Psalms 136:17-24

17 to him who struck down great kings, His love endures forever.
18 and killed mighty kings— His love endures forever.
19 Sihon king of the Amorites His love endures forever.
20 and Og king of Bashan— His love endures forever.
21 and gave their land as an inheritance, His love endures forever.
22 an inheritance to his servant Israel. His love endures forever.
23 He remembered us in our low estate His love endures forever.
24 and freed us from our enemies. His love endures forever.

Psalms 136:17-24 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 136

This psalm was very probably composed by David, and given to the Levites to sing every day, 1Ch 16:41. Solomon his son followed his example, and made use of them in singing at the dedication of the temple, 2Ch 7:3,6; as Jehoshaphat seems to have done when he went out to war against his enemies, 2Ch 20:21. The subject of it is much the same with the preceding psalm; its composition is very singular; the half of every verse: in it is, "for his mercy endureth for ever"; this is the burden of the song; and the design of it is to show, that all blessings of every kind flow from the grace, goodness, and mercy of God, which is constant and perpetual; and to impress a sense of it upon the minds of men: the inscription of the Syriac version is,

``it is said of Moses and Israel praising the Lord for those who were delivered; and concerning the deliverance of souls out of hell from Pharaoh, the devil, by Christ our Saviour, the Redeemer of them.''

R. Obadiah says it is an exhortation to the children of God in the days of the Messiah to praise the Lord.

Cross References 11

  • 1. Numbers 21:23-25; Joshua 24:8-11; Psalms 78:55; Psalms 135:9-12
  • 2. Deuteronomy 29:7; S Joshua 12:7-24
  • 3. Numbers 21:21-25
  • 4. Numbers 21:33-35
  • 5. Joshua 12:1
  • 6. S Deuteronomy 1:38; S Joshua 14:1
  • 7. S Deuteronomy 29:8; Psalms 78:55
  • 8. Isaiah 20:3; Isaiah 41:8; Isaiah 42:19; Isaiah 43:10; Isaiah 44:1,21; Isaiah 45:4; Isaiah 49:5-7
  • 9. Psalms 78:39; Psalms 103:14; Psalms 115:12; Psalms 113:7
  • 10. S Joshua 10:14; S Nehemiah 9:28
  • 11. S Deuteronomy 6:19; Psalms 107:2
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