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PSALM 105
STROPHE DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS
| NASB | NKJV | NRSV | TEV | NJB |
| The Lord's Wonderful Work in Behalf of Israel No MT Intro |
The Eternal Faithfulness of the Lord | The Story of God's Great Deeds on Behalf of His People | God and His People | The Wonderful History of Israel |
| 105:1-7 | 105:1-6 | 105:1-6 | 105:1-6 | 105:1-3 |
| 105:4-5 | ||||
| 105:6-7 | ||||
| 105:7-12 | 105:7-11 | 105:7-11 | ||
| 105:8-15 | 105:8-9 | |||
| 105:10-11 | ||||
| 105:12-15 | 105:12-15 | 105:12-13 | ||
| 105:13-15 | ||||
| 105:14-15 | ||||
| 105:16-24 | 105:16-22 | 105:16-22 | 105:16-22 | 105:16-17 |
| 105:18-19 | ||||
| 105:20-21 | ||||
| 105:22-23 | ||||
| 105:23-25 | 105:23-25 | 105:23-25 | ||
| 105:24-25 | ||||
| 105:25-36 | ||||
| 105:26-36 | 105:26-36 | 105:26-36 | 105:26-27 | |
| 105:28-29 | ||||
| 105:30-31 | ||||
| 105:32-33 | ||||
| 105:34-35 | ||||
| 105:36-37 | ||||
| 105:37-45 | 105:37-41 | 105:37-42 | 105:37-42 | |
| 105:38-39 | ||||
| 105:40-41 | ||||
| 105:42-45 | 105:42-43 | |||
| 105:43-45 | 105:43-45b | |||
| 105:44-45 | ||||
| 105:45c |
READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")
FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL
This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS
WORD AND PHRASE STUDY
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 105:1-7
1Oh give thanks to
the Lord, call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the
peoples.
2Sing to Him, sing
praises to Him;
Speak of all His wonders.
3Glory in His holy
name;
Let the heart of those who
seek the Lord be glad.
4Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face continually.
5Remember His
wonders which He has done,
His marvels and the judgments
uttered by His mouth,
6O seed of Abraham,
His servant,
O sons of Jacob, His chosen
ones!
7He is the Lord our God;
His judgments are in all the
earth.
105:1-7 This Psalm and this strophe highlight YHWH's special call and relationship with Abraham and his descendants. YHWH acted in powerful, purposeful ways to accomplish His revelation through this one family (see SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS).
This Psalm uses several terms to describe these acts.
Different periods of Israel's history demonstrate YHWH's special activities on behalf of Abraham's family. The purpose of these divine acts was to help the nations know YHWH, cf. 1 Kgs. 8:42-43; see SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN.
Psalm 105:1-5 has a series of IMPERATIVES imploring the worship of YHWH in the temple.
105:1 "the Lord" See SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D.
▣ "call upon His name" Psalm 105:1-4 describes cultic (religious procedures) worship. The "name" represents the person's character.
SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" OF YHWH
SPECIAL TOPIC: CALL ON HIS NAME
▣ "Make known His deeds among the peoples" It is God's will that all the earth (cf. Ps. 105:7b) know Him (cf. Ps. 145:12; Isa. 12:4-5). Israel was a means to this end and the Bible is a record of this revelation.
SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN
105:2 "Sing to Him" This (BDB 967, KB 1319) also describes cultic worship. They sang songs about YHWH and His acts of salvation, as far back as the Exodus (cf. Exodus 15).
▣ "Speak" This is literally "meditate" or "muse." We are to keep God's character and acts before our minds (cf. Ps. 105:5; Deut. 6:6-9).
105:3 "glory" This VERB means "to boast" (BDB 237, KB 248, Hithpael IMPERATIVE). Israel was to "glory" in the kind of God who called them and was uniquely their God.
