Psalms 80:9

Psa 80:9 Thou preparedst [room] before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land.

Ver. 9. Thou preparedst room before it] Espying out a fit place to plant it in, Eze 20:6, and making clean work before it, as some render the words ( Expurgasti coram ea), by pulling up those bad and barren weeds, the Canaanites, that might have hindered its growth.

And didst cause it to take deep root] viz. By thy digging, dressing, watering, and mounding it; as of all possessions, none requireth greater care than that of vineyards, saith Care; and there is a peculiar affection in men toward the vine above all trees, as another observeth.

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.

10. (Psa 80:9) Thou didst clear (the way) before it, and it took root and filled the land. The first word means to clear by the removal of obstructions. See Gen 24:31, Lev 14:36, and compare my notes on Isa 40:3; Isa 57:14; Isa 62:10. The sense may here be, thou didst clear (the ground), i.e. from weeds and stones (compare Isa 5:2) before it, i.e. to make room for it or prepare a place for it. Took root, literally rooted its roots, the cognate verb and noun being combined by a common Hebrew idiom. See my note on Isa 27:6.

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

Verse 9. Thou preparedst - before it] 3. When the ground is properly cleared, then it is well digged and manured, and the vines are placed in the ground at proper distances, c. So when God had cast out the heathen, he caused the land to be divided by lot to the different tribes, and then to the several families of which these tribes were composed.

And didst cause it to take deep root] 4. By sheltering, propping up, and loosening the ground about the tender plants, they are caused to take a deep and firm rooting in the ground. Thus did God, by especial manifestations of his kind providence, support and protect the Israelites in Canaan and by various religious ordinances, and civil institutions, he established them in the land; and, by the ministry of priests and prophets, did every thing necessary to make them morally fruitful.

It filled the land.] 5. To multiply vines, the gardener cuts off a shoot from the old tree, leaving a joint or knob both at top and bottom; then plants it in proper soil; the lower knob furnishes the roots, and the upper the shoot, which should be carefully trained as it grows, in order to form another vine. By these means one tree will soon form a complete vineyard, and multiply itself to any given quantity. Thus God so carefully, tenderly, and abundantly blessed the Israelites, that they increased and multiplied; and, in process of time, filled the whole land of Canaan. Vines are propagated, not only by cuttings, but by layers, seed, grafting, and inoculation.

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

(9) Thou preparedst room.—The reference is, of course, to the casting out of the heathen in Psa_80:8.

Didst cause . . .—Rather, it struck its roots deep; literally, rooted its roots.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

9. Thou preparedst room before it] As the vinedresser prepares the ground for his vine by clearing away the stones and thorns and all that would hinder its free growth (Isa_5:2), so God prepared Canaan for Israel by the expulsion of its old inhabitants.

and didst cause it &c.] Rather, and it struck deep its roots, and filled the land.

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 hills were covered with the shadow of it,.... Alluding to the land of Canaan, which was a mountainous and hilly country, at least some part of it; hence we read of the hill country of Judea, Luk 1:39 and to the nature of vines, which delight to grow on hills and mountains (p): in a figurative sense this may denote the subjection of kings and kingdoms, comparable to hills, to the Israelites in the times of David and Solomon, Sa2 8:1 and the exaltation of the church of Christ, in the latter day, over the hills and mountains, Isa 2:2. The Targum is,

"the mountains of Jerusalem were covered with the shadow of the house of the sanctuary, and of the houses of the schools:''

and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars; to these the righteous are compared, Psa 92:13, the Targum is,

"the doctors, the mighty preachers, who are like to the strong cedars:''

the words may be rendered, "the boughs thereof cover the goodly cedars", or "cedars of God" (q); that is, overrun and overtop the goodly cedars; alluding to vines running and growing upon high and goodly trees; and so may denote, as before, the power of Israel over the princes and potentates of the earth, comparable to cedars, the most excellent; as things most excellent have often the name of God added to them; see Psa 104:16.

(p) "Bacchus amat colles----" Virgil Georgic. l. 2. v. 113. (q) "rami ejus cedros Dei", Tigurine version; so Sept. "et ramia ejus cedri Dei", Musculus, Cocceius; "palmitibus ejus cedri altissimae operiebantur", Piscator, De Dieu; "ramis ejus opertae sunt cedri Dei", Michaelis.

