Psalms 78:38

“And shed innocent blood, etc.] The blood of innocent persons; not that any of Adam’s posterity, descending from him by ordinary generation, are strictly and properly innocent, or free from sin; selfrighteous persons have thought themselves, touching the righteousness of the law, blameless; and some perfectionists have pretended to be free from sin, but are not such; they who are justified by the righteousness of Christ, and washed in his blood, are, so considered, all fair and without spot; are without fault before the throne, and unreproveable in the sight of God: but, considered in themselves, are not without sin; only the man Christ Jesus is perfectly holy and free from sin, being born of…”

“But he, being full of compassion - literally, “But he, merciful,” That is, he was ready to forgive them. Forgave their iniquity - literally, Atoned for, expiated, covered over their iniquity. There is connected with the word the idea of expiation or atonement, as the ground of pardon. And destroyed them not - Did not cut them off in their repeated acts of rebellion. He bore with them, and spared them. Yea, many a time turned he his anger away - literally, He multiplied to turn his anger away. That is, he did it repeatedly. There were frequent occasions on their journey for doing this, and he did it. And did not stir up all his wrath - literally, Did not excite, or arouse all his anger. His…”

“But he: Psa 106:43-45; Exo 34:6-9; Num 14:18-20, Num 16:44-48; Isa 44:21, Isa 44:22 many: Isa 48:9; Eze 20:8, Eze 20:9, Eze 20:13, Eze 20:14, Eze 20:17, Eze 20:21, Eze 20:22 did not: Kg2 21:20 Psalms 78:39”

“The second part of the Psalm now begins. God, notwithstanding, in His compassion restrains His anger; but Israel's God-tempting conduct was continued, even after the journey through the desert, in Canaan, and the miracles of judgment amidst which the deliverance out of Egypt had been effected were forgotten. With והוּא in Psa 78:38 (Note: According to B. Kiddushin 30a, this Psa 78:38 is the middle one of the 5896 פסוקין, στίχοι, of the Psalter. According to B. Maccoth 22b, Psa 78:38, and previously Deu 28:58-59; Deu 29:8 \[9\], were recited when the forty strokes of the lash save one, which according to Co2 11:24 Paul received five times, were being counted out to the culprit.) begins an…”