"Marked by Mark McGee" - Insights.
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Psalms (TCT) 114.
1 WHEN ISRAEL LEFT EGYPT, THE HOUSE OF JACOB [LEFT] A PEOPLE OF A STRANGE TONGUE,
2 JUDAH BECAME HIS HOLY NATION, ISRAEL HIS DOMINION.
3 THE SEA SAW AND FLED; THE JORDAN TURNED BACKWARD.
4 THE MOUNTAINS DANCED LIKE RAMS, HILLS LIKE YOUNG SHEEP.
5 WHAT FRIGHTENS YOU, O SEA, THAT YOU FLEE? O JORDAN, THAT YOU TURN BACKWARD?
6 YOU MOUNTAINS, THAT YOU DANCE LIKE RAMS; YOU HILLS, LIKE YOUNG SHEEP?
7 FROM BEFORE THE MASTER, WHO CREATED THE EARTH, FROM BEFORE THE GOD OF JACOB,
8 WHO TRANSFORMS THE ROCK INTO A POND OF WATER, THE FLINT INTO A FOUNTAIN OF WATER.
V1. The first clue that this psalm can be interpreted in the context of the 2 kingdoms is that in Obadiah 1:18, the same nomenclature is used to describe both houses: The house of Jacob shall be a fire, And the house of Joseph a flame
Israel represents the Northern 10 Tribes. They are migrating geographically away from Egypt. The northern Kingdom associated with migration as in moving towards the Ends of the earth and the Isles of the sea (Isiah 41).
The House of Jacob represents the Southern Kingdom of Judah with Levi. They are set apart linguistically from the Egyptian Language. The Jews of the Southern Kingdom historically retained the Hebrew Language and culture. (Also a reference to Gen 49:10 the Scepter could be interpreted that Judah will have the task of keeping Torah and Language)
V2. According to Psalms 114 / Hebrew - English Bible / Mechon-Mamre, Judah becoming a Holy Nation can also be interpreted as "Judah Became HIS Sanctuary". The Temple is located within Jerusalem, the historical capital of the Southern Kingdom. Furthermore the Tabernacle was ultimately located within the territory of Ephraim, (the leader of the Northern Kingdom). This verse corresponds with V1 in that the Temple is set apart permanently within the Southern Kingdom, but The Tabernacle is suitable for worship during migration. Indeed Israel was destined for a great migration.
V3. The Sea fled before Moses, a Levite. Levi would later become part of the Southern Kingdom. The Jordan turned backward before Joshua son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim. Ephraim is the namesake and leader of the Northern Kingdom.
V4. Mountains and Hills could represent other Gentile nations or dynasties. But another possibility is that Mount Horeb experienced earthquakes during the giving of the Torah to Moses. And that Hills could represent the Hill of Samaria that became the capital of the Northern Kingdom located in the territory of Ephriam. (This interpretation does not very well account for both Mountain and Hill being plural)
V5,6,7. The Sea, River, Mountains, and Hills are now reminded that even though The Southern and Northern Kingdoms have a separate destiny to fulfill, all things are ordered by the same ONE Master and Creator from before time. The One G-d is the tie that binds both houses together now and for all time.
V8. This verse is especially touching as G-d is the one that helps both Kingdoms together. Twice during the Exodus, did G-d pour out the blessing of water from the rock. The first during the short 2 year journey across the desert and the second during the longer 40 year period of wandering. The blessing of water was given to all 12 tribes even though all Hebrew children were guilty grumbling.
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