John Gill Commentary Psalms 106:26

"Therefore he sware unto them, That he would overthrow them in the wilderness," — Psalms 106:26 (ASV)

Therefore he lifted up his hand against them A gesture used in swearing, (Genesis 14:22Genesis 14:23) (Revelation 10:5Revelation 10:6) . So the Targum understands it here,``and he lifted up his hand with an oath, because of them:'' and so it is interpreted by Aben Ezra, Jarchi, Kimchi, and Ben Melech; and agrees with (Numbers 14:28–30) . The same gesture was used by the Heathens in swearing, as by Latinus ^F19 . Or he lifted up his hand, in a way of judgment, to strike the blow; and which, when it lights on man with the indignation of his anger, falls heavy; see (Isaiah 26:11) (30:30) .

To overthrow them in the wilderness; as he did all the murmuring generation that came out of Egypt, all but Caleb and Joshua; all from twenty years and upwards, their carcasses fell in the wilderness; there they were wasted, consumed, and died, (Numbers 14:32Numbers 14:33Numbers 14:35) (1 Corinthians 10:5) (Hebrews 3:17) .

---

FOOTNOTES:

• F19: "----Tenditque ad sidera dextram--Terram, mare, sidera juro", Virg. Aeneid. 12.