Psalm 105:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: When they were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in it,

NIV: When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it,

NASB: When they were only a few people in number, Very few, and strangers in it.

CSB: When they were few in number, very few indeed, and resident aliens in Canaan,

NLT: He said this when they were few in number, a tiny group of strangers in Canaan.

KJV: When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.

NKJV: When they were few in number, Indeed very few, and strangers in it.

Psalm 105:12–25 recalls how the Lord protected patriarchs like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. One of Jacob's sons, Joseph, was enslaved in Egypt, but rose to become second-in-command over the entire nation. Joseph guided Egypt through a terrible famine. Jacob and the rest of the family settled in Egypt; they were so prosperous that the Egyptians jealously enslaved the Israelites.

This song celebrates God's faithfulness as demonstrated in the history of the nation of Israel. God made promises to Abraham, which were carried along to his descendants through Isaac and Jacob. One of Jacob's sons, Joseph, would rise from slavery in Egypt to become the nation's governor. Israel moved into Egypt under Joseph's protection but fell into slavery. Then God sent Moses and a series of tremendous plagues to break Israel's slavery. God provided protection and food for the people in the wilderness and eventually brought them to the Promised Land. For this, the Lord ought to be worshipped.

Psalm 105 summarizes how God's chosen people came into Egypt and were rescued from slavery. God's first promises were to Abraham (Genesis 12:1–4). His descendant Joseph rose to power in Egypt (Genesis 41:39–40) and the entire people of Israel settled there (Genesis 47:11–12). After centuries of slavery (Exodus 1:8–14), God used Moses and tremendous miracles to free the people (Exodus 3:19–20; 12:41). After providing for them in the wilderness (Exodus 16:13–15; 17:5–6), the Lord brought Israel into the Promised Land of Canaan (Joshua 1:2–3). Psalm 106 emphasizes the nation's many failures, in contrast to the Lord's faithfulness.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 11/23/2024 6:20:35 AM