John Gill Commentary Psalms 107:34

"A fruitful land into a salt desert, For the wickedness of them that dwell therein." — Psalms 107:34 (ASV)

A fruitful land into barrenness
Or, "into saltness" ^F20 ; as Sodom and the land adjacent became a salt sea; and the land of Canaan was threatened to become brimstone, salt and burning, like Sodom; in which nothing was sown, and which bore no grass; see (Genesis 14:3) (Deuteronomy 29:3) and so the Targum,

``the land of Israel, which brought forth fruit, he has destroyed, as Sodom was overthrown.''

For the wickedness of them that dwell therein ;
this was the cause of the overthrow of Sodom, and of the destruction of that fine country, as also of Canaan afterwards; see (Genesis 13:13) (Deuteronomy 29:22Deuteronomy 29:23) . The very Heathens had a notion that barrenness and unfruitfulness in countries were owing to the sins of men; hence the sterility and famine at Mycenas were attributed to the wickedness of Atreus ^F21 .

This may figuratively be understood of the present state and condition of the Jews; who were once a people well watered with the word and ordinances, and had the first preaching of the Gospel among them; but, rejecting and despising it, are now become like a desert, barren and unfruitful in the knowledge of divine things: and it might be illustrated by the case of several Christian churches; the seven churches of Asia, and others, once as well watered gardens, but now are no more; and the places where they stood are destitute of spiritual knowledge, and the means of it.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F20: (hxlml) "in salsuginem", Pagninus, Montanus, Musculus, Vatablus, Piscator, Gejerus, Michaelis; so Junius & Tremellius; "in salsam", Cocceius.
• F21: Hygin. Fab. 88.