Psalms 78:55

He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.

He cast out {H1644}{H8762)} the heathen {H1471} also before {H6440} them, and divided {H5307}{H8686)} them an inheritance {H5159} by line {H2256}, and made the tribes {H7626} of Israel {H3478} to dwell {H7931}{H8686)} in their tents {H168}.

He expelled nations before them, apportioned them property to inherit and made Isra'el's tribes live in their tents.

He drove out nations before them and apportioned their inheritance; He settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.

He drove out the nations also before them, And allotted them for an inheritance by line, And made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.

Psalms 78:55 (KJV) provides a concise summary of God's powerful and faithful actions in establishing the nation of Israel in the Promised Land. It highlights His sovereign hand in fulfilling His ancient covenant promises.

Context

Psalm 78 is a sweeping historical narrative, recounting Israel's journey from the Exodus to the time of David. The psalmist, Asaph, uses this history to teach future generations about God's steadfast love and Israel's repeated disobedience. Verse 55 specifically recalls the crucial period of the conquest of Canaan and the subsequent settlement of the twelve tribes. This era marked a significant fulfillment of the covenant God made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, promising them a land of their own.

Key Themes

  • Divine Faithfulness: The verse powerfully demonstrates God's unwavering commitment to His promises. Despite Israel's wilderness wanderings and frequent rebellion, God meticulously performed what He said He would do, driving out the existing inhabitants and settling His people.
  • Sovereign Power: "He cast out the heathen also before them" emphasizes God's active and irresistible power. It was not by Israel's might alone, but by divine intervention, that the indigenous Canaanite nations were dispossessed.
  • Ordered Inheritance: "Divided them an inheritance by line" speaks to the precise and orderly distribution of the land. This was not a chaotic grab but a divinely orchestrated allocation, often done by lot, ensuring each tribe received its designated portion as described in books like Numbers 26 and Joshua.
  • Settlement and Rest: "Made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents" signifies the transition from nomadic wandering to a settled, secure existence in their own land, a place of rest provided by God after their long journey.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "by line" in "divided them an inheritance by line" is significant. The Hebrew word is chebel (חֶבֶל), which can refer to a measuring line, a cord, or by extension, a portion or allotment measured out. This term underscores the idea of a precise, defined, and divinely appointed boundary for each tribal inheritance, rather than a haphazard distribution. It implies a sense of order and divine providence in the land's apportionment, highlighting God's meticulous care.

Practical Application

Psalms 78:55 serves as a powerful reminder of God's enduring faithfulness to His covenant promises. For believers today, this verse offers several insights:

  • God Keeps His Word: Just as God fulfilled His promise to Israel regarding the land, so too will He fulfill all His promises to us. This includes our spiritual inheritance in Christ and the promise of a new heaven and new earth where there will be no more tears.
  • Trust in His Sovereignty: We can trust that God is actively working in our lives and in the world, bringing His purposes to pass, even when circumstances seem chaotic or challenging. His hand is always at work.
  • Our Spiritual Inheritance: While our inheritance is not a physical plot of land, believers are promised an eternal inheritance in Christ, a spiritual possession that is imperishable and undefiled, reserved in heaven (1 Peter 1:4). This verse encourages us to look forward to the fulfillment of God's ultimate promises.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Joshua 13:7

    ¶ Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh,

  • Psalms 44:2

    [How] thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; [how] thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.

  • Nehemiah 9:22

    Moreover thou gavest them kingdoms and nations, and didst divide them into corners: so they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.

  • Nehemiah 9:25

    And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells digged, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness.

  • Joshua 6:1

    ¶ Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.

  • Joshua 6:21

    And they utterly destroyed all that [was] in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.

  • Deuteronomy 6:10

    And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,

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