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Commentary on Psalms 105 verses 25–45
After the history of the patriarchs follows here the history of the people of Israel, when they grew into a nation.
I. Their affliction in Egypt (Psa 105:25): He turned the heart of the Egyptians, who had protected them, to hate them and deal subtilely with them. God's goodness to his people exasperated the Egyptians against them; and, though their old antipathy to the Hebrews (which we read of Gen 43:32; Gen 46:34) was laid asleep for a while, yet now it revived with more violence than ever: formerly they hated them because they despised them, now because they feared them. They dealt subtilely with them, set all their politics on work to find out ways and means to weaken them, and waste them, and prevent their growth; they made their burdens heavy and their lives bitter, and slew their male children as soon as they were born. Malice is crafty to destroy: Satan has the serpent's subtlety, with his venom. It was God that turned the hearts of the Egyptians against them; for every creature is that to us that he makes it to be, a friend or an enemy. Though God is not the author of the sins of men, yet he serves his own purposes by them.
II. Their deliverance out of Egypt, that work of wonder, which, that it might never be forgotten, is put into the preface to the ten commandments. Observe,
1.The instruments employed in that deliverance (Psa 105:26): He sent Moses his servant on this errand and joined Aaron in commission with him. Moses was designed to be their lawgiver and chief magistrate, Aaron to be their chief priest; and therefore, that they might respect them the more and submit to them the more cheerfully, God made use of them as their deliverers.
2.The means of accomplishing that deliverance; these were the plagues of Egypt. Moses and Aaron observed their orders, in summoning them just as God appointed them, and they rebelled not against his word (Psa 105:28) as Jonah did, who, when he was sent to denounce God's judgments against Nineveh, went to Tarshish. Moses and Aaron were not moved, either with a foolish fear of Pharaoh's wrath or a foolish pity of Egypt's misery, to relax or retard any of the plagues which God ordered them to inflict on the Egyptians, but stretched forth their hand to inflict them as God appointed. Those that are instructed to execute judgment will find their remissness construed as a rebellion against God's word. The plagues of Egypt are here called God's signs, and his wonders (Psa 105:27); they were not only proofs of his power, but tokens of his wrath, and to be looked upon with admiration and holy awe. They showed the words of his signs (so it is in the original), for every plague had an exposition going along with it; they were not, as the common works of creation and providence, silent signs, but speaking ones, and they spoke aloud. They are all or most of them here specified, though not in the order in which they were inflicted. (1.) The plague of darkness, Psa 105:28. This was one of the last, though here mentioned first. God sent darkness, and, coming with commission, it came with efficacy; his command made it dark. And then they (that is, the people of Israel) rebelled not against God's word, namely, a command which some think was given them to circumcise all among them that had not been circumcised, in doing which the three days' darkness would be a protection to them. The old translation follows the Septuagint, and reads it, They were not obedient to his word, which may be applied to Pharaoh and the Egyptians, who, notwithstanding the terror of this plague, would not let the people go; but there is no ground for it in the Hebrew. (2.) The turning of the river Nilus (which they idolized) into blood, and all their other waters, which slew their fish (Psa 105:29), and so they were deprived, not only of their drink, but of the daintiest of their meat, Num 11:5. (3.) The frogs, shoals of which their land brought forth, which poured in upon them, not only in such numbers, but with such fury, that they could not keep them out of the chambers of their kings and great men, whose hearts had been full of vermin, more nauseous and more noxious-contempt of, and enmity to, both God and his Israel. (4.) Flies of divers sorts swarmed in their air, and lice in their clothes, Psa 105:31; Exo 8:17, Exo 8:24. Note, God can make use of the meanest, and weakest, and most despicable animals, for the punishing and humbling of proud oppressors, to whom the impotency of the instrument cannot but be a great mortification, as well as an undeniable conviction of the divine omnipotence. (5.) Hail-stones shattered their trees, even the strongest timber-trees in their coasts, and killed their vines, and their other fruit-trees, Psa 105:32, Psa 105:33. Instead of rain to cherish their trees, he gave them hail to crush them, and with it thunder and lightning, to such a degree that the fire ran along upon the ground, as if it had been a stream of kindled brimstone, Exo 9:23. (6.) Locusts and caterpillars destroyed all the herbs which were made for the service of man and ate the bread out of their mouths, Psa 105:34, Psa 105:35. See what variety of judgments God has, wherewith to plague proud oppressors, that will not let his people go. God did not bring the same plague twice, but, when there was occasion for another, it was still a new one; for he has many arrows in his quiver. Locusts and caterpillars are God's armies; and, how weak soever they are singly, he can raise such numbers of them as to make them formidable, Joe 1:4, Joe 1:6. (7.) Having mentioned all the plagues but those of the murrain and boils, he concludes with that which gave the conquering stroke, and that was the death of the first-born, Psa 105:36. In the dead of the night the joys and hopes of their families, the chief of their strength and flower of their land, were all struck dead by the destroying angel. They would not release God's first-born, and therefore God seized theirs by way of reprisal, and thereby forced them to dismiss his too, when it was too late to retrieve their own; for when God judges he will overcome, and those will certainly sit down losers at last that contend with him.
