psalm-78:9,-psalm-78:10-niv

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 78:9

The children of Ephraim - The sons of Ephraim; that is, the descendants of Ephraim; the tribe of Ephraim. Ephraim was one of the “largest” of the tribes of Israel, and was the “chief” tribe in the rebellion, and hence, the term is often used to denote the “ten” tribes, or the kingdom of Israel, in contradistinction from that of Judah. See Isaiah 7:2, Isaiah 7:5,Isaiah 7:8-9, Isaiah 7:17; Isaiah 11:13; Isaiah 28:1. The word is evidently used in this sense here, not as denoting that one tribe... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 78:9

Psalms 78:9. The children of Ephraim, being armed, turned back in the day of battle “This defeat of the Ephraimites,” says Dr. Hammond, from Kimchi, “was in the desert: and although the story be not mentioned in the books of Moses, yet it is written in the Chronicles, (see 1 Chronicles 7:21-22,) where, from the circumstances of Ephraim’s mourning, it appears it happened before the Israelites entered into Canaan; and the manner of the relation shows it was a considerable slaughter.” Bishop... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:1-68

Psalms 78:0 Lessons from historyBeing a true teacher, the psalmist is concerned for the spiritual condition of his people. His present intention is to comment on events in the history of Israel so that people of future generations may take heed (1-4). God gave his law to his people to guide them. The record of his faithfulness will be an encouragement, the record of Israel’s failures a warning (5-8).The first reminder is of the stubbornness of the tribe of Ephraim in one of Israel’s early... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Psalms 78:9

Ephraim. The mention of Ephraim is not "perplexing". See explanation in next verse, and in the events of Judges 12:1-6 ; Jdg 12:17 , Jdg 12:18 : viz. the introduction of idolatry. It is sin which is spoken of. See Psalms 78:57 , "deceitful bow". Compare Hosea 7:16 ; Hosea 10:6-8 . carrying bows: i.e. though equipped as bowmen, yet were faithless. This is transferred to the moral application. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Psalms 78:9-11

EPHRAIM; A TYPICAL EXAMPLE OF INFIDELITY"The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, Turned back in the day of battle. They kept not the covenant of God, And refused to walk in his law; And they forgat his doings, and his wondrous works that he had showed them.""Ephraim ... turned back in the day of battle" (Psalms 78:9). Dahood interpreted this to mean that, "Despite the Ephraimites having been selected as Yahweh's elite bowmen, the Ephraimites were later rejected for... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Psalms 78:9

Psalms 78:9. The children of Ephraim, &c.— The sons of Ephraim, who were armed with the bow, were put to flight in the day of battle; Psa 78:10 because he kept not, &c. Green: who renders the 12th and following verses in the pluperfect, like the 11th. He had wrought marvellous things; he had divided the sea, &c. The history here referred to seems to be that of the Israelites going up, contrary to God's command, to take possession of the land of Canaan, when they were smitten before... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Psalms 78:9

9-11. The privileges of the first-born which belonged to Joseph (1 Chronicles 5:1; 1 Chronicles 5:2) were assigned to Ephraim by Jacob (Genesis 48:1). The supremacy of the tribe thus intimated was recognized by its position (in the marching of the nation to Canaan) next to the ark (Genesis 48:1- :), by the selection of the first permanent locality for the ark within its borders at Shiloh, and by the extensive and fertile province given for its possession. Traces of this prominence remained... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 78:1-72

Psalms 78This didactic psalm teaches present and future generations to learn from the past, and it stresses the grace of God. Didactic psalms offer wisdom to the reader. Some have called this a history psalm (cf. Psalms 105, 106, 114, 135, , 136). [Note: Wiersbe, The . . . Wisdom . . ., p. 230.] "This could be sub-titled, in view of Psalms 78:12; Psalms 78:68, From Zoan to Zion, for it reviews the turbulent adolescence of Israel from its time of slavery in Egypt to the reign of David. Like the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 78:9-11

2. A notable defection 78:9-11It is difficult to identify with certainty the occasion that these verses describe. Ephraim was not only the name of one tribe in Israel. It was also the name of the northern nation of Israel after the United Kingdom split in Rehoboam’s day. Assuming the writer was a contemporary of David, Ephraim the tribe appears to be in view here. In any case, the writer used this incident as a bad example that his hearers should avoid. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:1-72

This long historical Ps. may be compared with Psalms 105, 106, and with Deuteronomy 32. It traces the course of God’s relations with His people from the exodus down to the time of David, and dwells on the repeated manifestations of Israel’s rebelliousness, on the chastisements by which they were visited, and on the patient mercy of God which continued to bless them in spite of all their sins. The Ps. does not follow a strict chronological order, but records first Israel’s ingratitude for God’s... read more