▣ "Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad" The "heart" speaks of the entire person. We must respond (the VERB is a Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense) to God's initiative, and the appropriate way is with "joy" (BDB 970).
| 105:4 | |
| NASB, NKJV, NRSV, NJB | "and His strength" |
| TEV | "for help" |
| LXX, Moffatt | "and be strengthened" |
| JPSOA | "His might" (referring to the Ark, cf. Ps. 78:61; 132:8) |
| Peshitta, REB | "be strong" |
| NAB | "rely on" |
| NET Bible | "and the strength he gives" |
As is obvious from the variety of translations, the phrase is uncertain. I think, from the context of temple worship (i.e., Ps. 105:1-4), that the JPSOA option is best (i.e., the Ark, cf. Ps. 78:61; 132:8).
SPECIAL TOPIC: ARK OF THE COVENANT
▣ "Seek His face continually" This is an idiomatic way of calling on faithful followers to keep YHWH and His revelation before their minds (cf. Deut. 6:6-9).
This is similar to Paul's emphasis of praying without ceasing (cf. Eph. 6:18; 1 Thess. 5:16-18).
105:5 "the judgments uttered by His mouth" This reflects the Hebrew concept of the power of the spoken word (cf. Gen. 1:1; Isa. 55:1; John 1:1; and note at Gen. 1:3).
For "judgments" see SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS FOR GOD'S REVELATION.
105:6 This verse reflects God's choice of Abraham (Ps. 105:6a) and his descendants (105:6b) as His chosen means to redeem all mankind, Gen. 3:15.
Remember, in the OT the term "chosen" (BDB 104; 1 Chr. 16:13) is used for instrumentality (i.e., service), not salvation (see SPECIAL TOPIC: HE CHOSE US). God chooses to use nations, people, and historical events for His larger redemptive plan.
SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN
105:7 "He is the Lord our God" This phrase may be a reference to the covenant language of Exod. 20:2. It involves the two most common names for Deity, YHWH ‒ Lord and Elohim ‒ God. Modern western scholarship has asserted that these represent the name of Deity used by two different human authors of the OT. The Jews assert that they represent the characteristics of the one true God (see SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM).
SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C., D.
SPECIAL TOPIC: PENTATEUCH SOURCE CRITICISM
▣ "His judgments are in all the earth" This refers to God's universal focus, which is so dominant in this section of the Psalms (i.e., Psalm 96, see notes there).
The term "earth" can be translated in several ways, depending on the context. See SPECIAL TOPIC: LAND, COUNTRY, EARTH.
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 105:8-15
8He has remembered
His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded to
a thousand generations,
9The covenant
which He made with Abraham,
And His oath to Isaac.
10Then He confirmed
it to Jacob for a statute,
To Israel as an everlasting
covenant,
11Saying, "To you I
will give the land of Canaan
As the portion of your
inheritance,"
12When they were
only a few men in number,
Very few, and strangers in it.
13And they wandered
about from nation to nation,
From one kingdom to
another people.
14He permitted no
man to oppress them,
And He reproved kings for
their sakes:
15"Do not touch My
anointed ones,
And do My prophets no harm."
105:8-15 This strophe alludes to YHWH's call to Abraham to leave Ur and follow Him to a new land of promise (i.e., Genesis 12-18). This same promise was reaffirmed to Jacob/Israel (cf. Gen. 28:13-15).
YHWH protected and provided for the descendants of Abraham as they sojourned in Canaan (i.e., Gen. 12:7; 20:1-7; 35:5).
SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS
105:8 "He has remembered His covenant forever" Almost all of God's promises are conditioned on human response. Therefore, "forever" must be interpreted in the context of conditional/unconditional covenant (see SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ('olam).
The focus of the biblical revelation is that God is faithful even when mankind is not (compare Psalm 105 with Psalm 106). Fallen mankind's hope is not in his ability to perform, although there is a required continuing repentant faith response necessary. It is the unchanging character of God that provides hope and assurance (cf. Ps. 102:27; Mal. 3:6; James 1:17).
For "covenant" see SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT.
▣ "to a thousand generations" This is an idiom for God's faithfulness. It is parallel to "forever" in Ps. 105:8a. It is used as a contrast between God's love and justice in Deut. 5:9 and 7:9.
"Thousand" is a symbolic number used in several senses.
SPECIAL TOPIC: THOUSAND (eleph)
105:9-10 YHWH repeated His initial promise about the land to Abram to the other Patriarchs.
SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS
105:10b "an everlasting covenant" This phrasing has caused some to
105:11 This is an allusion to Gen. 12:1; 13:15; and 15:18.
▣ "As the portion of your inheritance" See full note online at Ps. 78:55.
105:12 There are several texts where the size of Abraham's family is addressed.
105:15 "My anointed ones. . .My prophets" These are in a parallel relationship and, therefore, refer to the Patriarchs (cf. Gen. 20:7).
This term "anointed ones" (BDB 603) is the root meaning of Messiah. It refers to the Patriarchs or the family that God chose and equipped to perform His will.
SPECIAL TOPIC: ANOINTING IN THE BIBLE, F.
SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHECY (OT), A. #2
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 105:16-24
16And He called for
a famine upon the land;
He broke the whole staff of
bread.
17He sent a man
before them,
Joseph, who was sold as
a slave.
18They afflicted his
feet with fetters,
He himself was laid in irons;
19Until the time
that his word came to pass,
The word of the
Lord
tested him.
20The king sent and
released him,
The ruler of peoples, and set
him free.
21He made him lord
of his house
And ruler over all his
possessions,
22To imprison his
princes at will,
That he might teach his elders
wisdom.
23Israel also came
into Egypt;
Thus Jacob sojourned in the
land of Ham.
24And He caused His
people to be very fruitful,
And made them stronger than
their adversaries.
105:16-24 This strophe deals with YHWH leading His covenant people from Canaan to Egypt (cf. Genesis 37-50). This was God's plan.
The "few in number" of Ps. 105:12 is contrasted with Ps. 105:24. See full note at 105:12.
105:16 "He called. . .He broke" God uses calamity for His purposes, Isa. 45:7. This seems contradictory to Ps. 105:14-15, but God uses both positive and negative events. This is obvious in His covenant relationship with Israel (cf. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 27-29; Psalm 1). See full note at Isa. 45:7 online.
▣ "staff and bread" This idiom is used several times in the OT (cf. Lev. 26:26; Ezek. 4:16; 5:16; 14:13). God controls rain and food. He wants to bless but sin and rebellion cause the necessities of life to be withheld (i.e., Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 27-30). In Psalm 105 the famine was to accomplish a divine plan (i.e., Joseph to a place of leadership in Egypt and Israel to take up residence there).
The term "staff" (BDB 641, KB 573) could refer to
105:17 "He sent a man before them" This refers to Joseph as being God's means of saving and sustaining the chosen family of Jacob (cf. Genesis 37; 39-46). Joseph's own sense of YHWH's actions is expressed in Gen. 45:4-8; 50:20. The eyes of faith see history clearly!
105:18 "He himself" The word "himself" is literally "soul," nephesh (BDB 659), which has a wide semantic field, but usually denotes air-breathing life on this planet (i.e., human and animal; see SPECIAL TOPIC: NEPHESH).
Most modern English translations assume that the consonants for nephesh, in this context, reflect an Akkadian root for "throat" or "neck" (cf. NRSV, TEV, NJB, JPSOA, REB). Iron was a way of referring to imprisonment (cf. Ps. 107:10).
▤ " was laid in irons" This reflects the painful experience of Joseph being sold by his own brothers, though he later recognized God's hand (cf. Genesis 37; 45:4-8).
The MT is literally "iron came (into his) soul."
However, the LXX translated the phrase as "his soul passed through iron." Joseph's life experiences of rejection by his brothers and the cruel treatment in the Egyptian prison were painful and lasting scars. But they also produced a strong, faithful follower (cf. Heb. 5:8).
105:19a "Until the time that his word came to pass" This probably refers to Joseph's predictions about the baker and cupbearer of Pharaoh, with whom he was imprisoned (cf. Genesis 40).
However, some see this as relating to Joseph's dream interpretation to Pharaoh (cf. Genesis 41).
| 105:19b | |
| NASB, NKJV, REB, NRSV | "tested" |
| TEV, NJB, NET | "proved" |
| LXX | "purified" |
| Peshitta | "tried" |
| JPSOA | "purged" |
The MT has the VERB "tested" or "refined" (BDB 864, KB 1057, Qal PERFECT). This line of poetry must relate to v. 19a, referring to one of Joseph's dream predictions. YHWH was not testing Joseph but was proving that it was He who was revealing the future events to Joseph.
