Psalms 105:12

“When they were but a few men in number, etc.] Or “men of number” f1487, that might easily be numbered; (see <013430>Genesis 34:30), when this covenant, promise, and oath, were first made to Abraham, he was alone, and had no child; and when his posterity were increased in Jacob’s time, and sojourned in Egypt, they were but few, though greatly enlarged when they came out of it: in comparison of other nations, they were the fewest of all people, and therefore had this grant of Canaan, not for their numbers any more than their goodness. And this circumstance is mentioned to show the unmerited goodness of God unto them; (see <050706>Deuteronomy 7:6-8 26:5). And so the Lord’s people, to whom he…”

“When they were but a few men in number - literally, “In their being people of number, very little.” That is, They could then be easily numbered, and they were so few that they could not take possession of it themselves. This is in contrast with the promise then made to them that they should be in number as the stars, and as the sand on the sea shore. And strangers in it - Foreigners. They were mere sojourners. They did not become incorporated with the people of the land. They did not acquire property there. They were regarded and treated as belonging to a foreign people. See the notes at Hebrews 11:9. return to 'Top of Page'”

“105:12-15 The Lord protected Israel’s patriarchs.”

“a few: Gen 34:30; Deu 7:7, Deu 26:5; Isa 51:2; Eze 33:24-33 and strangers: Gen 17:8, Gen 23:4; Act 7:5; Heb 11:9, Heb 11:12 Psalms 105:14”

“The poet now celebrates the divine preservation which had sway over the small beginnings of Israel, when it made the patriarchs proof against harm on their wanderings. "Men of number" are such as can be easily counted, vid., the confessions in Gen 34:30; Deu 26:5; ויּתהלּכוּ places the claim upon the hospitality at one time of this people and at another time of that people in the connection with it of cause and effect. כּמעט, as a small number, only such a small number, signifies, as being virtually an adjective: inconsiderable, insignificant, worthless ( Pro 10:20). בּהּ refers to Canaan. In Psa 105:13 the way in which the words גּוי and עם alternate is instructive: the former signifies the…”