Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 105:23
Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
23. Israel also ] So Israel; the great ancestor of the nation is still meant.
the land of Ham ] Cp. Psa 105:27; Psa 78:51.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Israel also came into Egypt – Another name for Jacob; see Psa 105:10.
And Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham – Not as a permanent abode, but as a temporary arrangement, until the time should come for the people to be removed to the land of promise. See Gen 46:6. The more literal rendering would be, Jacob was a stranger – a foreigner – in the land of Ham. On the meaning of the word Ham, see the notes at Psa 78:51.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Israel; Jacob in his person, and with his children. Of Ham, i.e. Egypt, so called here, also Psa 78:5; 106:22; from that cursed Ham, Gen 9:22, who was the father of Mizraim, or the Egyptians, Gen 10:6. And the psalmist seems to call it by this name, to intimate that they were the people of Gods curse, and thereby to caution the Israelites against returning to that land, which they were particularly forbidden to do, Deu 17:16.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
23-25. Israel . . . and Jacobthatis, Jacob himself is meant, as Ps105:24 speaks of “his people.” Still, he came with hiswhole house (Gen 46:6; Gen 46:7).
sojourned (Ge47:4).
land of Hamor, Egypt(Ps 78:51).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Israel also came into Egypt,…. That is, Jacob, as afterwards expressed, who had the name of Israel, from his wrestling with God and prevailing. He came into Egypt, being invited by Pharaoh, and having heard of his son Joseph being alive, and of his exaltation.
And Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham: the same with Egypt; Mizraim, from whence Egypt has its name, being the son of Ham, Ge 10:6. Hence Egypt is called by Plutarch k Chemia; and Diodorus Siculus l speaks of a city in Thebais, or Upper Egypt, which was called by the inhabitants Chemmis, interpreted by them the city of Pan; and Plutarch m mentions a place called Chennis, inhabited by Pans and Satyrs. The same is mentioned by Herodotus n, which he calls a large city of the Thebaic nome; a city of the same name is observed by Heliodorus o; and both Herodotus p and Mela q speak of an island called Chemmis, which the Egyptians represent as floating. In all which there are plain traces of the name of Ham, the same with Jupiter Ammon; or Amun, as Plutarch; worshipped in Egypt; and from whom all Africa was sometimes called Ammonia r, the country of Ammon or Ham. And Herodotus s speaks of a people called Ammonii, about ten days’ journey from Thebes in Upper Egypt; who, according to him t, had their name from Jupiter Ammon, or Ham. And Pliny u makes mention of the oracle of Hammon, as twelve days’ journey from Memphis, and of the Hammoniac nome; and the Egyptian priests are called Ammmonean w. Here Jacob was a sojourner, as all the Lord’s people are in this world; they are sojourners, as all their fathers were; and their time here is a time of sojourning,
1Ch 29:15. They are not natives of the place where they are; they are indeed so by their first birth, but not by their new birth; being born from above, they belong to another place, are citizens of another city; their house, estate, and inheritance, are in heaven: neither their settlement nor satisfaction are here; they do not reckon themselves at home while they are in this world; they are indeed in an enemy’s country, in a cursed land; or that is nigh unto cursing, and its end to be burned. Such the land of Ham was, where Jacob sojourned.
k De Iside. l Biblioth. l. 1. p. 16. m Ut supra. (De Iside.) n Euterpe sive, l. 2. c. 91. o Ethiopic. l. 5. c. 9. & l. 6. c. 4. p Ut supra, (Euterpe sive, l. 2.) c. 156. q De Situ Orbis, l. 1. c. 9. r Stephanus de Urb. s Melpomene sive, l. 4. c. 181. t Euterpe sive, l. 2. c. 32, 42. u Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 9. w Sanchoniatho apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 1. p. 32.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Trials and Delivery cont.
Scripture v. 23-45:
Verses 23, 24 recount that “Israel also came into Egypt (after Joseph); and Jacob sojourned (with all his family) in the land of Ham,” in Egypt, the Goshen area, but never became a naturalized citizen, Gen 47:4. This land of accursed Ham could be but a temporary abiding place for the elect people of God. It is added that God increased his people of Israel greatly (in population) and caused them to be “stronger than their enemies,” so that Pharaoh came to be disturbed over their “more and. mightier” number of strength than the Egyptians, See also Gen 12:10; Gen 46:6.
