Psalms 99:8 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

Bible Comments

Thou tookest vengeance of their inventions (or, works). — This does not refer to the personages just mentioned but to the people at large. The train of thought is as follows: — “There are great saints among us, as in olden time, but, as then, their prayers, while often procuring forgiveness, could not altogether avert punishment for sin; so the present community must expect retribution when sinful, in spite of the mediation of the better part of the nation.” The Hebrew style did not favour similes, and hence the poet omits the signs of comparison, and leaves his inference to be drawn by his readers.

Psalms 99:8

8 Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.