3.The mercies that accompanied this deliverance. In their bondage, (1.) They had been impoverished, and yet they came out rich and wealthy. God not only brought them forth, but he brought them forth with silver and gold, Psa 105:37. God empowered them to ask and collect the contributions of their neighbours (which were indeed but part of payment for the service they had done them) and inclined the Egyptians to furnish them with what they asked. Their wealth was his, and therefore he might, their hearts were in his hand, and therefore he could, give it to the Israelites. (2.) Their lives had been made bitter to them, and their bodies and spirits broken by their bondage; and yet, when God brought them forth, there was not one feeble person, none sick, none so much as sickly, among their tribes. They went out that very night that the plague swept away all the first-born of Egypt, and yet they went out all in good health, and brought not with them any of the diseases of Egypt. Surely never was the like, that among so many thousands there was not one sick! So false was the representation which the enemies of the Jews, in after-ages, gave of this matter, that they were all sick of a leprosy, or some loathsome disease, and that therefore the Egyptians thrust them out of their land. (3.) They had been trampled upon and insulted over; and yet they were brought out with honour (Psa 105:38): Egypt was glad when they departed; for God had so wonderfully owned them, and pleaded their cause, that the fear of Israel fell upon them, and they owned themselves baffled and overcome. God can and will make his church a burdensome stone to all that heave at it and seek to displace it, so that those shall think themselves happy that get out of its way, Zac 12:3. When God judges, he will overcome. (4.) They had spent their days in sorrow and in sighing, by reason of their bondage; but now he brought them forth with joy and gladness, Psa 105:43. When Egypt's cry for grief was loud, their first-born being all slain, Israel's shouts for joy were as loud, both when they looked back upon the land of slavery out of which they were rescued and when they looked forward to the pleasant land to which they were hastening. God now put a new song into their mouth.
4.The special care God took of them in the wilderness. (1.) For their shelter. Besides the canopy of heaven, he provided them another heavenly canopy: He spread a cloud for a covering (Psa 105:39), which was to them not only a screen and umbrella, but a cloth of state. A cloud was often God's pavilion (Psa 18:11) and now it was Israel's; for they also were his hidden ones. (2.) For their guidance and refreshment in the dark. He appointed a pillar of fire to give light in the night, that they might never be at a loss. Note, God graciously provides against all the grievances of his people, and furnishes them with convenient succours for every condition, for day and night, till they come to heaven, where it will be all day to eternity. (3.) He fed them both with necessaries and dainties. Sometimes he furnished their tables with wild fowl (Psa 105:40): The people asked, and he brought quails; and, when they were not thus feasted, yet they were abundantly satisfied with the bread of heaven. Those are curious and covetous indeed who will not be so satisfied. Man did eat angels' food, and that constantly and on free-cost. And, as every bit they ate had miracle in it, so had every drop they drank: He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out, Psa 105:41. Common providence fetches waters from heaven, and bread out of the earth; but for Israel the divine power brings bread from the clouds and water from the rocks: so far is the God of nature from being tied to the laws and courses of nature. The water did not only gush out once, but it ran like a river, plentifully and constantly, and attended their camp in all their removes; hence they are said to have the rock follow them (Co1 10:4), and, which increased the miracle, this river of God (so it might be truly called) ran in dry places, and yet was not drunk in and lost, as one would have expected it to be, by the sands of the desert of Arabia. To this that promise alludes, I will give rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen, Isa 43:19, Isa 43:20.
5.Their entrance, at length, into Canaan (Psa 105:44): He gave them the lands of the heathen, put them in possession of that which they had long been put in hopes of; and what the Canaanites had taken pains for God's Israel had the enjoyment of: They inherited the labour of the people; and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. The Egyptians had long inherited their labours, and now they inherited the labours of the Canaanites. Thus sometimes one enemy of the church is made to pay another's scores.
