Psalms 89:10

Psa 89:10 Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.

Ver. 10. Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces] i.e. Egypt, which is called Rahab for its strength and pride.

As one that is slain] Or, as one deadly wounded; as such a one is soon despatched, so here, Vox Halal vulneratum lethaliter designat.

Thou hast scattered, &c.] See Isa 25:11, {See Trapp on "Isa 25:11"}

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.

11. (Psa 89:10) Thou didst crush, like the slain, Rahab; with thine arm of strength thou didst scatter thy foes. This relates wholly to the sea of nations, in which Egypt stands first, as the earliest national enemy of Israel, and also perhaps because the power of Pharaoh, at the exodus, was literally broken in the sea. The first verb means to shatter, crush, or break in pieces. See above, Psa 72:4. The pronoun is emphatic; (it was) thou (and none other that) didst crush, etc. The significant name Rahab, meaning pride or insolence, corresponds to the swelling of the sea, in the foregoing verse. See above, on Psa 87:4. Like the slain, like one mortally wounded, especially in battle. See above, on Psa 88:5. The point of comparison is the sudden change from overbearing arrogance to helplessness and weakness. Thine arm of strength, or strong arm, the active exertion of thy power. See above, on Psa 10:15; Psa 37:17; Psa 44:3; Psa 83:8. The last verb belongs to the dialect of poetry, and occurs above, in Psa 53:5. See below, Psa 112:9, all 7. This verse relates only indirectly to the enemies of God in general. Even the last clause has specific reference to the enemies who perished in the Red Sea.

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

Verse 10. Thou hast broken Rahab] Thou hast destroyed the power of Egypt, having overthrown the king and its people when they endeavoured to prevent thy people from regaining their liberty.

As one that is slain] The whole clause in the original is, אתה דכאת כחלל רהב attah dikkitha kechalal Rahab, "Thou, like a hero, hast broken down Egypt." Dr. Kennicott has largely proved that חלל chalal, which we render wounded, slain, c., means a soldier, warrior, hero and it is certain that this sense agrees better with it than the other in a great number of places. Mr. Berlin translates, Tu contrivisti ut cadaver AEgyptum; "Thou hast bruised down Egypt like a dead carcass." The whole strength of Egypt could avail nothing against thee. Thou didst trample them down as easily as if they had all been dead carcasses.

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

(10) Rahab.—See Note, Psa_87:4. The mention of the sea has carried the poet’s thoughts to the Red Sea and the deliverance from Egypt, which is represented as some huge monster conquered and crushed.

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

The heavens are thine,.... They are made and inhabited by him, they are the work of his hands, and the seat of his majesty, and the throne of his glory; the angels of heaven are his, his creatures and servants; the several heavens are his, the airy, starry, and third heavens; the place and state of the blessed and glorified saints is of his preparing and giving:

the earth also is thine; the whole terraqueous globe, and all that is in it, being made, preserved, and continued by him, and by him given to the sons of men, Psa 116:15,

as for the world, and the fulness thereof: the habitable world, and all that dwell therein, all the children of men, the beasts of the field, and cattle on a thousand hills, and the provisions for them all; which is the goodness of the Lord, the earth is full of; these are all the Lord's; see Psa 24:1,

thou hast founded them; the world, and the inhabitants of it; the earth is founded upon the seas, and the world upon nothing; and the inhabitants are wonderfully preserved and continued by the power and providence of God; see Psa 24:2.

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

Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces - Margin, “Egypt.” See the notes at Psa 87:4. The reference is to the exodus of the Hebrew people, when he destroyed the power of Egypt.

As one that is slain - Slain on the field of battle; as a man pierced through with a sword or spear.

Thou hast scattered thine enemies - At the time referred to, in Egypt; and at other times, when the enemies of God and of his people had been discomfited.

With thy strong arm - Margin, as in Hebrew, the arm of thy strength. That is, by his power - the arm being the symbol of power. See the notes at Psa 77:15. Compare Deu 5:15; Deu 7:8, Deu 7:19, et al.

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

Rahab; Egypt, as Psa 87:4. As one that is slain; thou didst wound them not slightly, but unto death. See Exo 14:15.

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

Ver. 10. Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces as one that is slain. Egypt was crushed like a corpse beneath the chariot wheels of the destroyer: its pomp and glory were broken like the limbs of the dead in battle. Egypt was Israel's ancient foe, and its overthrow wits a theme to which devout minds constantly reverted, as to a subject fit for their most exulting songs. We, too, have seen our Rahab broken, our sins overthrown, and we cannot but unite in the ascription of praise unto the Lord.

Thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm. Thy strength has strewn thy foes dead upon the plain, or compelled them to flee hither and thither in dismay. Jehovah has overthrown his enemies with his own right arm, unaided and alone. Proud Rahab, swelling in her fury like the sea, was utterly broken and scattered before the Lord of Hosts.

Ver. 10. Broken; scattered. God has more ways than one to deal with his and his church's enemies. Matthew Henry.

Ver. 10. Rahab. The reason why Egypt is expressed in Scripture under this word, ariseth from the two significations of it; first, it signifies strength, for Egypt was a very strong nation, and therefore the Israelites were reproved for going to them for help, and relying upon their strength, which though great in itself, yet should be to them but a broken reed; secondly, it signifieth pride, or the proud; men are usually proud of strength, and Egypt being a strong nation, was also a very proud nation. Joseph Caryl.

Psalms 89:11*

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

10. Rahab—Poetic name of Egypt, as a symbol of pride, or tumultuous violence. Psa_87:4; compare Isa_51:9. In Job_26:12, it is translated “the proud,” where it should be “Egypt,” probably alluding to the passage of the Red Sea; if the book of Job would allow so late a date.

Broken Rahab… as one that is slain—The version of Gerard is better, founded on the Arabic derivatives of the word: “Thou, like a warrior, hast crushed Rahab.”

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

Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces; or, "thou didst break" once upon a time, i.e. at the Exodus. (For the designation of Egypt under the term "Rahab," i.e. "arrogant," see Job_9:13 Job_26:12 Psa_87:4 Isa_51:9) As one that is slain; i.e. completely, utterly. Thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm. (see Exo_14:27-31 Exo_15:6)

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

Rhahab - Egypt.

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

when it raises its waves When its waves are raised.

You humble them Heb. תשבחם, You humble them, and similarly, (Prov. 29:11): “but afterwards a wise man will quiet it (ושבחנה)”; and similarly (above 65:8): “Who humbles (משביח) the roaring of the seas.”

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.