Psalms 44:2
How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.
Original Language Analysis
יָדְךָ֡
with thy hand
H3027
יָדְךָ֡
with thy hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
2 of 8
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
גּוֹיִ֣ם
the heathen
H1471
גּוֹיִ֣ם
the heathen
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
3 of 8
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
ה֭וֹרַשְׁתָּ
How thou didst drive out
H3423
ה֭וֹרַשְׁתָּ
How thou didst drive out
Strong's:
H3423
Word #:
4 of 8
to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish
וַתִּטָּעֵ֑ם
and plantedst
H5193
וַתִּטָּעֵ֑ם
and plantedst
Strong's:
H5193
Word #:
5 of 8
properly, to strike in, i.e., fix; specifically, to plant (literally or figuratively)
Cross References
Psalms 78:55He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.Exodus 15:17Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.
Historical Context
The conquest of Canaan was interpreted as God's holy war, driving out nations judged for centuries of accumulated wickedness (Genesis 15:16). Israel was the instrument of divine judgment and the recipient of divine promise.
Questions for Reflection
- How does understanding God's initiative in Israel's establishment affect our view of His sovereignty?
- What does the metaphor of God 'planting' His people suggest about His ongoing care?
Analysis & Commentary
God 'didst drive out the heathen' and 'planted' Israel, 'afflicted the people' (Canaanites) and 'cast them out.' The imagery of planting suggests Israel as God's vineyard, cultivated and cared for. The verbs emphasize God's direct action--conquest was not human achievement but divine intervention.