Ver. 8, 9. When the Most High divided, &c.— Bochart gives the words this simple meaning: "God so distributed the bounds and settlements of the several people and nations, as to reserve in his counsel such a part of the earth for the Israelites, as he knew would be a sufficient inheritance, a commodious habitation for so numerous a race;" which sense cannot be better expressed than in the words of St. Paul, Acts 17:26. God hath made of one blood all nations of men, to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation. As to the version which the LXX have given of this place, according to the number of the angels of God, it seems merely rabbinical, if not adapted to pagan sentiments. I should apprehend, that the passage may be very probably and easily understood, if read thus, by a slight alteration of our version:
When the most high divided to the nations their inheritance. When he separated the sons of Adam, He set the bounds of the people for the number of the children of Israel: Because the Lord's portion is his people, &c.
Jacob is said to be the lot (in the Hebrew, cord,) of his inheritance, as it was usual to measure land by a cord or line, whence the metaphor is taken. See Psalms 16:6.