Psalms 105:15-25

15 "Don't harm my chosen servants; do not touch my prophets."

16 The Lord sent famine to their country ¹ and took away all their food.

17 But he sent a man ahead of them, ² Joseph, who had been sold as a slave.

18 His feet were kept in chains, ³ and an iron collar was around his neck,

19 until what he had predicted came true. The word of the Lord proved him right.

20 Then the king of Egypt had him released; ⁴ the ruler of nations set him free.

21 He put him in charge of his government ⁵ and made him ruler over all the land,

22 with power over the king's officials and authority to instruct his advisers.

23 Then Jacob went to Egypt ⁶ and settled in that country.

24 The Lord gave many children to his people ⁷ and made them stronger than their enemies.

25 He made the Egyptians hate his people and treat his servants with deceit.

Psalms 105:15-25 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 105

This psalm was penned by David, and sung at the time when the ark was brought from the house of Obededom to the place which David had prepared for it; at least the first fifteen verses of it, the other part being probably added afterwards by the same inspired penman, as appears from 1Ch 16:1-7. The subject matter of the psalm is the special and distinguishing goodness of God to the children of Israel, and to his church and people, of which they were typical: the history of God's regard to and care of their principal ancestors, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph and of the whole body of the people, in bringing them out of Egypt, leading them through the wilderness, and settling them in the land of Canaan, is here recited, as an argument for praise and thankfulness.

Cross References

• 1. 105.16Genesis 41.53-57.
• 2. 105.17Genesis 37.28; 45.5.
• 3. 105.18, 19Genesis 39.20--40.23.
• 4. 105.20Genesis 41.14.
• 5. 105.21Genesis 41.39-41.
• 6. 105.23 aGenesis 46.6; bGenesis 47.11.
• 7. 105.24, 25Exodus 1.7-14.