Verse 25 relates that God turned the hearts of the Egyptians to hate his people, “to deal subtly with his servants,” Israel; It was God who “brought forth” Pharaoh and his chariots after Israel, Isa 43:17; Psa 51:4. Carnal wisdom is a devilish thing, Exo 1:10; Act 7:19; God takes the worldly wise in their own craftiness, Job 5:12; 1Co 3:19. See also Exo 4:21; Pro 21:1; Exo 1:11; Act 7:6.
Verse 26 declares “He sent (commissioned) Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen;” as fit instruments for His service to the Israelites, Psa 78:70; See also Exo 2:2; Exo 4:12-14; Jdg 2:16; Exo 3:10; Num 16:5; Num 17:5.
Verses 27, 28 tell that Moses and Aaron, God’s chosen emancipators or liberators of Israel, showed his (God’s signs among them) before both the Egyptians and Israelites “and wonders in the land of Ham;” the signs were the “plague-signs” that He sent upon the land of Egypt because of their oppression of His chosen Israel, Exo 4:21. He “sent darkness, and they rebelled not against His word,” after the tenth plague, as they had before, Exo 10:22; Mat 27:45; See also Psa 99:7.
Verses 29-31 recount that God: 1) turned their water to blood, which slew their fish, a vital source of protein food, 2) caused frogs to come forth in masses, even into the chambers of their kings or rulers, and 3) He spoke and a plague of diverse kinds of flies and lice came upon all their lands, from their borders to the center of all parts; fish, frogs, dog-flies; lice and gnats, alive and dead, tormented the land, as an act of Divine judgment from God, Exo 8:2; Exo 8:4; Exo 8:21; Exo 7:18-21; Psa 78:44; Ecc 10:1.
Verses 32-35 turn from recounting the plagues on the animal world to that on vegetable life, so that nigh all the food of the land was seriously damaged or totally destroyed by plagues of hail, instead of rain, and flaming fire that burned because of dry vegetation; He smote the vines and the fig trees and thus broke the trees of their coasts. He too sent caterpillars and locusts, voracious vegetation devourers to consume the green herbs that were not otherwise burned or destroyed, as described Exo 9:23; Jdg 9:10; Exo 10:4-5; 1Ki 8:37; Jer 51:27; Psa 78:48.
Verses 36-38 tell that he smote (with death) all the first born of the land, the chief of all their strength, Exo 12:29; Gen 49:3; Deu 21:17. Then He brought them out with silver and gold, borrowed from their neighbors. There was not one feeble person among their tribes, Exo 12:35; Exo 15:26; Gen 2:11-12.
Verse 38 certifies that “Egypt was glad when they (Israel) departed,” because of fear that came on them from the plagues, Exo 12:31; Gen 35:5.
Verses 39-41 recount God’s care over Israel in delivering her from Egypt. He spread a cloud over them by day and a fire-light pillow by night to protect them from their enemies, Exo 13:21; Isa 4:5; Num 9:16; Num 10:34; Neh 9:12; Psa 78:14. It is added that at the prayer of the people he sent quail for meat and manna from heaven, Exo 16:4; Exo 16:13, called “corn of heaven” and “angel food,” Psa 78:18; Psa 78:22-27.
Verse 41 tells of the artesian gush of water He sent from the rock to water His people and their flocks Through all their wilderness journey, Exo 17:6; Num 20:11; Deu 2:7. See also Isa 48:21; 1Co 10:4. “That rock was Christ.”
Verses 42-45 conclude that the Lord (by covenant) brought forth His chosen people “with joy and gladness,” or with singing, because he remembered (with integrity) His holy (sacred) promise, and Abraham His servant, Gen 12:7; Gen 13:14; Gen 13:17; Gen 15:14; Exo 2:24; Luk 1:54-55; Luk 1:73. See too Deu 7:9; 1Ki 8:46; Exo 19:5.
They too were given “the lands of the heathen and inherited the labor of the people,” as related Lev 20:24; Exo 34:24; Deu 6:10; Jos 21:43; Psa 80:8.
Verse 45 declares they were Divinely given these “that they might observe his statutes, and keep (guard, observe) his laws. Praise ye the Lord,” or Hallelujah to the Lord, Deu 4:1; Deu 6:21; Deu 26:16; Exo 15:26; Exo 20:6; Psa 9:11. One should conclude: 1) God is faithful to His promise; 2) man should obey Him!
