Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 105:39
He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.
39. Exo 13:21-22; Exo 14:19-20. But here the cloud is regarded as a canopy to shelter them from the burning rays of the sun in the desert, rather than as a protection from the Egyptians. Cp. Isa 4:5-6.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
He spread a cloud for a covering – See the notes at Psa 78:14. In Num 10:34; it is said that the cloud of the Lord was upon them by day, and from this seems to have been derived the idea of its covering them, as if it were a protection from the heat in the desert.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
For a covering, to protect them from the heat of the sun, which in that hot and open country had otherwise been intolerable to them, especially in so long a journey.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
39. coveringin sense ofprotection (compare Exo 13:21;Num 10:34). In the burning sandsof the desert the cloud protected the congregation from the heat ofthe sun; an emblem of God’s protecting favor of His people, asinterpreted by Isaiah (Isa 4:5;Isa 4:6; compare Nu9:16).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
He spread a cloud for a covering,…. That is, the Lord spread one over their heads as an “umbrella”, to protect them from the heat of the sun; this refers to the pillar of cloud, Ex 13:20, though that seems to have been in an erect posture, and to go before the children of Israel to direct them in their journey, and not a covering to them. Kimchi says it was a covering to them when they rested, but not when they journeyed: but when they rested it only covered the tabernacle, not the people, for anything we read of it, Nu 9:21, it looks as if there were more clouds than one, and indeed the Jews speak of many, and particularly make mention e of one that was over the heads of the Israelites, that the heat of the sun, and the hail and rain, might not have power over them; and of such use this cloud was, at least at certain times, if not always; a type of Christ, who is the covering and shelter of his people from the heat of the fiery law, of the flaming sword of justice, of the wrath of God, of the fiery darts of Satan, and of the fury of wicked men.
And fire, to give light in the night: this respects the pillar of fire which gave them light by night; an emblem of Christ, who is the light of his people, when it is a night season with them, as it sometimes is; a night of affliction and distress, of darkness and desertion, of temptation, of carnal security and sleepiness; when Christ arises as a light in darkness, and enlightens by his presence, by his Spirit, and by his word; as well as is as fire to warm, refresh, quicken, and comfort them when chill and cold, in such seasons.
e Vid. Targum in Cant. ii. 6.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Now follows the miraculous guidance through the desert to the taking possession of Canaan. The fact that the cloud ( , root , to meet, to present itself to view, whence the Arabic anan , the visible outward side of the vault of heaven) by day, and becoming like fire by night, was their guide (Exo 13:21), is left out of consideration in Psa 105:39. With we are not to associate the idea of a covering against foes, Exo 14:19., but of a covering from the smiting sun, for (Exo 40:19), as in Isa 4:5., points to the idea of a canopy. In connection with the sending of the quails the tempting character of the desire is only momentarily dwelt upon, the greater emphasis is laid on the omnipotence of the divine goodness which responded to it . is to be read instead of , the w before w having been overlooked; and the Ker writes and points (like , ) in order to secure the correct pronunciation, after the analogy of the plural termination -. The bread of heaven (Psa 78:24.) is the manna. In Psa 105:41 the giving of water out of the rock at Rephidim and at Kadesh are brought together; the expression corresponds better to the former instance (Exo 17:6, cf. Num 20:11). refers to the waters, and for , Psa 78:16, is, as in Psa 22:14, an equation instead of a comparison. In this miraculous escort the patriarchal promise moves on towards its fulfilment; the holy word of promise, and the stedfast, proved faith of Abraham – these were the two motives. The second is, like the first, a sign of the object, not a preposition (lxx, Targum), in connection with which Psa 105:42 would be a continuation of Psa 105:42, dragging on without any parallelism. Joy and exulting are mentioned as the mood of the redeemed ones with reference to the festive joy displayed at the Red Sea and at Sinai. By Psa 105:43 one is reminded of the same descriptions of the antitype in Isaiah, Isa 35:10; Isa 51:11; Isa 55:12, just as Psa 105:41 recalls Isa 48:21. “The lands of the heathen” are the territories of the tribes of Canaan. is equivalent to in Isa 45:14: the cultivated ground, the habitable cities, and the accumulated treasures. Israel entered upon the inheritance of these peoples in every direction. As an independent people upon ground that is theirs by inheritance, keeping the revealed law of their God, was Israel to exhibit the pattern of a holy nation moulded after the divine will; and, as the beginning of the Psalm shows, to unite the peoples to themselves and their God, the God of redemption, by the proclamation of the redemption which has fallen to their own lot.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
39. He spread out a cloud for a covering The Psalmist enumerates certain miracles by which God continued his grace towards his people in the wilderness. This order is worthy of notice; for it was no small confirmation which was added to that incomparable work of redemption, when God ceased not to show himself the guide of their journey. Accordingly, after they had passed through the Red Sea, he spread a cloud over them by day to protect them from the heat of the sun; and during the night, he gave them light by a pillar of fire, that even in the midst of the darkness they might have a bright token of his presence. This continued display of his goodness was surely an unquestionable proof of his perpetual love, an open demonstration that he had adopted the children of Abraham, to foster them under his protection even to the end. What follows concerning quails, is introduced for a different purpose than that for which reference is made to the same fact in Psa 78:26. In that passage, God’s bringing in an abundance of quails is ascribed rather to his wrath than to his beneficence, that the people might satiate the flesh; and we have seen in the exposition of that place, that this is mentioned as a matter of reproach to them. But in the text before us, passing over their ingratitude, the prophet celebrates the unremitting exercise of the divine loving-kindness towards them. Some, however, may be rather inclined to take the word ask in a bad sense, because the people besought not God with humility, (235) but through their impatience proceeded at once to murmuring, or rather arrogantly spake against him. Thus taken, the passage, by way of amplification, would mean that God, departing from his own right, humoured even their unhallowed lust. As, however, their fault is not here mentioned, let us rest in that meaning which is the most simple, namely, that the blessings by which God ratified the redemption which he had wrought are here clustered together. It next follows, that they were filled with the bread of heaven This appellation, as we have seen elsewhere, is given to the manna by way of eminence. The natural way in which the food which we eat is obtained is from the ground; but God then opened his hand more widely to the Jews, and fed them even from heaven. As it was not enough for them to be refreshed with food when they were hungry, unless they were also supplied with drink, it is added, that the rock was opened, and that the waters flowed from it through the dry places, or the desert.