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

Thou preparedst room before it - The Hebrew word used here means properly to turn; to turn the back; then, to turn in order to look at anything; to look upon; to see; then, in Piel, to cause to turn away; to remove. Then it comes to mean to remove, or to clear from impediments so as to prepare a way Isa 40:3; Isa 57:14; Isa 62:10; Mal 3:1, and hence, to remove the impediments to planting a vine, etc.; to wit, by clearing away the trees, brush, stones, etc. Compare Isa 5:2. Here it means that the hindrances in planting the vine were taken out of the way; that is, God removed the pagan so that there was room then to establish his own people.

And didst cause it to take deep root - Hebrew, “And didst cause it to root roots;” that is, Its roots struck deep into the soil, and the plant became firm.

And it filled the land - Its branches ran everywhere, so as to fill the whole land. See the notes at Isa 16:8.

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

Thou preparedst room; or, didst purge or cleanse the soil; taking out stones or sticks, or other roots or plants, which might hinder its growth or fruitfulness. Thou didst root out those idolatrous and wicked nations which might either corrupt or destroy them.

Didst cause it to take deep root; thou gavest them a firm settlement in that land.

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

Ver. 9. "Thou preparedst room before it." The weeds, brambles, and huge stones were cleared; the Amorites, and their brethren in iniquity, were made to quit the scene, their forces were routed, their kings slain, their cities captures, and Canaan became like a plot of land, made ready for a vineyard.

"And didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land." Israel became settled and established as a vine well rooted, and then it began to flourish and to spread to every side. This analogy might be applied to the experience of every believer in Jesus. The Lord has planted us, we are growing downward, "rooting roots, "and by his grace we are also advancing in manifest enlargement. The same is true of the church in a yet closer degree, for at this moment through the goodwill of the dresser of the vineyard her branches spread far and wide.

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

9. Thou preparedst room before it—This Hebrew vine came not to an unprepared place. The miracles of Egypt and the wilderness had caused the terror of God to fall upon the corrupt nations, and multitudes had fled from their country. The rest were cast out for their abominations. The Israelites entered the land in the opportune month, the forepart of April, just before harvest, (Jos_3:15; Jos_5:10; Jos_5:12,) and the land was full of supplies. For the force of the word prepare, see Gen_24:31; Isa_40:3; Mal_3:1

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

Thou preparest room before it. The "room" was made by the removal of the heathen inhabitants, who were first greatly weakened by Rameses III, and then driven out by Joshua. And didst cause it to take deep root; rather, and it took deep root, as in the Revised Version. And it filled the land. (comp. Deu_11:24 Jos_1:3) Possession was taken of the whole land, not at once, (Jud 1:27-36) but slowly and surely; the furthest limits being reached in David"s time. (1Ki_4:21, 1Ki_4:24)

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

Preparedst - Thou didst root out the idolatrous nations. Deep root - Thou gavest them a firm settlement.

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

General Information:

Asaph continues speaking of Israel in their land as if Israel were a grapevine in a vineyard. (See: Metaphor)

You cleared the land for it

"You cleared the land for the vine"

it took root

"the vine took root" or "the vine began to grow"

filled the land

"its branches covered the land"

The mountains were covered with its shade, the cedars of God by its branches

This can be stated in active form. AT: "Its shade covered the mountains, its branches the cedars of God" (See: Active or Passive)

the cedars of God by its branches

"and the cedars of God were covered by its branches," which copies the verb from the previous sentence. This can be stated in active form. AT: "and its branches covered the cedars of God" (See: Ellipsis and Active or Passive)

cedars of God

Possible meanings are 1) "the highest cedar trees," the cedar trees that grew on the "mountains" in the land of Lebanon north of Israel, or 2) "God's own cedar trees."

the sea

the Mediterranean Sea to the west of Israel

shoots

the parts of new plants that are just starting to grow above the ground

translationWords

cedar

send

Euphrates River

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

You uprooted a vine from Egypt He went back and alluded to the exile of the Romans. The vine of Israel, which You uprooted from Egypt. You uprooted them from there, as (Job 19:10): “He has uprooted (ויסע) my hope like a tree.” Afterwards, You drove out the seven nations and planted Israel in their land.

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.