Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 81:5

This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony , when he went out through the land of Egypt : where I heard a language that I understood not .

To wit, the blowing of Trumpets:

Among the posterity of Ioseph, to wit, the people of Israel, as is evident both from the foregoing Verse where they are called Israel, and from the following words in this Verse, where they are described by their coming out of Egypt, which was common to all the Tribes of Israel, who are sometimes callsed by the name of Ioseph; of which see on Psal. 80. 1.

Either 1. For a Law, which is oft called a testimony. Or rather, 2. For a witness and memorial of that glorious deliverance mentioned in the following words. For 1. That this was a statute and law he had expressed, Vers. 4. which it is not likely that he would here repeat, especially▪ in a more dark and doubtful phrase. 2. He seems to declare the end of that Law, which was to be a testimony.

To wit, God, he who ordained, as was now said.

As a Captain in the head, or on the behalf of his people.

To execute his judgments upon that Land or People. Or, against, &c. to destroy it. Or, out of it, as both ancient and other Interpreters render this Particle al, which is elsewhere put for meal, and meal is put for min, from or out of, as is manifest by comparing 2 Kings 21. 8. with 2 Chron. 33. 8. So this Text notes the time when this and the other Feasts were instituted; which was at, or presently after their coming out of Egypt, even at Sinai.

(i. e.) My progenitors, for all the successive Generations of Israel make one body, and are sometimes spoken of as one person.

Either 1. The Language of God himself speaking from Heaven at Sinai, which was strange and terrible to me. Or rather, 2. The Egyptian Language, which at first was very ungrateful and unknown to the Israelites, Gen. 42. 23. and probably continued so for some considerable time, because they were much separated both in place and conversation from the Egyptians through Ioseph's pious and prudent design. This Exposition is confirmed from Psal. 114. 1. where this very thing is mentioned as an aggravation of their misery, and from other places of Scripture where this is spoken of as a curse and plague to be with a people of strange Language, as Deut. 28. 49. Ier. 5, 15.

Marginal references: Or, against.; Heb. [illegible: 1 word] not.