6.The reasons why God did all this for them. (1.) Because he would himself perform the promises of the word, Psa 105:42. They were unworthy and unthankful, yet he did those great things in their favour because he remembered the word of his holiness (that is, his covenant) with Abraham his servant, and he would not suffer one iota or tittle of that to fall to the ground. See Deu 7:8. (2.) Because he would have them to perform the precepts of the word, to bind them to which was the greatest kindness he could put upon them. He put them in possession of Canaan, not that they might live in plenty and pleasure, in ease and honour, and might make a figure among the nations, but that they might observe his statutes and keep his laws, - that, being formed into a people, they might be under God's immediate government, and revealed religion might be the basis of their national constitution, - that, having a good land given them, they might out of the profits of it bring sacrifices to God's altar, - and that, God having thus done them good, they might the more cheerfully receive his law, concluding that also designed for their good, and might be sensible of their obligations in gratitude to live in obedience to him. We are therefore made, maintained, and redeemed, that we may live in obedience to the will of God; and the hallelujah with which the psalm concludes may be taken both as a thankful acknowledgment of God's favours and as a cheerful concurrence with this great intention of them. Has God done so much for us, and yet does he expect so little from us? Praise you the Lord.
"He spoke the word, and the locust came, and the caterpillar, of which there was no number" [Psalm 105:34]. The locusts and the caterpillars are one plague: of which the one is the parent, the other the offspring.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 105:34 powerfully recounts God's sovereign command over creation, specifically detailing the devastating plague of locusts and caterpillars unleashed upon Egypt. This verse, embedded within a historical psalm celebrating God's covenant faithfulness, highlights His absolute authority to speak and bring forth overwhelming natural forces, thereby executing judgment upon Pharaoh and securing the miraculous deliverance of His people, Israel, from bondage.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Psalm 105 is a historical psalm, a hymn of praise and thanksgiving that systematically recounts God's faithfulness to Israel from the Abrahamic covenant through the Exodus and wilderness wanderings. It serves as a national anthem, reminding the people of God's mighty acts and His unwavering commitment to His promises. The psalm begins with an exhortation to praise God for His wondrous works found in Psalms 105:1-6, then traces the lineage from Abraham in Psalms 105:7-15, through Joseph's trials in Psalms 105:16-25, and culminates in the Exodus narrative. Verses Psalms 105:26-38 specifically detail the ten plagues God inflicted upon Egypt, with verse 34 focusing on the eighth plague, the locusts, as described in Exodus 10. This section underscores God's supremacy over Pharaoh and the Egyptian deities, demonstrating His power to intervene decisively in human history for the sake of His covenant people.
Historical & Cultural Context: The events described in Psalm 105:34 are set during the period of the Israelite enslavement in ancient Egypt, preceding the Exodus. Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, was considered a divine king, a living god, and his land was thought to be protected by a pantheon of Egyptian deities. The plagues, therefore, were not merely natural disasters but direct assaults on the economic, social, and religious fabric of Egypt, serving as a divine judgment against Pharaoh's obstinate refusal to release Israel and a demonstration of Yahweh's absolute superiority over all Egyptian gods. The plague of locusts, specifically, was devastating to an agrarian society like Egypt, dependent on its crops for sustenance. Locust swarms were a known, though infrequent, natural disaster in the ancient Near East, but their scale and timing during the Exodus account were clearly supernatural, orchestrated by God to break Pharaoh's will and showcase His power to both Egyptians and Israelites.
