Psalms 74:2 - Exposition

Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; or, which thou didst purchase of old. The reference is to the redemption out of Egypt (see Exodus 15:16 ). God is besought, though he has forgotten, once more to remember his people, and urged to do so by the memory of his former mercies (comp. Psalms 74:12-17 ). The rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed ; rather, which thou didst redeem to be the tribe of thine inheritance; i.e. the people of thine inheritance. "The conventional expression, 'the tribes of Israel,' was not always used after the fall of the northern kingdom" (Cheyne); comp. Jeremiah 10:16 ; Jeremiah 51:19 . This Mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt (comp. Psalms 73:1-28 :68). The expression, "this Mount Zion," implies that the psalm is composed either by one of the exiles before he is removed from the Holy Land, or by one of those who were left behind by the conquerors ( 2 Kings 25:12 , 2 Kings 25:22 ; Jeremiah 42:10 ; Jeremiah 52:16 ).