Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 66:12

"Thou didst cause men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place." — Psalms 66:12 (ASV)

You have caused men to ride over our heads — This refers evidently to some national subjection or conquest—most probably to their having been subdued by the Babylonians. Professor Alexander renders this, “You have caused men to ride at our head,” as if leading them forth as captives in war. The most probable meaning, however, is that they had been subdued, as if on a field of battle, and as if their conquerors had ridden over them when prostrate on the ground. Compare the notes at (Psalms 44:5), and the notes at (Isaiah 51:23).

We went through fire and through water — This is designed to represent the nature of their trials. It was as if they had been made to pass through burning flames and raging floods. Compare the notes at (Isaiah 43:2).

Instead of passing through the seas and rivers when the waters had been turned back, and when a dry and safe path was made for them, as was the case with their fathers (Psalms 66:6), they had been compelled to face the flood itself. Yet, notwithstanding this, God had brought them into a place of safety.

In either way, by parting the floods or by conducting His people through them, as seems best to Him, God can lead His people safely and deliver them from danger. The power, the protecting care, the love, and the faithfulness of God are shown with equal clearness whether He divides the flood and causes His people to march through as on dry land, or whether He allows the flood to rage and heave around them while He conducts His chosen people safely through.

But You brought us out into a wealthy place — Margin, moist. Professor Alexander, overflow, abundance. Vulgate, into a place of refreshment — refrigerium. The Septuagint, εἰς ἀναψυχήν eis anapsuchēn. Luther, You have led us forth and quickened us. De Wette, zum Ueberflusse — “to overflowing, or abundance.”

The Hebrew word — רויה revâyâh — means properly “abundant drink,” “abundance.” It occurs only here and in (Psalms 23:5), where it is rendered “runneth over.” See the notes at that place.

The proper idea here is that He had brought them into a land where there was plenty of water — as emblematic of abundance in general. He had led them to a place where there were ample rivers, springs, and streams, producing fertility and abundance. This would be the language of the people after their return from exile, and when they were permitted again to revisit their native land — a land always characterized as a land of plenty.

See (Deuteronomy 8:7); compare (Exodus 3:8), (Leviticus 20:24), and (Numbers 13:27).