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
23. And Israel came into Egypt The prophet does not rehearse the whole history, nor was this necessary. He only presents to our view how divine providence was concerned in it, which very few consider in reading the narrative of Moses. He accordingly declares, that after Joseph had been sent before into Egypt, to be the means of supporting his father and the whole family, Jacob then came into Egypt, that is, he did so when all things were admirably arranged, that he might find abundance of bread among a people, the proudest of the whole world, (219) when all others were perishing for want of food. From this it appears, that what is accounted to be slowness in God, tends to no other end than to accomplish his work on the best possible occasion.
(219) “ En un peuple le plus superbe de tout le monde.” — Fr.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
23. Israel came into Egypt This, with its results, explains the wonderful story of Joseph, or of divine providence concerning him.
Land of Ham So called from Ham, the father of Mizraim, which latter settled Egypt. Gen 10:6. Egypt is everywhere called “Mizraim” in the Hebrew Scriptures. Egypt is its Greek name.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 105:23 Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
Ver. 23. Israel also came into Egypt ] Whither he feared to go, till God promised him his presence and protection, Gen 46:3-4 . God saith the same in effect to us, when to descend into the grave, Fear not to go down, I will go down with thee, and be better to thee than thy fears. Jacob’s best and happiest days were those he spent in Egypt.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Israel also came = So Israel came. Compare Psa 105:13 and Gen 46:1.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psa 105:23-25
Psa 105:23-25
“Israel also came into Egypt;
And Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
And he increased his people greatly,
And made them stronger than their adversaries.
He turned their heart to hate his people,
To deal subtly with his servants.”
This is a thumb-nail history of four hundred years! God had told Abraham on that dreadful night of the covenant when the smoking lamp went between the carcasses what would happen to his posterity.
“Abram, know of a surety that thy seed shall be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and they shall serve them, and they shall afflict them four hundred years. That nation whom they shall serve, will I judge; and afterward shall they come out with great substance (Gen 15:13-14).
“Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham” (Psa 105:23). “Egypt is here called the land of Ham, because in the table of nations (Genesis 10) Egypt is listed as one of the sons of Ham.
“God made them stronger than their adversaries” (Psa 105:24). It is surprising to us that a scholar such as Leupold would question the truth of this. He wrote, “This can scarcely be intended to be understood in the most literal sense.” Indeed! And why not? “The king over Egypt said … Behold the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we. Come let us deal wisely with them, etc.” (Exo 1:7).
“God turned their heart to hate his people” (Psa 105:25). “Through his great blessings upon the Israelites, God caused the Egyptians to hate them. This came about through their envy, jealousy and fear of the astounding growth of Israel.
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 105:23. Israel and Jacob are the same, the two names being used to make the identification easier. Land of Ham was Egypt according to Psa 78:51. That was because the inferior nations came from Ham (Gen 9:25; Gen 10:6-7), and the Egyptians were of the lower grade of nations when compared with descendents of Shem and Japheth.
Psa 105:24. The history of this verse is in Exo 1:7. The Israelites increased in spite of, not by the help of, the Egyptians.
Psa 105:25. He (God) turned their (the Egyptians’) heart to hate his (God’s) people. This hatred was prompted by envy and fear. They could not bear to see the Israelites so prosperous; also they feared they might become strong enough to rise up in rebellion. Dealt subtilly means they were treacherous and dishonest in their treatment of Israel.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Israel: Gen 45:9-11, Gen 46:2-7, Jos 24:4, Act 7:11-15
Jacob: Gen 47:6-9, Gen 47:28
the land: Psa 105:27, Psa 78:51, Psa 106:22, Gen 10:6
Reciprocal: Gen 14:5 – Zuzims Gen 15:13 – thy Gen 46:6 – into Egypt Gen 47:4 – For to Deu 23:7 – because thou Deu 26:5 – he went down 1Ch 4:40 – Ham Act 7:14 – sent Act 13:17 – and exalted
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 105:23-24. Israel also Jacob in person, with his children; came into Egypt Where he and all his were very comfortably and honourably provided for many years. Thus the New Testament church has a place provided for her, even in the wilderness, where she is nourished for a time, times, and half a time, Rev 12:14. Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham Ham was the father of Mizraim, or the Egyptians, Gen 10:6. And he, God, increased the people greatly According to the promise made to Abraham, that his seed should be as the sand of the sea for multitude; and made them stronger than their enemies More and mightier, according to Pharaohs confession, Exo 1:9, than the Egyptians, who, of friends, were now become their enemies.