(235) “It does not appear from the history, that the Israelites supplicated God at all, but only murmured against Moses and Aaron for bringing them into the wilderness.” — Phillips.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(39) Cloud.As in Isa. 4:5. The reason assigned for the cloud in the historical books is lost sight of. Instead of a pillar marking the line of march, or as a protection against the pursuing foe, it is a canopy for protection from the sun. Sir Walter Scott expresses the same idea in Rebeccas hymn.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
39. He spread a cloud for a covering The “cloud” was for a screen from the sun’s heat by day, and for a light by night, and to indicate the times and directions of their marches. It was the standing symbol of God’s presence and protection. See note on Psa 78:14, and compare Exo 13:21-22; Neh 9:12. Having reviewed the history of the exodus, the psalmist opens, in Psa 105:39-41, a rapid survey of the wilderness life, which he sums up in the three miraculous wonders the cloud, food, and the supply of water.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Here we have a brief account of the Church in the wilderness, until the Lord brought them into the promised land. And here also, as before, we behold a type of the Church now. The pillar of cloud which went before them, strikingly represented the goings of the Holy Ghost before the Church; and the bread typified Jesus, the bread of life, to his people. Indeed, that we might not mistake upon so great a point, the Holy Ghost himself, by the Apostle, expressly tells us that the rock which gave the people drink in the wilderness, and followed them, was Christ; 1Co 10:4 . And to sum up the whole, the Psalmist saith, that Jehovah did all this in confirmation of his Covenant engagements to Abraham. And as these covenant engagements all looked to Christ for their accomplishment, sweetly do we see in the whole, that it is of Jesus and his salvation the whole history treats, in whom, as God promised to the patriarch, all nations of the earth should be blessed; Gal 3:8 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 105:39 He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.
Ver. 39. He spread a cloud ] It must needs be a very large one that could cover such an army from the extraordinary heats there; for the deserts of Arabia are extreme hot, both by reason of the climate and also of the sand’s reflecting the sunbeams. So still upon all the glory (the Church) shall be a covering, Isa 4:5 .
And fire to give light, &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 105:39-41
Psa 105:39-41
THREE WONDERS IN THE WILDERNESS
“He spread a cloud for a covering,
And fire to give light in the night.
They asked, and he brought quails,
And satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
He opened the rock, and waters gushed out;
They ran in the dry places like a river.”
There were many wonders during the wilderness period, but only these are cited here: (1) The pillar of cloud and of fire by day and by night is recorded in Exo 13:21-22. (2) The miraculous food of quails and the manna are featured in Exodus 16. (3) The water from the rock appears in Exodus 17.
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 105:39. The account now passes from the original encampment of the Israelites and is describing some scenes in the march. The description of this unusual cloud is in Exo 13:21-22; Exo 14:19; Exo 14:24, which I request the student to read again.
Psa 105:40 The scene changes again, and the children of Israel are across the Red Sea and journeying in the wilderness. Their tendency toward murmuring was evident very often. They complained that they lacked food and God gave it to them by miracle. The history of this verse is in Exodus 16 where the reader may see the goodness of God.
Psa 105:41. The next complaint was because of a shortage of water to drink. In Exodus 17 is an account of the provision which the Lord made for them on this subject.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
spread: Psa 78:14, Exo 13:21, Exo 13:22, Exo 14:24, Num 9:15-22, Neh 9:12, Neh 9:19, Isa 4:5, 1Co 10:1, 1Co 10:2
Reciprocal: Exo 40:36 – when Exo 40:38 – fire Num 9:16 – General Num 10:34 – General Num 14:14 – thy cloud Deu 1:31 – in the wilderness Deu 1:33 – in fire Deu 11:5 – General Isa 25:5 – as the heat Act 7:36 – and in the wilderness