Psalms 105:13

13. When they went &c.] And (when) they went &c. The A.V. treats this verse as (virtually) the protasis to Psa_105:14 : the R.V. places a semicolon at the end of Psa_105:12, and a full stop at the end of Psa_105:13, and treats Psa_105:13 as the continuation of Psa_105:12. Either construction is grammatically possible, but that of the A.V. is preferable. Psa_105:12 emphasises the conditions under which the promise was given, and concludes the first division of the Psalms Vv13-15 describe the migrations of the patriarchs among the different nations of Canaan, the Egyptians, and the Philistines, as recorded in the Book of Genesis. In all their wanderings Jehovah guarded them from harm, reproving even kings such as Pharaoh (Gen_12:10 ff.) and Abimelech (Genesis 20, 26) on their account.

13–24. Jehovah’s providential guidance of the patriarchs in their migrations.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Psa 105:13 When they went from one nation to another, from [one] kingdom to another people;

Ver. 13. When they went from one nation to another] There were seven several nations in that land wherein they sojourned, flitting from place to place, and having no settled habitation, αστατουνρες, 1Co 4:11.

From one kingdom] Forced by famine, or other necessity. See Gen 12:10; Gen 20:1-7 Gen 26:1-5

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

13. (Psa 105:13) And they went about from nation to nation, from kingdom to another people. This may be regarded as in contrast with ver. 12 (Psa 105:12), and (yet) they went about, notwithstanding their small number and their being strangers. Or Psa 105:12-13, may be the protasis of the sentence, and Psa 105:14 its apodosis. "When they were few and strangers, and went from nation to nation, he let no man," etc. This verse describes the characteristic feature in the condition of the chosen people, during the patriarchal period of their history, namely, their migratory intercourse with various nations. These are mentioned in the first clause as distinct races, in the last as distinct states or bodies politic. Where we might have expected from kingdom to kingdom, the ear is somewhat disappointed by the phrase from kingdom, to another people, which may have been intended to distinguish the Egyptian and other monarchies from the more democratical or patriarchal institutions of the Arabians and other nations. They went about seems to be the force of the reflexive or frequentative verb, as distinguished from that of the primitive, they went. See above, on Psa 26:3; Psa 35:14; Psa 101:2, and compare Gen 5:22; Gen 17:1; Gen 24:6; Gen 24:9; Gen 24:40; Gen 48:15.

Joseph Addison Alexander, The Psalms Translated and Explained (1850) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Verse 13. When they went from one nation to another] From several circumstances in the history of the travels of the ancient Hebrews, we find that the wilderness through which they then passed was well peopled.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

When they went from one nation to another,.... From Chaldea to Mesopotamia; from thence to Canaan, and then into Egypt; and after that to Canaan again: which was the tour that Abraham took; and when in Canaan, and travelling from place to place there, might be said to go from nation to nation, since there were seven nations in that country.

From one kingdom to another people; from the kingdom of Palestine or Canaan to Egypt, which was a strange people; and of another language, as appears by the use of an interpreter between them, Gen 42:23. So Isaac, Jacob, and his posterity, journeyed from one of these kingdoms to the other. Thus the children of God are pilgrims and strangers in this world; they are unsettled in it; they are travelling through it, and a troublesome journey they have of it; they are bound to another country, to which they belong; and their hearts are there beforehand; and they look upon this world as a strange place, and at best but as an inn; where they tarry but for a time, till they get to their own country, the better and heavenly one.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

When they went from one nation to another ... - Wandered about, as if they had no home and no fixed habitation. See Gen 12:6, Gen 12:9-10; Gen 13:1; Gen 20:1; Gen 26:1, Gen 26:17, Gen 26:22-23.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Both in Canaan, where there were seven nations, Deu 7:1, and in Egypt, &c.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Ver. 13. When they went from one nation, to another, from one Kingdom to another people. Migrating as the patriarchs did from the region of one tribe to the country of another they were singularly preserved. The little wandering family might have been cut off root and branch had not a special mandate been issued from the throne for their protection. It was not the gentleness of their neighbours which screened them; they were hedged about by the mysterious guardianship of heaven. Whether in Egypt, or in Philistia, or in Canaan, the heirs of the promises, dwelling in their tents, were always secure.

Ver. 13. From one kingdom to another people. Where we might have expected from kingdom to kingdom, the car is somewhat disappointed by the phrase, "from one kingdom to another people, " which may have been intended to distinguish the Egyptian and other monarchies from the more democratical or patriarchal institutions of the Arabians and other nations. Joseph Addison Alexander.

Ver. 13. Though frequent flitting is neither desirable nor commendable, yet sometimes there is a just and necessary occasion for it, and it may be the lot of some of the best of men. Matthew Henry.

Ver. 13.

1. God's people may be often removed.

2. They can never be injured.

3. God's property in them will not be renounced.

Psalms 105:14*

Charles H. Spurgeon's The Treasury of David (1869–1885) — public domain. Psalms only. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

13. From one nation to another—From tribe to tribe among the original inhabitants of Canaan. The expression indicates not only an unsettled, but insecure, mode of life. The patriarchs sojourned among the Amorites, Hittites, Jebusites, Philistines, Canaanites, Perizzites, and were brought into contact with other tribes, besides their abode in Egypt.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

When they went from one nation to another. Abraham "went from" Ur of the Chaldees to Haran of the Syrians, from Haran to Canaan, from Canaan to Philistia, and once as far as Egypt. Isaac and Jacob were also wanderers, though not to the same extent. From one kingdom to another people. Chaldea, Philistia, and Egypt were "kingdoms;" the Syrians and Canaanites, "peoples."

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

They went - Both in Canaan, where there were seven nations, and in Egypt.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

And they walked from nation to nation Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines, in Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, and so Isaac, and so Jacobthey all were exiled from one strange place to another strange place.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.