Psalms 78:9

Overview - Psalms 78
1	An exhortation both to learn and to preach, the law of God.
9	The story of God's wrath against the incredulous and disobedient.
67	The Israelites being rejected, God chose Judah, Zion, and David.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Psalms 78:9 (King James Version)
The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.

The children: Some think this refers to a defeat of the Ephraimites mentioned in 1 ; Ch 7:20-22 but it probably refers to the conduct and defeat of the ten tribes of which Ephraim was the head. Nothing is recorded in the history of Israel concerning the cowardice of the Ephraimites, as distinct from that of the other tribes: some therefore think, "that the children of Ephraim" is put by a figure of speech for the nation in general.; Deuteronomy 1:41-44 ; Joshua 17:16-18 ; 1 Samuel 4:10 ; 31:1
carrying: Hebrew throwing forth. turned.; Judges 9:28 Judges 9:38-40 ; Luke 22:33