Verse-by-Verse Bible CommentaryPsalms 105:16
And He called for a famine upon the land; He broke the whole staff of bread. Jump to: Barne's Notes • Coffman Commentaries • Gill's Exposition • Geneva Study Bible • Commentary Critical and Explanatory • Wesley's Notes • Calvin's Commentary • Trapp's Commentary • Poole's Annotations • Whedon's Commentary • Haydock's Catholic Commentary • Ellicott's Commentary • Treasury of Knowledge Other Authors
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole BibleMoreover, he called for a famine upon the land - It was not by chance; not by the mere operation of physical laws, but it was because God “ordered” it. The famine here referred to, as the connection shows, was that which occurred in the time of Jacob, and which was the occasion of the migration into Egypt. There was also a famine in the time of Abraham Genesis 12:10; but the design of the psalmist here is to refer to that period of the Jewish history which pertained to their residence in Egypt, and to the dealings of God with the nation when there, as furnishing an occasion for gratitude. Isaiah 3:1. Copyright Statement Bibliography Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible"And he called for a famine upon the land; He brake the whole staff of bread. He sent a man before them; Joseph was sold for a servant: His feet they hurt with fetters: He was laid in chains of iron, Until the time his word came to pass, The word of Jehovah tried him." "He called for a famine" (Psalms 105:16). God's plan was to send all of Israel into Egyptian slavery, as he had prophesied through Abraham (Genesis 15); and the famine fitted into that purpose. "He sent a man before them" (Psalms 105:17). The sale of Joseph by his brothers, somewhat earlier than the famine, was also part of God's plan, another instance of, "the wrath of man praising God." "Feet hurt with fetters" (Psalms 105:18). This is a detail not found in Genesis; but the truth of it cannot be doubted. "He was laid in chains of iron" (Psalms 105:18). An alternative reading is, "The iron entered into his soul." The RSV renders this, "His neck was put in a collar of iron." "The word of Jehovah tried him" (Psalms 105:19). Dean Johnson believed that the implied promise to Joseph of preeminence above his brothers in those dreams which led to their hatred of him (Genesis 37) seemed utterly impossible of fulfilment during Joseph's imprisonment; and that, "This bitter contrast with what Joseph had expected is what tried or tested Joseph."[9] The opinion of this writer is that it was the temptation from the wife of Potiphar which was at least one of the ways in which the word of Jehovah tried him. It might have been both and also have included other tests. Copyright Statement Bibliography John Gill's Exposition of the Whole BibleMoreover, he called for a famine upon the land,.... On the land of Egypt; or rather on the land of Canaan, where Jacob and his sons sojourned; and which reached to all lands, Genesis 41:56 and calling for it, it came, being a servant at the command of the Lord; see 2 Kings 8:1. He brake the whole staff of bread; so called, because it is the support of man's life, the principal of his sustenance: as a staff is a support to a feeble person, and which, when broke, ceases to be so. The staff of bread is broken, when either the virtue and efficacy of it for nourishment is taken away or denied; or when there is a scarcity of bread corn; which latter seems to be intended here; see Isaiah 3:1. Copyright Statement Bibliography Geneva Study BibleMoreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole k staff of bread.(k) Either by sending scarcity or the strength and nourishment of it. Copyright Statement Bibliography Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole BibleGod ordered the famine. God called for a famine — as if it were a servant, ready to come at God‘s bidding. Compare the centurion‘s words, as to disease being God‘s servant (Matthew 8:8, Matthew 8:9). upon the land — namely, Canaan (Genesis 41:54). staff of bread — what supports life (Leviticus 26:26; Psalm 104:15; Isaiah 3:1). Copyright Statement Bibliography Wesley's Explanatory NotesMoreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread. Staff of bread — Bread, which is the staff or support of our lives. Copyright Statement Bibliography Calvin's Commentary on the Bible16.And he called a famine upon the land Here the inspired writer recounts a most illustrious proof of divine providence towards the chosen people, at the time when the covenant might seem to be void and disannulled. The inheritance of the land of Canaan (as has been stated above) was added, as an earnest or pledge for confirmation. The descent of Jacob into Egypt, which deprived his house of the sight of the land, could not make the covenant to perish. In this the constancy of God shone forth the brighter; yea, by this trial he manifested more plainly how provident a father he was in preserving the seed of Abraham. But it is better to consider each particular in the verse. In the first place, it is taught, that the famine which drove Jacob into Egypt did not happen by chance. Although only one particular famine is here treated of, it is to be held as a general principle, that there is no other cause of any scarcity of sustenance except this, that God, in withdrawing his hand, takes away the means of support. The curse of God is expressed more emphatically, when it is said, that the famine was called; as if it were ready at his command, as a minister of his wrath. By this we are instructed, that famine, pestilence, and other scourges of God, do not visit men by chance, but are directed by his hand whither it pleases him, and are obedient to his will. (211) The manner in which the famine was called is next stated, namely, when he brake the staff of bread The metaphor of staff is very appropriate; for God has put into bread the power and property of strengthening man, by a secret virtue which fits it to sustain us. So long as it pleases him to nourish us by such means, a staff as it were lies hidden within it. This staff is broken in two ways; either, first, when he takes away the supply of grain necessary for our nourishment, the sense in which it seems to be used in Ezekiel “Moreover, he said unto me, Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem, and they shall eat bread by weight, and with care; and they shall drink water by measure, and with astonishment;” Ezekiel 4:16 or, secondly, when he breathes in anger upon the bread itself, so that those who would satisfy themselves by devouring it, instead of having their hunger thereby removed, remain famished still. And certainly to the barrenness of the earth this second is commonly added, namely, that he takes away the sustaining power which is in bread; for, as it is declared in Deuteronomy 8:3, bread does not give life of itself, but borrows its secret virtue from the mouth of God. Copyright Statement Bibliography John Trapp Complete CommentaryPsalms 105:16 Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread. Ver. 16. Moreover he called for a famine] How easy is it with God soon to starve us all by denying us a harvest or two! If he do but call for a famine it is done.
He brake the whole staff of bread] Either by withdrawing bread, that staff of man’s life, or his blessing from it; for man liveth not by bread alone (or at all), but by every word, &c., Matthew 4:4, without which bread can no more nourish us than a clod of clay, In pane conclusus est quasi baculus, qui nos sustineat. See Haggai 1:6. {See Trapp on "Haggai 1:6"} Copyright Statement Bibliography Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy BibleHe called for, i.e. he effectually procured, as this word is used, 2 Kings 8:1 Isaiah 47:1,5 56:7 Romans 4:17. The whole staff of bread, i.e. bread, which is the staff or support of our animal lives. See Leviticus 26:26 Psalms 104:15 Ezekiel 4:16. Copyright Statement Bibliography Whedon's Commentary on the Bible16. Famine—Recorded Genesis 41:54-57. Staff of bread—That is, support of bread, their reliance for sustentation. This famine extended over Arabia, Palestine, Syria, and the surrounding nations. Copyright Statement Bibliography George Haydock's Catholic Bible CommentaryHoly one. By his function (Worthington) of priest. Core wished to take his place, as the rest did to supplant Moses in the civil government, Numbers xvi. (Calmet) Copyright Statement Bibliography Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(16) Called for a famine.—Comp. 2 Kings 8:1; and in Ezekiel 14 we see how famine, with war and pestilence and noisome beasts, were regarded as Divine emissaries to be summoned and sent on His missions. Staff of bread.—Leviticus 26:26. (See, too, Note on Psalms 104:15.) Copyright Statement Bibliography Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeMoreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.
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