and at Shechem, shifting their stations to accommodate pasturage and other circumstances; and we sometimes find their shepherds forty miles from the patriarchal station, wandering in quest of forage. While in Egypt, the Hebrews were, much of the time, scattered everywhere, wherever the public works required their labor; and from the first they were known as a race of shepherds. Gen. xlvii, 3. During the forty years of their wanderings in the wilderness, they had been wholly restricted to the habits of Arabian nomads; and from the days of Joshua till the time of King Saul, they give evidence of their strong national predilections for that mode of life. Much of the political disaster and religious declension, which, from time to time, sadly marked their career during this long period, was owing primarily to the fact, that they had not yet laid off the peculiarities of their simple shepherd life; had not fully emerged from their loose, migratory habits; had not strongly concentrated the forces of the tribes into one centralizing government; had not become sufficiently nationalized and regular in their religion. David had fully comprehended the causes of the past misfortunes of his people. Himself a Hebrew of the highest type, the purest representative of his race, acting from the heart and soul of the nation, animated by the same spirit, and impelled by the same emotions, he well knew how to guide the Hebrew mind to its true national destiny, and develop the life and genius of the theocratic system of Moses. Toward this grand result he had now at length been enabled to take an important step. It was proper here to pause, and retrospect the providences of God to the nation. This David does in Psalms cv, cvi. The former was composed, and used first, on the occasion of the removal of the ark to Zion, as we learn from 1 Chronicles xvi, where the first sixteen verses of this Psalm are recorded. Afterward the Psalm was revised and enlarged for the temple service, and placed in its present form. Psalm cvi is an enlargement and continuation of the same general subject, the providential history of the nation, and contains in it several verses belonging to the first rehearsal of Psalm cv, thus showing that they both primarily belong to the same occasion. (Compare 1 Chronicles xvi, 35, 36, with Psalm cvi, 47, 48.) These two national epics trace the progress of the Hebrew people, from their first nomadic germ in. the family of Abraham, through all the leading events of their history, up to the time that God redeemed them from Egypt and made them a nation. "And he brought forth his people with joy, And gave them the lands of the nations: And keep his laws."—Psalm cv, 43–45. The whole very fitly closes with a doxology and a hallelujah: "Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, From everlasting to everlasting! Praise ye the Lord!"—Psalm evi, 48. "So he left there, before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, Asaph and his brethren, to minister before the ark continually, as every day's work required; and Obed-edom with their brethren, three-score and eight; Obed-edom also, the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah to be porters." 1 Chronicles xvi, 37, 38. PSALM CV. ON THE SECOND REMOVAL OF THE ARK. An exhortation to praise God and to seek out his works, 1–6; the story of God's providences over Abraham, 7–15; over Joseph, 16–22; over Jacob, in Egypt, 23–25; over Moses delivering the Israelites, 26-36; over the Israelites brought out of Egypt, fed in the wilderness, and planted in Canaan, 37–45. 1 Oa give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his Make known his deeds among the people. 2 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: Talk 'ye of all his wondrous works. 3 Glory ye in his holy name: name; Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. 4 Seek the LORD, and his strength: Seek his face evermore. a Isa. 12. 4. b Psa. 145. 4, 5, 11. © Psa. 77. 12. d Psa. 27. 8. 5 Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; His wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; 6 O ye seed of Abraham his servant, 7 Ye children of Jacob his chosen! He is the LORD our God; His judgments are in all the earth. 8 He hath remembered his covenant forever, The word which he commanded to a thousand erations. 9 Which covenant he made with Abraham, And his oath unto Isaac; 10 And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, And to Israel for an everlasting covenant; gen 11 Saying, "Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, The 'lot of your inheritance: " 12 k When there were but a few men in number; Yea, very few, and strangers in it. 13 When they went from one nation to another, From one kingdom to another people; 14 Hem suffered no man to do them wrong: n Yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; 15 Saying, "Touch not mine anointed, And do my prophets no harm." 16 Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: He brake the whole P staff of bread. 17 He sent a man before them, even Joseph, Who was sold for a servant: 18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters; 'He was laid in iron; 19 Until the time that his word came: The word of the LORD tried him. 20 The "king sent and loosed him; Even the ruler of the people, and let him go 21 He made him lord of his house, And ruler of all his 'substance: 22 To bind his princes at his pleasure; And teach his senators wisdom. 23 Israel also came into Egypt; And Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham. 24 Andy he increased his people greatly; And made them stronger than their enemies. 25 He turned their heart to hate his people, To deal subtilely with his servants. 26 He sent Moses his servant; 27 And Aaron a whom he had chosen. b They showed his signs among them, And wonders in the land of Ham. с 28 He sent darkness, and made it dark; And they rebelled not against his word. 29 He turned their waters into blood, And slew their fish. 30 Their fland brought forth frogs in abundance, In the chambers of their kings. free. 31 He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, And lice in all their coasts. 32 He gave them hail for rain, And flaming fire in their land. 33 He smote their vines also and their fig trees; And brake the trees of their coasts. 34 He ispake, and the locusts came, And caterpillars, and that without number, 35 And did eat up all the herbs in their land, And devoured the fruit of their ground. 36 He smote also all the firstborn in their land, The 'chief of all their strength. m 37 He brought them forth also with silver and gold: And there was not one feeble person among their tribes. n 38 Egypt was glad when they departed; For the fear of them fell upon them. 39 He spread a cloud for a covering; And fire to give light in the night. 40 The P people asked, and he brought quails, And satisfied them with the bread of heaven. 41 He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; They ran in the dry places like a river. 42 8 For he remembered his holy promise, And Abraham his servant. 43 And he brought forth his people with joy, And his chosen with 'gladness; 44 And gave them the lands of the heathen: And they inherited the labour of the people; 45 That they might observe his statutes, u And keep his laws. 'Praise ye the LORD! k Exod. 12. 29. 1 Gen. 49. 8. Exod. 12. 85. Exod. 12. 33. • See Exod. 13. 21. P Exod. 16. 12, &c. q Psa. 78. 24, 25. r Exod. 17. 6. Num. 20. 11. • Heb. singing. * Deut. 6. 10, 11. Jos. 18. 7, &c. |