Psalms 105:12-22

12 when they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.

13 When they went from nation to nation from one kingdom to another people,

14 he suffered no man to do them wrong; yea, he chastened 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 broke the whole staff of bread.

17 He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a slave,

18 whose feet they hurt with fetters; his soul was laid in iron.

19 Until the time that his word came, the spoken word of the LORD purified him.

20 The king sent and loosed him, the ruler of the people let him go free.

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 elders wisdom.

Psalms 105:12-22 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.