The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.
-The Israelites failed to realize the high destination which was the very object for which God called them into national existence.
Verse 9. The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle -
i.e., like soldiers who, though armed, turn their back in battle; so the children of Ephraim (i:e., all Israel, represented by Ephraim, the ruling tribe during the period of the Judges) failed, when put to the test, to realize their noble destination of God. As here they are compared to the dastardly bowmen, so in Psalms 78:57, "to a deceitful bow," which will not do its proof work. Bowmen formed the main body of the Hebrew army. The unfaithfulness of Israel, described here, is that in the period of the Judges; and the consequent punishment is stated to have been their defeat, and the capture of the ark by the enemy (Psalms 78:41; Psalms 78:56-60), followed by the rejection of Shiloh, and the election of Judah as the place of God's sanctuary (Psalms 78:67-69).
Verse 10. They kept not the covenant of God - in opposition to Psalms 78:7, 'that they might keep His commandments.'
Verse 11. And forgat his works - in opposition to Psalms 78:7, "and not forget the works of God."
And his wonders. "His works and His wonders" are those done in Egypt and in the wilderness.
That he had showed them - through their fathers, as the representatives of the Israel of all ages.