Psalm 135:10

Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings;

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Benson Commentary

Psalm 135:10-12. Who smote great nations, &c. — “The victories gained by Israel over Sihon and Og, in their passage to Canaan, and afterward over the idolatrous kings of that country, are further proofs of the same point. For Israel therefore conquered because Jehovah fought for them, and put them in possession of that good land when the iniquity of its old inhabitants was full, and cried to heaven for vengeance.”

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

135:5-14 God is, and will be always, the same to his church, a gracious, faithful, wonder-working God. And his church is, and will be, the same to him, a thankful, praising people: thus his name endures for ever. He will return in ways of mercy to them, and will delight to do them good.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Who smote great nations ... - To wit, those specified in the following verse.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

10-12. The conquest of Canaan was by God's power, not that of the people.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

No text from Poole on this verse.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings. Or "many nations" (l). The seven nations of the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites; the kings of which were mighty and many, even thirty one in number, Joshua 12:1. This the Lord did by Joshua, a type of Christ; who has overcome the world by his sufferings and death, and delivered his people from it; who went forth conquering and to conquer, into the Roman Pagan empire, called the whole world, and subdued it by his Spirit and word; and will show his power in all the kingdoms of this world, either by converting or destroying them; and at last will judge all the nations and kings of the earth. Aben Ezra interprets this of the kings of Midian, or of those next mentioned, which is best.

(l) "gentes multas", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Musculus; "plurimas gentes", Tigurine version; so Ainsworth.

Geneva Study Bible

Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings;

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

10. great nations] Or, many nations. Cp. Deuteronomy 7:1.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 10. - Who smote great nations (see Exodus 14:27, 28; Exodus 17:8-13; Numbers 21:24-30, 33-35; Joshua 8:21-26; Joshua 10:10, 11; Judges 4:10-16; Judges 7:19-23; Judges 11:32, 33; 1 Samuel 7:10-13; 2 Samuel 8:1-14; 2 Samuel 10:8-19; 1 Kings 20:1-30; 2 Kings 3:4-27; 2 Kings 14:25-28; 2 Kings 18:7, 8; 2 Kings 19:35; 2 Chronicles 14:9-15; 2 Chronicles 20:1-25, etc.). And slew mighty kings (see Joshua 12:9-24; Judges 7:25; Judges 8:21; 1 Samuel 15:33, etc.). Psalm 135:10

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Worthy is He to be praised, for He is the Conqueror of the Land of Promise. in connection with Psalm 135:10 one is reminded of Deuteronomy 4:38; Deuteronomy 7:1; Deuteronomy 9:1; Deuteronomy 11:23; Joshua 23:9. גּוים רבּים are here not many, but great peoples (cf. גּדלים in Psalm 136:17), since the parallel word עצוּמים is by no means intended of a powerful number, but of powerful might (cf. Isaiah 53:12). As to the rest also, the poet follows the Book of Deuteronomy: viz., לכל ממלכות as in Deuteronomy 3:21, and נתן נחלה as in Deuteronomy 4:38 and other passages. It is all Deuteronomic with the exception of the שׁ, and the ל e in Psalm 135:11 as the nota accus. (as in Psalm 136:19., cf. Psalm 69:6; Psalm 116:16; Psalm 129:3); the construction of הרג is just as Aramaizing in Job 5:2; 2 Samuel 3:30 (where 2 Samuel 3:30-31, like 2 Samuel 3:36-37, are a later explanatory addition). The הרג alternating with הכּה is, next to the two kings, also referred to the kingdoms of Canaan, viz., their inhabitants. Og was also an Amoritish king, Deuteronomy 3:8.