Psalms 105:16

16 And he took away all food from the land, so that the people were without bread.

Psalms 105:16 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 105:16

Moreover, 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 Genesis 41:57 ) ( 42:5 ) and calling for it, it came, being a servant at the command of the Lord; see ( 2 Kings 8:1 ) ( Haggai 1:11 ) .

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 ) ( Leviticus 26:26 ) .

Psalms 105:16 In-Context

14 He would not let anyone do them wrong; he even kept back kings because of them,

15 Saying, Put not your hand on those who have been marked with my holy oil, and do my prophets no wrong.

16 And he took away all food from the land, so that the people were without bread.

17 He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was given as a servant for a price:

18 His feet were fixed in chains; his neck was put in iron bands;