What historical events might have inspired the praise in Psalm 106:12? Canonical Text Psalm 106:12 : “Then they believed His promises and sang His praise.” Immediate Literary Context Verses 7-11 rehearse God’s acts in Egypt and at the Red Sea: • “He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up…” (v. 9). • “The waters covered their enemies; not one of them survived” (v. 11). Verse 12 is the climactic response. The praise is therefore anchored in the exodus deliverance, specifically the Red Sea crossing and the subsequent Song of Moses and Miriam (Exodus 14:31–15:21). Primary Historical Event—Red Sea Deliverance (c. 1446 BC) 1. Plagues and Passover (Exodus 7–12). 2. Flight from Rameses to Succoth, Etham, Pi-ha-hiroth (Exodus 12:37; 13:20; 14:2). 3. Miraculous parting of the sea (Exodus 14:21-22). 4. Destroyed Egyptian chariots; Israel “saw the great power that the LORD had displayed against the Egyptians” (Exodus 14:31). 5. Spontaneous worship: “Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD” (Exodus 15:1). Psalm 106:12 echoes that moment. Supplementary or Secondary Allusions Although the Red Sea event is primary, the pattern of believing and praising after miraculous deliverance recurs: • Jordan River crossing and the Song of Victory (Joshua 3–4; 10:12-14). • Deborah’s song after deliverance from Sisera (Judges 5). • Hezekiah’s Passover revival (2 Chronicles 30). The psalmist may telescope multiple episodes, but the wording and sequence in vv. 7-13 most closely mirror Exodus 14–15. Archaeological and Extra-Biblical Corroboration • Tell el-Dab‘a (Avaris) excavations reveal a large Semitic population in the Nile Delta during the Middle & early New Kingdom, matching the Hebrews in Goshen. • Ipuwer Papyrus 2:10–3:13 describes Nile turned to blood and nationwide chaos, paralleling the plagues. • The Berlin Pedestal (13th-cent.) lists “I-si-ra-el,” confirming a people-group in Canaan shortly after the proposed exodus. • The Merneptah Stele (c. 1208 BC) notes “Israel is laid waste,” showing Israel’s presence that presupposes an earlier departure from Egypt. • Lidar and sonar scans of the Gulf of Aqaba have produced coral-encrusted wheel-shaped artifacts consistent with bronze-age Egyptian chariot parts (documentation by marine archaeologists Andersson & Wyatt, 1978-1991). While debated, they illustrate tangible interest in the traditional crossing locale. • The Song of the Sea (Exodus 15) exhibits archaic Hebrew poetic forms (parallels to Ugaritic meter), indicating an origin close to the event, not centuries later. Theological Significance • Trust cemented: “Then they believed” (Psalm 106:12) connects deliverance to faith (cf. Exodus 14:31; Hebrews 11:29). • Worship initiated: Praise flows naturally from experienced salvation (Exodus 15:1-2; Psalm 106:1). • Typology: The Red Sea prefigures baptism (1 Corinthians 10:1-2) and Christ’s resurrection victory over death (Romans 6:4). • Covenant confirmation: The event validated the Abrahamic promise (Genesis 15:13-14) and set the stage for Sinai (Exodus 19:4). Summary The praise of Psalm 106:12 arises chiefly from Israel’s miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea and the accompanying Song of Moses (Exodus 14–15). Archaeological data, ancient texts, and the internal coherence of Scripture corroborate this historical foundation, reinforcing confidence in God’s saving acts and inviting every generation to respond with trust and worship. |
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