Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 74:14

14 Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness .

(i. e.) The hard, called Heads▪ Partly, for the greatness of this Beast, as that great Monster is called Beas[illegible: 1+ letters]s, Iob 40. 20. for the same Reason; and Partly, for the several Heads or Princes, who were and Acted under his influence.

Pharaoh.

Heb. To the People in, or of the Desert; Either, 1. To the Israelites, then in the Wilderness, to whom the Destruction of Pharaoh and his Host, was Meat, (i. e.) Matter of great support and Refreshment. Or, 2. To those Savage people, to whom they were Meat; because they lived upon Fishes, and might eat those very Fishes which had devoured Ph[illegible: 1+ letters]raoh's Host in the bottom of the Sea. Or rather, 3. To those Ravenous Birds and Beasts of the Desert, which after their manner, [illegible: 1+ letters]ed and feasted themselves upon the Carcasses of the Egyptians, who were cast upon the Sea-shore, Exod. 14. 30. which were Properly and immediately Meat unto them. And when words can be taken Properly, we ought to prefer that before the Metaphorical Sence, as is agreed by Interpreters. And this was a very suitable Punishment for this Proud and insolent People, that they who were so haughty, that they▪ would not own nor submit to the Lord himself▪ Exod. 5. 2. should be de[illegible: 1+ letters]oured by these Contemptible Creatures, which was a great Reproach, 1 Sam. 17. 44. 46. and [illegible: 1+ letters]ft threatned by God, as a grievous Curse, as [illegible: 1 word]. 28. 26. [illegible: 1 word]. 7. 33. and 16. 4. &c. Neither let any think it strange, that the Name of People is given to these Creatures, for it is given to Connies, Grashoppers, Pismires, &c▪ both in Scripture, as Prov. 30. 25, 26. Ioel 1. 6. and in H[illegible: 1+ letters]r, and other Antient profane Writers. Nay, here is an Elegancy in the Expression; for these Creatures are significantly called the People of the wilderness, because they are the onely People that inhabited it, this being a Wilderness wherein was no Man, as is said, Iob. 38. 26.