Psalms 106:26

26 Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them that he would make them fall in the wilderness,

Psalms 106:26 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 106:26

Therefore he lifted up his hand against them
A gesture used in swearing, ( Genesis 14:22 Genesis 14:23 ) ( Revelation 10:5 Revelation 10:6 ) . So the Targum understands it here,

``and he lifted up his hand with an oath, because of them:''

and so it is interpreted by Aben Ezra, Jarchi, Kimchi, and Ben Melech; and agrees with ( Numbers 14:28-30 ) . The same gesture was used by the Heathens in swearing, as by Latinus ^F19. Or he lifted up his hand, in a way of judgment, to strike the blow; and which, when it lights on man with the indignation of his anger, falls heavy; see ( Isaiah 26:11 ) ( 30:30 ) . To overthrow them in the wilderness; as he did all the murmuring generation that came out of Egypt, all but Caleb and Joshua; all from twenty years and upwards, their carcasses fell in the wilderness; there they were wasted, consumed, and died, ( Numbers 14:32 Numbers 14:33 Numbers 14:35 ) ( 1 Corinthians 10:5 ) ( Hebrews 3:17 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 "----Tenditque ad sidera dextram--Terram, mare, sidera juro", Virg. Aeneid. 12.

Psalms 106:26 In-Context

24 Then they despised the pleasant land, having no faith in his promise.

25 They grumbled in their tents, and did not obey the voice of the Lord.

26 Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them that he would make them fall in the wilderness,

27 and would disperse their descendants among the nations, scattering them over the lands.

28 Then they attached themselves to the Baal of Peor, and ate sacrifices offered to the dead;