What historical events might Psalm 106:21 be referencing regarding Israel's deliverance? Canonical Text “They forgot God their Savior, who did great things in Egypt.” — Psalm 106:21 Immediate Literary Setting Psalm 106 rehearses Israel’s repeated lapses into unbelief against the backdrop of Yahweh’s unparalleled acts of redemption. Verses 19–22 specifically recall the golden-calf apostasy that occurred after the Exodus miracles, underscoring how quickly Israel “forgot” the God who had just rescued them. Principal Historical Event Recalled: The Exodus (ca. 1446 BC) 1. Bondage under a “new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph” (Exodus 1:8). 2. Ten divine plagues culminating in Passover and the death of Egypt’s firstborn (Exodus 7–12). 3. Nighttime departure from Rameses to Succoth on the fifteenth of Nisan (Exodus 12:37; Numbers 33:3). 4. Miraculous crossing of the Red Sea on dry ground; Egyptian army destroyed (Exodus 14:21–31). 5. Provision of manna, quail, and water (Exodus 16–17). 6. Pillar of cloud by day, pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21–22). These “great things in Egypt” match the psalmist’s language and form the core deliverance Psalm 106:21 presupposes. Supporting Biblical Cross-References • Exodus 12:51; 13:14; 14:30–31 • Deuteronomy 4:32–34; 6:21–23 Associated Wilderness and Conquest Deliverances Although the verse’s primary focus is Egypt, the broader psalm (vv. 22–23) trails the narrative into the wilderness and, implicitly, toward the Jordan crossing and early victories over Sihon and Og (Numbers 21:21-35; Deuteronomy 2–3). These episodes continue the same redemptive theme: Yahweh saves, Israel forgets. Archaeological and Extra-Biblical Corroboration • Semitic occupation levels at Tell el-Dabʿa (Avaris) align with an Israelite population in the eastern Nile Delta during the 18th Dynasty. • Tomb 1 (F/I) at Avaris contains a Semitic official honored with a multicolored statue—consistent with a high-ranking Asiatic (cf. Joseph). • Papyrus Leiden I 344 (Ipuwer) describes Nile turned to blood, darkness, and widespread death—parallels to plagues. • The Merneptah Stele (ca. 1209 BC, Jeremiah 31408) records “Israel is laid waste, his seed is not,” proving an Israelite presence in Canaan shortly after the proposed Exodus window. • Charred chaff and collapse layers at Jericho’s City IV (excavations of Kenyon and Garstang) match the sudden conflagration described in Joshua 6. Chronological Note A straightforward reading of 1 Kings 6:1 (“480 years after the Israelites came out of Egypt”) places the Exodus in the spring of 1446 BC, assuming Solomon’s fourth regnal year at 966 BC. This agrees with Ussher’s 1491 BC calculation within the margin of scribal rounding. Miraculous Character of the Events The separation of a sea, a pillar directing night travel, sustained wilderness food supply, and immediate defeat of a super-power’s army are not naturalistic coincidences but demonstrations of Yahweh’s sovereign intervention. Analogous displays of divine power continue into the New Testament age and present-day documented healings, validating a consistent miracle-working God. Theological Significance 1. Redemption: Israel’s liberation foreshadows the greater salvation accomplished by Christ’s resurrection (Romans 6:4; 1 Corinthians 5:7). 2. Covenant Identity: The Exodus events establish Israel as Yahweh’s covenant people (Exodus 19:4–6). 3. Memory and Worship: Forgetting these acts leads to idolatry; remembering fosters obedience (Deuteronomy 8:2; Psalm 103:2). Typological and Christological Trajectory Paul explicitly ties the Red Sea crossing to baptism (1 Colossians 10:1-2) and Passover to Christ’s atonement (1 Corinthians 5:7). Thus Psalm 106:21 not only recalls past history but also points to the definitive Deliverer who breaks slavery to sin. Practical Application Believers are warned against spiritual amnesia. Regular rehearsal of God’s historic interventions—including the Exodus, the Resurrection, and personal testimonies of modern miracles—fortifies faith and fuels worship. Summary Statement Psalm 106:21 reaches back to the Exodus—plagues, Passover, Red Sea, desert provision—events firmly rooted in the mid-15th-century BC and supported by converging textual, archaeological, and theological lines. The psalmist’s charge to remember them remains imperative for every generation. |
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