Key Themes: This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes within Psalm 105 and the broader biblical narrative. Foremost is the theme of Divine Sovereignty and Power, illustrated by the simple yet potent phrase "He spake," which underscores God's omnipotent word and His absolute control over creation. The plague itself demonstrates Divine Judgment, as God punishes Egypt for its oppression and defiance, targeting its agricultural prosperity and its false gods. Conversely, for Israel, the plagues represent Divine Deliverance and Covenant Faithfulness, as God actively intervenes to fulfill His ancient promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, freeing His people from bondage and leading them toward the promised land. The recounting of these events in the psalm serves to instill trust and worship in God, reminding future generations of His mighty acts on behalf of His chosen people, as seen in Deuteronomy 6:20-25.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalm 105:34 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message. The most prominent is Divine Command, where God's simple act of speaking brings about a massive, devastating event. This highlights God's absolute Sovereignty and Omnipotence, emphasizing that His word is inherently effective and carries immediate power, demonstrating that creation instantly obeys its Creator. The description of the insects as "without number" is a form of Hyperbole, exaggerating their quantity to convey the overwhelming and inescapable nature of the plague. While not literally countless, the phrase emphasizes the immense scale of the infestation, leaving no doubt about its destructive power and the futility of human resistance. The pairing of "locusts" and "caterpillars" (or other devouring insects) creates a sense of Totality or Completeness, indicating that the destruction was comprehensive and spared nothing. This also functions as a form of Merism, where two distinct but related terms are used to represent the whole category of destructive insects, signifying the utter devastation of Egypt's crops.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse resonates deeply with the biblical understanding of God's active involvement in His creation and His unwavering commitment to His covenant people. It demonstrates that God's word is not merely descriptive but performative; when He speaks, things happen. This divine power is consistently deployed for both judgment and salvation, serving His ultimate redemptive purposes. The plague of locusts, like the other plagues, was a direct challenge to the false gods of Egypt and a clear demonstration of Yahweh's unique supremacy. It foreshadows a consistent biblical pattern where God uses natural phenomena as instruments of His will, whether for blessing or for judgment, always in accordance with His righteous character and His covenant promises.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 105:34 offers profound insights for contemporary believers. It is a powerful reminder that the God we worship is not a distant, passive deity but an active, sovereign Lord who speaks and acts decisively in the affairs of humanity. For those who trust in Him, this verse provides immense comfort and assurance: if God could unleash such overwhelming power to deliver His people from the might of Egypt, He is certainly able to overcome any obstacle, fulfill His promises, and work all things for the good of those who love Him. It calls us to a deeper faith, to trust in His word as utterly reliable and effective, knowing that when He "spake," it was done. Conversely, for those who resist God's will or oppress His people, this verse serves as a sober warning of His ultimate authority and the inevitable consequences of defying His righteous commands. It challenges us to examine our own lives: are we aligned with His purposes, or are we, like Pharaoh, resisting His clear will? Our response to God's word, whether in obedience or defiance, has eternal implications, echoing the divine principle that God's word always accomplishes its purpose.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of the "locusts" and "caterpillars" in this verse?
Answer: The significance lies in their overwhelming destructive capacity and their role as instruments of divine judgment. Locusts (Hebrew: ʼarbeh) were a known, devastating plague in the ancient world, capable of consuming all vegetation. "Caterpillars" (Hebrew: yeleq) likely refers to another stage of locust or a similar voracious insect, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the infestation. Together, they represent a total agricultural catastrophe, orchestrated by God to demonstrate His power over creation and to break Pharaoh's will, leading to the release of His people, as detailed in Exodus 10.
Why does the verse emphasize "without number"?
Answer: The phrase "without number" (literally, "and there was no number to them") is a hyperbole that emphasizes the immense, overwhelming scale of the plague. It conveys that the swarm was so vast that it was literally uncountable, signifying an inescapable and complete devastation. This highlights the supernatural nature of the plague, demonstrating God's ability to bring forth an infinite multitude of destructive agents, leaving no hope for Egypt's crops and underscoring the futility of Pharaoh's resistance. It underscores God's absolute control and the totality of His judgment.
How does this verse relate to God's character?
Answer: This verse profoundly reveals several aspects of God's character. First, it showcases His omnipotence and sovereignty, as He simply "spake" and creation obeyed. Second, it highlights His righteousness and justice, as He executes judgment upon those who oppress His people and defy His commands. Third, and perhaps most importantly, it underscores His faithfulness to His covenant promises. The plagues were not arbitrary but were a direct means to fulfill His promise to Abraham to deliver His descendants and bring them into the promised land, demonstrating His unwavering commitment to His chosen people, as seen throughout Psalm 105.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 105:34, with its depiction of God's spoken word bringing forth overwhelming power, finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in the person of Jesus Christ. Just as God "spake" to unleash the plagues, so too did God speak His ultimate Word into existence in the person of Jesus, through whom "all things were made" and "without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3). Christ is the divine Word made flesh (John 1:14), possessing the same inherent authority and power over creation. He demonstrated this authority by calming storms with a word (Mark 4:39), casting out demons by command (Mark 1:27), and even raising the dead through His authoritative voice (John 11:43). The judgment upon Egypt, leading to Israel's physical deliverance, foreshadows the spiritual deliverance accomplished by Christ. He is the ultimate Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!, whose sacrifice delivers humanity from the bondage of sin and the judgment it incurs. Thus, the power of God's spoken word in Psalms 105:34 points forward to the living Word, Jesus Christ, who not only commands creation but also offers ultimate salvation and eternal life to all who believe in Him.