105:20 "the king" There is much scholarly disagreement about the dates related to Israel's sojourn in Egypt and the date of the Exodus. Modern scholars are not sure of
SPECIAL TOPIC: THE EXODUS (uncertainties)
| 105:22a | |
| NASB | "to imprison" |
| NKJV | "to bind" |
| NRSV, NJB, TEV | "to instruct" |
| REB | "to correct" |
| LXX, Vulgate | "to educate" |
| Peshitta, JPSOA | "to discipline" |
The MT has "to bind" (BDB 63, KB 75, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT. The UBS Text Project, p. 379, gives it a "B" rating.
The Hebrew term "bind" is legal imagery for one who has authority over another (i.e., "bind" or "loose"). This connotation fits the context of Ps. 105:20-22. This especially strengthens the literary relationship between v. 22a and v. 22b.
104:24 This reflects the blessing of numerous children seen in Exod. 1:7,9.
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 105:25-36
25He turned their
heart to hate His people,
To deal craftily with His
servants.
26He sent Moses His
servant,
And Aaron, whom He had
chosen.
27They performed His
wondrous acts among them,
And miracles in the land of
Ham.
28He sent darkness
and made it dark;
And they did not rebel against
His words.
29He turned their
waters into blood
And caused their fish to die.
30Their land swarmed
with frogs
Even in the chambers of
their kings.
31He spoke, and
there came a swarm of flies
And gnats in all their
territory.
32He gave them hail
for rain,
And flaming fire in
their land.
33He struck down
their vines also and their fig trees,
And shattered the trees of
their territory.
34He spoke, and
locusts came,
And young locusts, even
without number,
35And ate up all
vegetation in their land,
And ate up the fruit of their
ground.
36He also struck
down all the firstborn in their land,
The first fruits of all their
vigor.
105:25-36 Notice the time element.
105:25a "He turned their heart to hate His people" As God hardened Pharaoh's heart toward Moses' requests, He hardened the people of Egypt toward the Jews.
| 105:25b | |
| NASB, NKJV, NRSV, LXX | "to deal craftily" |
| TEV | "with deceit" |
| NJB | "to double-cross" |
| REB | "to double-dealing" |
| Peshitta | "to deal subtly" |
| JPSOA | "to plot against" |
The MT has the VERB (BDB 647, KB 699, Hithpael INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT. This root means "to act deceitfully" ( cf. Gen. 37:18; Num. 25:18; and here). It could refer to the events of Exod. 1:8-22.
105:26 The account of YHWH calling Moses and sending him back to Egypt is recorded in Exodus 3-4.
The need for Aaron is explained in Exod. 4:10-17.
105:27 "the land of Ham" The Hebrews recognized that the Egyptians were ancient brothers. Ham is also mentioned in Ps. 78:51; 106:22. This speaks of the unity of mankind. See full notes at Genesis 10.
105:28-36 This describes the plagues (cf. Exodus 7-11). However, this is only a partial list. It starts with the 9th, then the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 3rd, 7th, 8th, and 10th. Each of the ten plagues depreciated an Egyptian deity.
105:28 "And they did not rebel against His words" The LXX and Peshitta leave out the negative. This is followed by NRSV and REB. However, the MT has the negative and the UBS Text Project gives its inclusion a "B" rating (some doubt). The interpretive issue is, who is "they."
105:36 Pharaoh was considered a son of the Sun god, Ra, so too, then was the crown prince. YHWH is superior to Ra.
| ▣ | |
| NASB, NKJV, NRSV, NJB, LXX, JPSOA | "in their land" |
| TEV, Peshitta | "of Egypt" |
The MT has "in their land" (BDB 75). The UBS Text Project gives this a "C" rating (considered doubtful).
They both make sense in this context. Remember, during the plagues the land of Goshen was not affected but only the rest of the land of Egypt. In this case, "their" would refer to all Egypt except Goshen (i.e., part of the Nile delta where the Hebrews kept their flocks and lived). Goshen was close to the capital of Egypt during this period, Rameses.
