water to flow from the rock — in protecting them under the cloud from the heat of the sun — giving them a sign of his presence in the pillar of fire — preserving their raiment entire — shielding them and their little ones in their exile wanderings under tents of leaves, (177) with innumerable other instances of mercy which must occur to the reader.
(176) “ Dont nous pouvons bien recueillir que l’espace d’entre deux estoit sans aucune separation.” — Fr.
(177) “ Sous des logettes de feuilles.” — Fr.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
Psa 136:13 To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
Ver. 13. To him which divided the Red Sea ] Into twelve several parts, say the Jews, for the twelve tribes to pass through.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Deliverance from Enemies
Psa 136:13-26
This psalm is no mere running commentary on the ways of God. It is a song of redemption. Pharaoh, Sihon, Og opposed Gods redeeming purpose, though there were abundant evidences throughout the Exodus that it was of supernatural origin, and they came under the divine judgment. It was a mercy for all after-ages that their ideals did not prevail. Was there not ineffable wisdom and benevolence in the substitution of monotheism and the honor of womanhood and the assertion of individual rights for the degradation of their type of civilization? We must take large views of Gods dealings in providence and history.
Men are apt to forget us when we are in low estate, but that is the time when God seems more thoughtful, Psa 136:23. He has delivered, does deliver, and will deliver, Psa 136:24. Will God make provision for all living creatures and neglect His children, Psa 136:25? Let us trust in the love of God, which remains constant amid our fluctuations, and unaffected by our failures and sins, so long as we return from our backslidings with repentance on our lips. It is very comforting to realize that the essence of this psalm will be sung on the other side. See Rev 15:3.
Fuente: F.B. Meyer’s Through the Bible Commentary
Psa 66:5, Psa 66:6, Psa 74:13, Psa 78:13, Psa 106:9-11, Exo 14:21, Exo 14:22, Exo 14:29, Isa 63:12, Isa 63:13, Heb 11:29
Reciprocal: Num 23:23 – according Jos 24:6 – Egyptians Neh 9:11 – divide Psa 135:6 – in the seas Isa 43:16 – maketh Isa 51:15 – that divided Hab 3:10 – the overflowing 1Co 10:1 – and all