John Calvin Commentary Psalms 105:24

"And he increased his people greatly, And made them stronger than their adversaries." — Psalms 105:24 (ASV)

And he greatly increased his people. The special favor of God towards his Church is now highlighted by the additional detail that, in a short time, the chosen people increased beyond the usual rate. In this matter, the wonderful blessing of God was remarkably evident. All the more offensive, then, is the hostile barking of some critics, who arrogantly scoff at Moses' account of the people's increase because it far exceeds what normally happens.

If the people had increased only at the normal rate, these individuals would have immediately objected that no work of God could be seen in it. Thus, the aim they pursue with their quibbles is nothing less than to make people believe that God's blessing had no connection with the situation.

But we, who are convinced that it is unjustifiable for us to measure God’s power by our own understanding or by what happens in the ordinary course of nature, reverently admire this extraordinary work of his hand.

The following clause is somewhat obscure, especially if we read it as, The people were strengthened; for the prophet does not seem to refer to the period when the Israelites lived at ease and in prosperity, but rather to the time when they were contemptuously and barbarously treated as slaves.

We may, however, understand this language as spoken in anticipation—as pointing to what was to happen. In the following verse, it is stated that the Egyptians, after changing their minds, began to treat the people with cruelty.

Therefore, although the Egyptians had not yet openly exercised their cruelty against the people while they were increasing in both number and strength, the prophet still calls them persecutors. It is certain that the Israelites, even when oppressed as slaves, were a terror to their enemies; and Moses plainly affirms (Exodus 1:12) that when they were under tyranny and wrongful oppression, it was still abundantly clear that the blessing of God rested upon them.