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54 He brought them to the border of his holy land,
to this mountainous land[a] that his right hand[b] acquired.
55 He drove the nations out from before them;
he assigned them their tribal allotments[c]
and allowed the tribes of Israel to settle down.[d]
56 Yet they challenged and defied[e] God Most High,[f]
and did not obey[g] his commands.[h]

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 78:54 tn Heb “this mountain.” The whole land of Canaan seems to be referred to here. In Exod 15:17 the promised land is called the “mountain of your [i.e., God’s] inheritance.”
  2. Psalm 78:54 tn The “right hand” here symbolizes God’s military strength (see v. 55).
  3. Psalm 78:55 tn Heb “he caused to fall [to] them with a measuring line an inheritance.”
  4. Psalm 78:55 tn Heb “and caused the tribes of Israel to settle down in their tents.”
  5. Psalm 78:56 tn Or “tested and rebelled against.”
  6. Psalm 78:56 sn The divine title “Most High” (עֶלְיוֹן ʿelyon) pictures God as the exalted ruler of the universe who vindicates the innocent and judges the wicked. See especially Pss 7:17; 9:2; 18:13; 21:7; 47:2.
  7. Psalm 78:56 tn Or “keep.”
  8. Psalm 78:56 tn Heb “his testimonies” (see Ps 25:10).