God’s covenant faithfulness is displayed through Israel’s move to Egypt.
The psalmist recalls the journey of God’s chosen people when he writes, “So Israel also came into Egypt; Thus Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham” (v.23). Here, the name “Israel” refers to the descendants of Jacob, who received the new name Israel from God (Genesis 32:28). This small community, bound by their covenant identity, moved from Canaan into Egypt due to famine (Genesis 46:1-7). The resulting relocation set into motion events that would ultimately shape their identity as a nation delivered by God’s mighty hand (Exodus 12:40-41). Their sojourn began in earnest when they entered Egypt and settled there, trusting in the Lord’s promise of protection and future deliverance.
By saying “Thus Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham” (v.23), the psalmist emphasizes Egypt’s geographical context as a region in northeastern Africa famed for the Nile River and its fertile delta. “Ham” is a poetic reference to Egypt, associating it with Noah’s son Ham (Genesis 10:6). The historical Jacob, who lived around the early second millennium BC, moved his family there to escape the severe drought affecting Canaan, illustrating a major transitional period in Israel’s ancestral storyline (Genesis 47:9). When Jacob resided in Egypt (circa 1876 BC), he continued the legacy given to him by Abraham and Isaac, anchoring the people of God to the promise that they would inherit their own land (Genesis 17:7-8).
This verse also reminds believers that God orchestrates movements and positions for His greater redemptive purposes, which ultimately lead to the ultimate Deliverer, Jesus Christ, who came forth from the lineage of this same family (Matthew 1:2). In Psalms 105:23, we observe more than mere historical migration; we see the unfolding of God’s plan to shape a people who would reflect His glory to the world, culminating in the salvation offered in Christ (Galatians 3:29).
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Psalms 105:23 meaning
The psalmist recalls the journey of God’s chosen people when he writes, “So Israel also came into Egypt; Thus Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham” (v.23). Here, the name “Israel” refers to the descendants of Jacob, who received the new name Israel from God (Genesis 32:28). This small community, bound by their covenant identity, moved from Canaan into Egypt due to famine (Genesis 46:1-7). The resulting relocation set into motion events that would ultimately shape their identity as a nation delivered by God’s mighty hand (Exodus 12:40-41). Their sojourn began in earnest when they entered Egypt and settled there, trusting in the Lord’s promise of protection and future deliverance.
By saying “Thus Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham” (v.23), the psalmist emphasizes Egypt’s geographical context as a region in northeastern Africa famed for the Nile River and its fertile delta. “Ham” is a poetic reference to Egypt, associating it with Noah’s son Ham (Genesis 10:6). The historical Jacob, who lived around the early second millennium BC, moved his family there to escape the severe drought affecting Canaan, illustrating a major transitional period in Israel’s ancestral storyline (Genesis 47:9). When Jacob resided in Egypt (circa 1876 BC), he continued the legacy given to him by Abraham and Isaac, anchoring the people of God to the promise that they would inherit their own land (Genesis 17:7-8).
This verse also reminds believers that God orchestrates movements and positions for His greater redemptive purposes, which ultimately lead to the ultimate Deliverer, Jesus Christ, who came forth from the lineage of this same family (Matthew 1:2). In Psalms 105:23, we observe more than mere historical migration; we see the unfolding of God’s plan to shape a people who would reflect His glory to the world, culminating in the salvation offered in Christ (Galatians 3:29).