-From the fathers in the wilderness the Psalmist turns to the sons in Canaan. In the former half of the decade their sins are mentioned; in the second half the judgments of God upon them for their sins.
Verse 34. They did not destroy the nations - from want of faith, holy zeal, and whole-hearted energy; not from want of inclination because of compassion (Judges 1:21; Judges 1:27-36).
Concerning whom the Lord commanded them - (Exodus 23:32-33; Exodus 34:11-15; Judges 2:1-5).
Verse 35. But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works - notwithstanding Joshua's warning (Joshua 23:12-13). Intermarriages with the pagan, as God forewarned them (Deuteronomy 7:3-4), and as afterward happened in Solomon's case, occasioned their being seduced to idolatry (Judges 3:5-7).
Verse 36. And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them - (Exodus 23:33; Judges 8:27.) The image is from birds caught in "a snare" to their destruction. Idolatry was Israel's snare or cause of destruction. So the term is used, Exodus 10:7.
Verse 37. Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils. Deuteronomy 32:17 is the only other place where the Hebrew term for "devils" occurs, or rather 'demons' (as there is but one devil; and the bad spirits under him are demons, plural). 'They sacrificed unto sheediym , (which were) no gods, gods which they knew not.' The sheediym answers by contrast to 'Elohiym , the true God. Gesenius considers it as equivalent to Baalim, 'lords,' from the Arabic shud, 'to rule.' Compare Judges 2:11-12; 1 Corinthians 8:5, "god's many and lords many." However, the sense, "devils," or rather 'demons' (Septuagint) is sustained by Leviticus 17:7; 2 Chronicles 11:15; 1 Corinthians 10:20; Revelation 9:20. The root then is [shaadad], or shuwd , to destroy, appropriate to the idol Moloch, whose cruel worship consisted in human sacrifices. Destroying demons, fatal to the worshippers (cf. Psalms 106:38).
Verse 38. And shed innocent blood - in defiance of Deuteronomy 19:10.
Even the blood of their sons and of their daughters - the very abomination which showed the desperate corruption of the Canaanite, and which caused God to cast them out before Israel (Deuteronomy 12:31; Deuteronomy 18:10).
And the land was polluted with blood - forbidden in Numbers 35:33. Every precaution was taken in God's law to impress the conscience with a horror of bloodshed: so utterly alien is Yahweh's worship to that of Moloch.
Verse 39. Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a-whoring with their own inventions. Spiritual fornication alienates the heart from God, and joins it to any idol (Leviticus 17:7; Numbers 15:39).
Verse 40. Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance - i:e., Israel; as the parallel, "His people," shows, Deuteronomy 9:29 (cf. Psalms 78:59; Psalms 78:62).
Verse 41 And he gave them into the hand of the heathen (J dg ) Verse 41. And he gave them into the hand of the heathen - (Judges 2:14.)
And they that hated them ruled over them - according to God's prophetic threat, Leviticus 26:17.
Verse 42. And they were brought into subjection under their hand. On the phrase, cf. Judges 3:30. Their existing captivity in Babylon was the sad consummation.
Verse 43. Many times did he deliver them - during the period of the Judges and Kings (Judges 2:16; Nehemiah 9:26-37).
But they provoked him with their counsel - with their corrupt and perverse plans.
And were brought low for their iniquity - the crowning of their punishment, their being led away into captivity. So Leviticus 26:39 had foretold, "They that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies' land" (cf. Ezekiel 33:10), which was written in the Babylonian land of their captivity.