Psa Psalms, psalm Book of Psalms, psalm 114
At the time of the exodus of Israel from Egypt, when the descendants of Jacob left that foreign country,114:1. “Foreign country”: literally, “people of a foreign language.”
the land of Judah became the Lord's sanctuary, Israel his kingdom.
The Red Sea saw them and ran away; the Jordan River retreated.
Mountains jumped in fright114:4. Literally “skipped,” but this suggests a playful action when the context makes it clear that the jumping is due to fear, not joy. like rams, hills were startled114:4. “Startled”: implied. The image is of mountains and hills shaking as in an earthquake. like lambs.
Red Sea—why did you run away? Jordan River—why did you retreat?
Mountains—why did you jump in fright? Hills—why were you startled like lambs?
Earth, tremble in the presence of the Lord, tremble in the presence of the God of Jacob!
He is the one who turned the rock into a pool of water; making water flow from the hard rock.114:8. See Exodus 17:1-7; Numbers 20:1-13.