1005
Psalms 78:16
77:19 You walked through the sea; 
you passed through the surging waters,
but left no footprints.
77:20 You led your people like a flock of
sheep,
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Psalm 78
A well-written song by Asaph.
78:1 Pay attention, my people, to my in-
struction!
Listen to the words I speak!
78:2 I will sing a song that imparts wis-
dom;
I will make insightful observations about
the past.
78:3 What we have heard and learned
that which our ancestors have told us
78:4 we will not hide from their10 descen-
dants.
We will tell the next generation
about the Lords praiseworthy acts,11
about his strength and the amazing things
he has done.
78:5 He established a rule12 in Jacob;
he set up a law in Israel.
He commanded our ancestors
to make his deeds known to their descen-
dants,13
78:6 so that the next generation, children
yet to be born,
might know about them.
tn Heb in the sea [was] your way.
tn Heb and your paths [were] in the mighty waters.
tn Heb and your footprints were not known.
sn Psalm 78. The author of this lengthy didactic psalm re-
hearses Israels history. He praises God for his power, good-
ness and patience, but also reminds his audience that sin
angers God and prompts his judgment. In the conclusion to
the psalm the author elevates Jerusalem as Gods chosen
city and David as his chosen king.
tn The meaning of the Hebrew term ( maskil) is un-
certain. See the note on the phrase well-written song in the
superscription of Ps 74.
tn Heb Turn your ear to the words of my mouth.
tn Heb I will open with a wise saying my mouth, I will utter
insightful sayings from long ago. Elsewhere the Hebrew word
pair +( mashal + khidah) refers to a taunt song (Hab
2:6), a parable (Ezek 17:2), proverbial sayings (Prov 1:6), and
an insightful song that reflects on the mortality of humankind
and the ultimate inability of riches to prevent death (Ps 49:4).
tn Or known.
tn Heb fathers (also in vv. 5, 8, 12, 57).
10tn The pronominal suffix refers back to the fathers
(our ancestors, v. 3).
11tn Heb to a following generation telling the praises of
the Lord. Praises stand by metonymy for the mighty acts
that prompt worship. Cf. Ps 9:14.
12tn The Hebrew noun ( edut) refers here to Gods
command that the older generation teach their children
about Gods mighty deeds in the nations history (see Exod
10:2; Deut 4:9; 6:20-25).
13tn Heb which he commanded our fathers to make them
known to their sons. The plural suffix them probably refers
back to the Lords mighty deeds (see vv. 3-4).
They will grow up and tell their descen-
dants about them.14
78:7 Then they will place their confidence
in God.
They will not forget the works of God,
and they will obey15 his commands.
78:8 Then they will not be like their an-
cestors,
who were a stubborn and rebellious gen-
eration,
a generation that was not committed
and faithful to God.16
78:9 The Ephraimites17 were armed with
bows,18
but they retreated in the day of battle.19
78:10 They did not keep their covenant
with God,20
and they refused to obey21 his law.
78:11 They forgot what he had done,22
the amazing things he had shown them.
78:12 He did amazing things in the sight
of their ancestors,
in the land of Egypt, in the region of
Zoan.23
78:13 He divided the sea and led them
across it;
he made the water stand in a heap.
78:14 He led them with a cloud by day,
and with the light of a fire all night long.
78:15 He broke open rocks in the wilder-
ness,
and gave them enough water to fill the
depths of the sea.24
78:16 He caused streams to flow from the
rock,
and made the water flow like rivers.
14tn Heb in order that they might know, a following genera-
tion, sons [who] will be born, they will arise and will tell to their
sons.
15tn Heb keep.
16tn Heb a generation that did not make firm its heart and
whose spirit was not faithful with God. The expression make
firm the heart means to be committed, devoted (see 1
Sam 7:3).
17tn Heb the sons of Ephraim. Ephraim probably stands
here by synecdoche (part for whole) for the northern kingdom
of Israel.
18tn Heb ones armed, shooters of bow. It is possible that
the term ( noshqey, ones armed [with]) is an interpre-
tive gloss for the rare ( romey, shooters of; on the lat-
ter see BDB 941 s.v. I ) . The phrase ( noshqey
qeshet, ones armed with a bow) appears in 1 Chr 12:2; 2
Chr 17:17.
19sn They retreated. This could refer to the northern tribes
failure to conquer completely their allotted territory (see Judg
1), or it could refer generally to the typical consequence (mili-
tary defeat) of their sin (see vv. 10-11).
20tn Heb the covenant of God.
21tn Heb walk in.
22tn Heb his deeds.
23sn The region of Zoan was located in the Egyptian del-
ta, where the enslaved Israelites lived (see Num 13:22; Isa
19:11, 13; 30:4; Ezek 30:14).
24tn Heb and caused them to drink, like the depths, abun-
dantly.