SPECIAL TOPIC: DATE OF THE EXODUS
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 105:37-45
37Then He brought
them out with silver and gold,
And among His tribes there was
not one who stumbled.
38Egypt was glad
when they departed,
For the dread of them had
fallen upon them.
39He spread a cloud
for a covering,
And fire to illumine by night.
40They asked, and He
brought quail,
And satisfied them with the
bread of heaven.
41He opened the rock
and water flowed out;
It ran in the dry places
like a river.
42For He remembered
His holy word
With Abraham His
servant;
43And He brought
forth His people with joy,
His chosen ones with a joyful
shout.
44He gave them also
the lands of the nations,
That they might take
possession of the fruit of the peoples' labor,
45So that they might
keep His statutes
And observe His laws,
Praise the Lord!
105:37-43 These verses reflect the wilderness wandering period (cf. Numbers 13-36).
105:37 "with silver and gold" The Egyptians gave the Israelites much gold and silver (cf. Exod. 3:21-22; 11:2; 12:35-36). It was a way of illustrating the humiliating defeat by YHWH (cf. Ps. 105:38).
▣ "among His tribes" This phrase may be related to "by their hosts" (BDB 838), which is found in Exod. 6:26; 12:51; and Josephus, Antiq. 14.6. It means that as the Israelites left Egypt on their Exodus, they camped by tribal groupings.
SPECIAL TOPIC: TABERNACLE CAMP
▣ "there was not one who stumbled" This shows God's special miraculous care for the old, sick, and young (cf. Deut. 8:4; 29:5; Neh. 9:21).
105:39 ". . .cloud. . ." This was called the "Shekinah Cloud of Glory" by the rabbis (cf. Exod. 13:21-22; 14:19,24; 33:9-10; Ps. 78:14; 99:7). It accomplished several things for the Israelites.
105:40 "They asked" The MT has "he asked." The UBS Text Project (p. 381) gives this a "C" rating (considerable doubt). The question is who the PRONOUN refers to.
▣ "quail" God provided quail meat twice (cf. Exod. 16:13-14 and Num. 11:31) as a sign of His love and promise of provisions and care.
▣ "bread of heaven" This was another name for manna (cf. Exodus 16).
In Deut. 8:3, the people called it "manna" (BDB 577 I, [Exod. 16:31] from the question of Exod. 16:15, "What is it?" Moses called it "bread from heaven," Exod. 16:4). It was God's special provision of food during the wilderness wandering period. It is described in Exod. 16:4, 14-15; 31; Num. 11:7-8, but its exact substance is unknown to us (BDB says it was known to Bedouins in the Sinai and that it was strictly a juice from a certain twig, but this does not fit the biblical description). God provided what they needed for each day, not for a long period of time, so the people would learn to trust Him for their daily needs. He does this for new covenant believers also (cf. Matt. 6:11).
105:41 "He opened the rock" This divine provision of water was repeated several times (cf. Exod. 17:1-6; Num. 20:11; Deut. 8:15; Ps. 78:20; 114:8). It becomes a Messianic symbol in 1 Cor. 10:4.
105:42 "He remembered His holy word" This refers to God's initial covenant with Abraham (cf. Ps. 105:5-6; Genesis 12-15, especially Gen. 15:16).
105:44-45 These verses reflect the Conquest of Canaan under Joshua.
105:45 "keep His statutes,
And observe His laws" Obedience to the revealed word of God is crucial. Obedience reveals the heart. The covenant has two aspects.
▣ "Praise the Lord" This is literally "praise Yah" (BDB 237 II, KB 248, Piel IMPERATIVE with Yah, BDB 219). In English it is transliterated "hallelujah." This phrase is a common refrain in the last section of the Psalter (i.e., Ps. 104:35; 105:45; 106:1,48; 111:1; 112:1; 113:1,9; 116:19; 117:2; 135:1,21; 146:1,10; 147:1; 148:1,14; 149:1,9; 150:1,6). How appropriate!
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought provoking, not definitive.
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