Psalms 68:8

Psa 68:8 The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: [even] Sinai itself [was moved] at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

Ver. 8. The earth shook, the heavens also dropped] Velut in sudorem soluti, as if they had been put into a sweat; in so terrible a manner was the law given, that God’s fear might fall upon us, Exo 20:18-21 As for the gospel, it is that rain of liberalities, Psa 68:9, confiming God’s inheritance when it is weary.

Even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God] Some render it, a facie Dei huius Sinaici, a facie Dei, Die Israel. These two verses are taken out of Deborah’s song, Jdg 5:4-5.

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.

9. (Psa 68:8). The earth shook, nay, the heavens dropped, this Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel. Dropped, discharged drops, rained. This is mentioned as a natural and usual accompaniment of a thunderstorm. This Sinai probably means, this (was at) Sinai, and should be read as a parenthesis. The usual construction not only requires a verb to be repeated or supplied, but yields an obscure and doubtful sense, as no reason can be given why Sinai should be called this Sinai, and the version Sinai itself is unauthorised by usage. The first clause is descriptive of the grand and terrible phenomena attending the theopany at Sinai. See Exo 19:16-18.

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

68:8-10 The earth trembled as in an earthquake (see Exod 19:18). • the heavens poured down rain: Wells in the desert and rain showers in Canaan supplied an abundance of water.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

even Sinai itself--literally, "that Sinai," as in Jdg 5:5.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

8. shook] R.V. trembled.

dropped] Torrents of rain accompanied the thunders and lightnings. Cp. Psa_77:17 f.

at the presence of God] Cp. Psa_68:1-4.

even Sinai itself was moved] R.V., Even yon Sinai (trembled). The words yon Sinai come in somewhat abruptly here, while in Judges they follow quite naturally upon the clause “the mountains quaked.” A verb however can be supplied from the first line, and there is no need to alter the text.

the God of Israel] The use of this title here is significant. It was from Sinai that the covenant-relation between Jehovah and His people dated. Cp. Exo_24:8; Exo_24:10.

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.

The earth shook,.... Not only about Sinai, but in other places; see Psa 114:1. It may also design the dread and trembling of the inhabitants of the earth, when they heard of the wonderful things God did for his people, Exo 15:14;

the heavens also dropped at the presence of God; the Targum supplies, dew; to which may be added, quails and manna: though it rather seems to design a large shower of rain, which followed the lightning and thunder, when the law was given;

even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel: it is said to quake greatly, Exo 19:18. The words of this verse and Psa 68:7 seem to be borrowed out of the song of Deborah, Jdg 5:4. Like effects followed the promulgation of the Gospel, even a shaking of the heavens and of the earth as an emblem of the removing of the ceremonial rites and Mosaic ordinances. Let it be observed, that Christ, who went before the Israelites in the wilderness, and whom they tempted and rebelled against, is called the God of Israel.

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

The earth shook - See Exo 19:16-18.

The heavens also dropped at the presence of God - That is, dropped down rain and food. The idea is that the very heavens seemed to be shaken or convulsed, so that rain and food were shaken down - as ripe fruit falls from a tree that is shaken. Compare the notes at Isa 34:4. So also, Isa 64:1-3. The meaning is not that the heavens themselves dropped down, but that they dropped or distilled rain and food.

Even Sinai itself was moved - This was true; but this does not seem to be the idea intended here, for the words “even” and “was moved” are not in the original. The Hebrew is, literally, “This Sinai;” meaning probably” this was at Sinai,” or, “this took place at Sinai.” The correct translation perhaps would be, “The heavens distilled rain at the presence of God, this at Sinai, at the presence of God.”

At the presence of God, the God of Israel - The whole region seemed to be moved and awed at the presence of God, or when he came down to visit his people. The earth and the heavens, all seemed to be in commotion.

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

The earth; either,

1. Metonymically, the inhabitants of those parts of the earth, by comparing Exo 15:14. Or,

2. Properly, by comparing Psa 114:5-7. There was a great earthquake, as a token of God’s dreadful presence.

Dropped, i.e. poured down great showers, which accompanied those mighty thunders, as usually it doth. Was moved; or, dropped; which may be repeated out, of the former clause; was even melted or dissolved with fear. It is a poetical representation of the terribleness of God’s appearance.

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

Ver. 8. The earth shook. Beneath the sublime tread the solid ground trembled.

The heavens also dropped at the presence of God, as if they bowed before their God, the clouds descended, and "a few dark shower drops stole abroad."

Even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God. Moses tell us, in Exodus 19, that "the whole mountain quaked greatly." That hill, so lone and high, bowed before the manifested God.

The God of Israel. The one only living and true God, whom Israel worshipped, and who had chosen that nation to be his own above all the nations of the earth. The passage is so sublime, that it would be difficult to find its equal. May the reader's heart adore the God before whom the unconscious earth and sky act as if they recognised their Maker and were moved with a tremor of reverence.

Ver. 8. The God of Israel. Sinai was the seat not only of God, but of the covenant God of the people of Israel; from which the law was proclaimed, and the covenant struck between God and his people. Hermann Venema.

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

8. The heavens… dropped—That is, distilled. The accusative of the thing “dropped,” namely, water, must be here understood. In the parallel place, Jdg_5:4, the same word is used, and supplemented by “the clouds also dropped water.” In Psa_68:9 it is explained by plentiful rain, where the word rendered plentiful, (Hebrews plural, plentifulnesses,) not only denotes copiousness, but regularity, as if both a liberal and stated supply were given. Furst’s rendering of גשׁם נדבות, (geshom nedaboth,) by “rain of libations, that is, of plentiful gifts of manna,” is totally inadmissible. In Psa_77:17-18, the same is described as a copious rain, “the clouds poured out water,” accompanied with thunder and lightning. Much of the region about Sinai is fertile in its numerous wadies, and formerly more so than now. Plentiful moisture, with care, would even now restore it. The text indicates that by providential and abundant rains—one of the marked blessings of their desert life—the fertile valleys and gorges were made to yield much more than common for the wants of the people and their flocks, besides cooling and rendering more refreshing the atmosphere.

At the presence of God—Literally, From the face of God, as signifying its direct and miraculous impartation.

God of Israel—The covenant title of God. It first occurs Exo_24:10, and dates at Sinai because there, by the delivery of the law, God entered more closely into covenant with his people.

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

The earth shook, the heavens also dropped, at the presence of God. (see Exo_19:16-18 Deu_5:22, Deu_5:23) The "dropping" of the heavens was the descent of a thick thundercloud upon the mount, which rested upon it, and spread around a dense and weird darkness. Even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God; literally, yonder Sinai, as if it were in sight, and could be pointed at. The God of Israel. Our God, who did all these great things for us.

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

Dropped - Poured down great showers, which accompanied those mighty thunders.

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

when You marched When You stepped with your step.

forever There You showed me that this is Your way forever: for every distress, redemption.

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.