Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 66:6
He turned the sea into dry [land]: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.
6. The passage of the Red Sea and the crossing of the Jordan are referred to as the most notable of His terrible acts (Psa 65:5). Cp. Psa 74:13; Psa 78:13; &c. Flood, as in Jos 24:2-3; Jos 24:14-15, is an archaism for river (R.V.).
there did we rejoice in him ] At the Red Sea and the Jordan. The Psalmist can thus identify himself and his contemporaries with the Israelites of ancient time, for he regards the nation as possessing an unbroken continuity of life. This rendering is grammatically justifiable, and it suits the context better than the alternative of R.V. marg., there let us rejoice in him, whether this is understood to mean, “ There on the spot where those old historical events occurred, there let us take our stand, and renew our praise to Him, our wondrous Benefactor” (Kay); or, “ There, pointing as it were to the field in which God had made bare His arm, and where the past history had been repeated in the present, there let us rejoice in Him” (Perowne). For the Psalmist is addressing the nations, not his countrymen, and a historical reference to the rejoicing which took place after the passage of the Red Sea is more natural than an invitation to join in celebrating either that or the recent deliverance. Moreover mention of the recent deliverance appears to be reserved for the next stanza, to which Psa 66:7 forms the appropriate transition. Bp. Perowne’s explanation would at any rate require the adoption of the LXX reading, ‘who turneth the sea into dry land, they go through the river on foot’; i.e. He is ever doing as He did at the Red Sea and the Jordan, opening ways of escape for His people.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
He turned the sea into dry land – The Red Sea, when he brought his people out of Egypt, Exo 14:21. This was an illustration of his power, and of his ability to defend and deliver his people. The terror in that case, or that which was terrible, was the overthrow of their enemies the destruction of the Egyptians in the Red Sea – thus showing that he had power to destroy all the enemies of his people.
They went through the flood on foot – literally, through the river. It is probable that the reference here is to the passage of the river Jordan, when the Israelites were about to pass into the promised land Jos 3:14-17; thus combining the two great acts of divine interposition in favor of his people, and showing his power over streams and floods.
There did we rejoice in him – We, as a nation – our fathers – thus rejoiced in God. See Exo. 15.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 6. He turned the sea into dry land] This was a plain miracle: no human art or contrivance could do this. Even in the bed of the waters THEY did rejoice in him. WE have not less cause to praise and be thankful.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The flood, or river, to wit, Jordan. We, i.e. our nation, or our ancestors, in whose loins we then were, and the benefit of which ancient deliverance we at this day enjoy. See the like expressions Psa 81:5; Hos 12:4. The whole people of Israel are oft considered as one body, continued through all succeeding generations, united in the bond of the same covenant and worship, and in the possession of the same promises, and privileges, and blessings, and acted by one and the same spirit; and therefore several and contrary things may reasonably be ascribed to them, in regard of their several parts and ages, and what was done in one age may be imputed to another by virtue of their strict conjunction with the same body.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
He turned the sea into dry [land],…. The Red sea, or sea of Zuph, as the Targum; by causing a strong east wind to blow, which made it dry, so that the children of Israel passed through it on dry ground,
Ex 14:21. Or, “he turneth” y; for though the allusion is to the making the Red sea dry land, when the Israelites passed through it; yet it refers to something to be done in the times of Christ and the Gospel dispensation. So Christ might be said to do this literally, when he walked upon the sea of Galilee as on dry land, and enabled Peter to do so likewise, Mt 14:25; and figuratively, when he makes his people walk through the sea of this world, and the waters of afflictions in it, without overflowing them. He with them, bears them up, and upholds them with his right hand; so that they pass on, as on dry land, till they come safe to the shores of bliss and happiness;
they went through the flood on foot; or “river” z; the river Jordan, as the Targum: for this alludes not to the passage of the Israelites through the sea, but through Jordan, when they entered into the land, of Canaan, Jos 3:17. The words may be rendered, according to Kimchi,
“they shall pass through the river on foot;”
the Targum adds,
“the children of Israel;”
so the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Ethiopic, and Arabic versions. Such things are said in prophecy concerning the people of God in future times; see Isa 11:15. So the river Euphrates shall be dried up, to make way for the kings of the east, Re 16:12;
there did we rejoice in him; still alluding to the above cases, when Israel passed through the Red sea, and sung praise to God; and went through Jordan, and set up stones of memorial, Ex 15:1. Or “there shall we rejoice in him”: so the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Ethiopic, Syriac, and Arabic versions; only the latter reads in the singular, “he shall rejoice.” The Targum is,
“I will lead them to the mountain of his holiness, there shall we rejoice in his word:”
in the essential Word, the Messiah, as the saints do rejoice in him in his house, under his word and ordinances; when they see the salvation wrought out by him, and their interest in it; the righteousness he has brought in, and themselves clothed with it; pardon procured by him, and that applied to them; and when they are favoured with a sight of him, and communion with him; so will they rejoice in him when the marriage of the Lamb is come, and the bride is ready; when antichrist shall be destroyed, and they shall have got the victory over him; then they shall stand on the sea of glass, and there shall they sing the song of Moses and of the Lamb, Re 19:7; and when they shall have come through all their difficulties safely to heaven; there shall they rejoice in Christ, and with him to all eternity.
y “convertit”, V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, &c. z “per fluvium”, Gejerus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(6) Flood.Hebrew, nhar, which generally stands for the Euphrates, but here, as in Psa. 74:15, for either the Jordan or the Red Sea.
There did we rejoice.The verb is properly optativethere (i.e., in those works) let us rejoice, and thus rendered is more in keeping with the first verses of the psalm. The LXX. and Vulg. have the future, There we will rejoice in him.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
6. He turned the sea the flood That is, the sea and the river. The allusion is to the crossing the Red Sea and the river Jordan by the Israelites.
There did we rejoice in him There let us rejoice, or, there will we rejoice in him. The address now is to the congregation, to rejoice that the God of ancient Israel is the same to his people in all ages, as he has reassured them by his recent acts. The adverb “there” should here take the sense of therein, as in Hos 6:7, and read, Therein will “we rejoice in him.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 66:6. He turned the sea into dry land This plainly refers to the passage through the Red Sea, and the rejoicing by Miriam, &c. upon the spot.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Psa 66:6 He turned the sea into dry [land]: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.
Ver. 6. He turned the sea into dry land ] A mercy much celebrated, and not without cause, in all later ages.
They went through the flood on foot
There did we rejoice in him
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the sea: i.e. the Red Sea.
the flood: i.e. the river Jordan.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
He turned: Psa 78:13, Psa 106:8-10, Psa 104:5-7, Psa 136:13, Psa 136:14, Exo 14:21, Exo 14:22, Isa 63:13, Isa 63:14
they: Jos 3:14, Jos 3:16
there: Psa 106:11, Psa 106:12, Exo 15:1-21, Rev 15:2, Rev 15:3
Reciprocal: Exo 14:29 – walked Jos 3:17 – all the Israelites Jos 4:22 – General Neh 9:11 – divide Psa 74:13 – divide Psa 89:9 – General Psa 106:9 – He rebuked Psa 126:3 – General Hos 12:4 – spake Hab 3:10 – the overflowing 1Co 10:1 – and all Heb 11:29 – General