He drove out nations before them; he apportioned them for a possession and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just about God giving Israel land; it highlights God's active role in removing the previous inhabitants, showing His complete power to grant a new beginning, not just a piece of ground. The phrase "made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents" is a poetic way of saying they settled into the homes and cities the previous nations had built, underscoring the completeness of the transfer of possession.
He drove out nations before them; he apportioned them for a possession and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is a retelling of Israel's history, highlighting God's faithfulness amidst their repeated disobedience. After recounting God's mighty acts in the wilderness and Egypt, the psalmist shifts to the period of the Judges, emphasizing how Israel repeatedly fell into idolatry and provoked God. This verse marks a transition, looking back at God's provision in conquering and dividing the Promised Land for them, before detailing their subsequent unfaithfulness even in their settled homes.
How did Israel actually gain the Promised Land? It wasn't just brute strength or luck.
The verse clearly states, 'He drove out nations before them.' This wasn't an accident or the result of Israel's superior military might alone. The commentaries emphasize that God's power was the decisive factor. He was the one who dislodged these established peoples to make way for His own.
This highlights a crucial principle: God's promises are fulfilled through His active intervention. While the people of Israel were called to obedience and courage, the ultimate victory and the displacement of the existing inhabitants were God's doing. The land was a gift, secured by divine power, not just human effort.
God didn't just give Israel land; He gave them their portion. What does that mean for us?
The psalm continues, 'he apportioned them for a possession.' This wasn't a chaotic free-for-all. The land was carefully measured and divided, first among the nations and then among the tribes of Israel. Commentators like Gill and Barnes point out that this was done 'by line,' indicating a precise and orderly distribution.
This imagery speaks to God's sovereign planning and His faithfulness to His promises. He didn't just hand over a vast territory; He assigned specific portions. This suggests that God has a specific plan and purpose for each of His people, providing them with exactly what they need for their assigned role and inheritance in His kingdom.
Ask a follow-up
After all the wandering and fighting, Israel finally found rest. What does 'dwelling in their tents' truly signify?
The final phrase, 'and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents,' signifies the culmination of God's promise of a permanent home. It means peace, security, and stability after years of nomadic life and conflict. The commentaries highlight that they moved into the cities and dwellings of the expelled nations, meaning they were given established homes.
This points to the ultimate rest we find in Christ. For believers, 'dwelling in our tents' points to the security and belonging we have in God's presence, no longer as sojourners but as children in His household. It's a picture of the eternal inheritance and dwelling place God has prepared for us.
Understand the original words
nachal · Hebrew Verb
The act of allocating or dividing land as an inheritance. In the context of the Promised Land, it signifies the sovereign distribution of territory to the tribes of Israel as an eternal covenantal gift from God.
nachalah · Hebrew Noun
An inheritance or a settled portion of land held as property. In the biblical context, it refers to the land given by God to His people as a permanent gift, emphasizing their status as His covenant heirs.
This verse looks back to the foundational event of Israel's settlement in the Promised Land, a moment of divine fulfillment and human responsibility. It highlights God's active role in dispossessing the original inhabitants and granting the land as an inheritance to His people.
c. 1400 BC— this verse
Conquest of Canaan
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites conquered the land of Canaan, driving out its inhabitants. This was seen as God fulfilling His promise to give them the land.
c. 1400-1077 BC
Period of the Judges
Following the conquest, Israel entered a period where they were governed by judges. Despite God's provision, this era was marked by cycles of disobedience and divine discipline.
c. 1077 BC
Fall of Shiloh
The sanctuary at Shiloh, where the Ark of the Covenant was housed, was destroyed by the Philistines. This signified a low point in Israel's spiritual and national history.
c. 1050 BC
Rise of the Monarchy
Samuel the prophet anoints Saul as the first king of Israel, marking a shift from the period of the judges to a united monarchy.
c. 1010 BC
David Anointed King
David, from the tribe of Judah, is anointed king. His reign would usher in a golden age for Israel, establishing Jerusalem as the capital.
This passage directly echoes Psalm 78 by recounting God's expulsion of nations and the subsequent inheritance of the land by Israel, highlighting God's direct action rather than Israel's own strength.
Deuteronomy 7:1-2This passage describes God's promise to drive out the nations before Israel, underscoring the theme of divine power securing the promised land for His people, just as Psalm 78 recounts.
Judges 1:21This verse shows a contrast to the divine promise, noting that the tribe of Benjamin could not drive out the Jebusites, which serves as a reminder of why the Psalmist emphasizes God's action in Psalm 78:55 – Israel's success was wholly dependent on Him.
1 Kings 4:25This verse speaks of a time when Israel lived in peace and security, with everyone dwelling under their own vine and fig tree, reflecting the settled peace described in Psalm 78:55 after the land was secured.
expositorsPsalms 78:1-72: "Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth."
Psalm 78:1-72 THIS psalm is closely related to Psalm 105:1-45 ; Psalm 106:1-48 ; Psalm 107:1-43 . Like them, it treats the history of Israel, and especially the Exodus and wilderness wanderings, for purposes of edification, rebuke, and encouragement. The past is held up as a mirror to the present generation. It has been one long succession of miracles of mercy met by equally continu…
calvinPsalms 78:52-58: "But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock."
- And he made his people to go forth like sheep, and led them in the wilderness like a flock. 53. And he conducted them in safety, and they were not afraid: and the sea covered their enemies. 54. And he brought them to his holy border, [literally to the border of his holiness,] this mountain, [353] which his right hand acquired. [354] 55. He expelled the heathen from before them;…
This verse isn't just about God giving Israel land; it highlights God's active role in removing the previous inhabitants, showing His complete power to grant a new beginning, not just a piece of ground. The phrase "made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents" is a poetic way of saying they settled into the homes and cities the previous nations had built, underscoring the completeness of the transfer of possession.
This psalm is a retelling of Israel's history, highlighting God's faithfulness amidst their repeated disobedience. After recounting God's mighty acts in the wilderness and Egypt, the psalmist shifts to the period of the Judges, emphasizing how Israel repeatedly fell into idolatry and provoked God. This verse marks a transition, looking back at God's provision in conquering and dividing the Promised Land for them, before detailing their subsequent unfaithfulness even in their settled homes.
This psalm is a retelling of Israel's history, highlighting God's faithfulness amidst their repeated disobedience. After recounting God's mighty acts in the wilderness and Egypt, the psalmist shifts to the period of the Judges, emphasizing how Israel repeatedly fell into idolatry and provoked God. This verse marks a transition, looking back at God's provision in conquering and dividing the Promised Land for them, before detailing their subsequent unfaithfulness even in their settled homes.
"He drove out nations before them; he apportioned them for a possession and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents." — This verse isn't just about God giving Israel land; it highlights God's active role in removing the previous inhabitants, showing His complete power to grant a new beginning, not just a piece of gr…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026