God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry [land].
Ver. 6. God setteth the solitary in families] i.e. He blesseth them with issue. See Psalms 113:9, and so he doth the Church, Isaiah 54:1, in these days of the gospel especially.
He bringeth out those which are bound in chains] As he did Peter, Acts 12:7, Paul and Silas, Act 16:25-26 Some read it thus, He bringeth out those which are bound, in commoditates, into places where they may live commodiously and cheerfully. As on the other side,
The rebellious dwell in a dry land] In locis torridis, aridis, exsuccis et siticulosis, in dry and desert countries, where they are destitute of God's blessing and his soul refreshing comforts. The Hebrew word signifieth a bleak or white soil, such as is all Egypt where the Nile arriveth not, viz. a whitish sand, bearing no grass, but two little weeds, of which they make glass. Where the river watereth is a black mould, so fruitful, say travellers, as they do but throw in the seed, and have four rich harvests in less than four months. Hence Egypt is called the world's granary.