Psalms 68:6 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

God setteth the solitary in families— Literally, God causeth them to sit down into a family. The word יחידים iech-idim, rendered solitary, signifies such as are left alone, and destitute of help; and seems to imply those whose fathers and families were destroyed either in Egypt, or in passing through the wilderness, by their enemies. Even these, God will cause to sit down, each of them into a family; or bless them with a numerous posterity, and with a safe and comfortable enjoyment of all the social blessings attending it. Dr. Chandler renders the next clause thus: He bringeth forth those who were bound, with great abundance; which, says he, undoubtedly relates to the state of many of the Jews; who were bound or fettered in Egypt, but whom God brought from thence with numerous flocks and great riches; for that they spoiled the Egyptians. Mr. Schultens gives the passage a different turn; "God brings forth those who were bound, into the more grateful bonds and connections of societies and family relations." See him on Proverbs 31:19. It is added, but the rebellious dwell in a dry land. The word סוררים sorerim, rendered rebellious, has a very strong and significant meaning, and denotes those enemies of the Israelites who were obstinately and madly bent on doing them mischief, and stimulated by their hatred and malice utterly to destroy them. See Hosea 4:16. The word צחיחה tsechichah, rendered a dry, signifies a shining, dry, barren place; and denotes that these enemies should be destitute of, not only riches, but necessaries, and of family; in a word, of all the advantages of life, and reduced to the utmost distress and poverty. See Ezekiel 26:4. The Chaldee paraphrase applies this verse to the state of the Jews in Egypt: "He brought out Israel, who were bound in Egypt; but Pharaoh and his army, who refused to let them go, inhabited a dry place:" Referring, I suppose, to their being stripped of their riches by the Israelites, or to their throwing up their dead bodies on the dry and sandy shore. This part of the psalm Dr. Chandler supposes to have been sung just as the Levites took up the ark on their shoulders; and it was a proper exordium to this great solemnity. It begins with a solemn acknowledgment of God, a devout prayer for the dispersion of his enemies, and an exhortation to his people to glory in and rejoice before him, and celebrate his praises, who guided their forefathers in the desart; when he redeemed them from the Egyptian bondage, avenged them of their enemies, freed them from their slavery, enlarged them into families, enriched them with the spoils of Egypt, and condemned their oppressors to poverty, disgrace, and misery. When the ark was lifted up, and placed by its staves on the shoulders of the Levites, just as the procession began, the following part of the hymn was sung, Psalms 68:7-14.