Psalm 74 (73):15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Yet true streams are those rivers that dry up in summer, only to overflow during winter when rain comes. Thus one can observe a steadfast individual rooted in faith, a person who endures trials without abandoning God; this commitment is for the sake of truth and not for falsehoods or delusions, him enduring all hardships. Where does this individual derive his strength, if not from the Word that has become within him a fountain of water flowing to eternal life? (John 4:14) On the other hand, another hears the Word, proclaims it, is not silent, and takes action; but it is in the summer that his true nature is revealed—whether he is a wellspring or merely a stream. Through both vessels, may the earth be nourished by Him who fulfilled Salvation amid the earth: may the springs overflow, and may the streams flow freely. You have dried up the rivers of Etam (Psalm 72:15).... What is the meaning of Etam? It is a term from Hebrew. What translation does Etam receive? Strong, robust. Who is this mighty one whose waters God is drying up? Is it not the dragon himself? For no one dares to invade the domain of the strong man to plunder his possessions unless he first restrains the strong man. (Mark 12:29) It is the strong man who trusts in his own strength and forsakes God; it is he who declares, I will ascend to the north, and I will be like the Most High. (Isaiah 14:13) From that very vessel of distorted strength, He caused humanity to drink. Those who believed they could ascend to divinity through illicit sustenance were indeed empowered. Adam was emboldened, of whom it was said, ‘Behold, Adam has become like one of us.’ (Gen. 3:22)...Despite their might, they would not embrace the righteousness of God. (Rom. 10:3) Observe how the man set aside his strength, remaining feeble, impoverished, standing at a distance, not daring to lift his gaze to heaven; rather, he humbles himself, striking his breast, and cries out, Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. (Luke 18:13) In his weakness, he now acknowledges his frailty; he is not strong—he is parched land, yet he is intoxicated with the springs and streams. Those who cling to their own virtue remain robust. Let their rivers dry up; let there be no advancement in the teachings of the pagans, sorcerers, astrologers, or practitioners of magical arts: for the rivers of the strong man have indeed dried up; you have dried up the rivers of Etam. May such false doctrines wither away; may minds be filled with the gospel of truth.

Just as a stream does not perpetually flow but is replenished by rainwater, this water was bestowed by divine grace. You have caused the rivers of Jephthah to dry up. Simmachus translates this as: You have caused the rivers of old to cease; for You commanded rivers to spring forth in the wilderness that did not exist and had never been from the beginning, desiring that the rivers which previously flowed for ages should stop. The Prophet expresses this in another psalm, “He turned rivers into a wilderness, and the waters into dry ground, and fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of those who dwell there” (Psalm 106:33-36). He dried up the rivers of Sodom and Gomorrah, along with others in the vicinity, due to the sins of the inhabitants, and He provided water from the rock to quench the thirst of His people in the arid land. For it is not a challenge for Him to redirect the flow of waters at His will. However, the prophetic message reveals that, for their transgressions, the Jews will no longer be nourished by the prophetic rivers, but instead, the Gentiles—this ancient wilderness—will be refreshed by streams of water from the rock. As the Apostle teaches us, the rock is Christ (1 Cor. 10:4). All that has been stated, beginning with the proclamation that salvation has been achieved in the midst of the earth, serves as a foreshadowing of the blessings bestowed upon us. There, through the waters, liberation from bondage was found, and here, through the waters, the beginning of freedom is experienced. Therein, the heads of serpents were obliterated by the waters, and here, the hold of demons is broken by the grace of baptism. The Egyptians, after crossing the sea, became subservient to the Ethiopians, and our adversaries, following the holy font, became manageable for those whose souls had been previously stained. For those who wish to delve deeper, other insights of this nature are readily visible. Yet, let us return to the continuous thread of interpretation.

Furthermore, the term streams may signify the water appearing suddenly, akin to how winter streams do not flow continuously. According to Nikita, Ifam denotes the southern region. You have caused the rivers of Ifam to dry up. Symmachus translates the term Ipham as initial, referring to the rivers of Sodom and Gomorrah, which God rendered dry due to their wickedness. Alternatively, it could signify the draining of new waters and the drying of the old ones at His will. Isidore of Pelusiot remarks that Itham describes a location near Jerusalem that was once abundant in rivers but became parched due to God’s wrath when the Romans captured Jerusalem. Josephus similarly recounts in his work on Antiquities that this site is approximately two surveyor’s cords (ten sazhens) away from Jerusalem. In the most profound sense, as explained by Theodoret, the Source is to be understood as Christ, who manifested the Apostles as streams. The ancient streams, represented by the prophets, are no longer present among the Jews; they have become, in a sense, desiccated. Everything expressed from the proclamation, "You have worked salvation in the earth," illustrates the benefits bestowed upon us. Just as liberation from bondage came through the waters there, our salvation begins through the waters here. In that instance, the heads of serpents were obliterated in the waters, while here, the powers of demons are vanquished through the grace of baptism. There, the Egyptians encountered the sea and became easy prey for the Ethiopians; here, our foes become defenseless as we emerge from the sacred font, finding those who once were spiritually darkened now vulnerable. By the Ethiopians, indicated by Nicetas, we can perceive those whose minds are obscured until illuminated. Yet, those drawn to the Son, referenced in the phrase, "The Ethiopians shall fall to Him, they shall be enlightened by Him," indicate that those who dwell in shadows will devour the heads of the apostate dragon. Isychius explains that just as God, through the Holy Spirit, imparts gifts, He also dries up and dismantles the deceiver’s machinations, aptly termed the rivers of Itham. The term Ipham signifies thorns, which the Scriptures condemn due to their vile fruit.

He notes that a mere two shechinahs from Jerusalem lay a delightful region known as Jetham, renowned for its lush gardens and flowing waters, where Solomon frequently visited for physical exercise and hunting. Josephus and the Psalmist together serve as testimonies to the existence of this land, expressing astonishment at its dryness. The Psalmist would not have regarded this desiccation as a miracle unless the land had once been exceptionally verdant. Indeed, he attests to its parched state. With lyrical fervor, he depicted God's overwhelming might, using what the Hebrews could visibly grasp to illustrate his point through the beauty of creation.

The phrase "Thou hast given that brachno to the men of Ethiopia" is interpreted by some as the kingdom of Egypt being left to the Ethiopians for plunder after Pharaoh was engulfed within the sea. Others suggest it indicates that Pharaoh and his nobles, having perished and washed ashore, were stripped of their possessions by the Aravlans, who are referred to as Ethiopians in scripture. Still, other interpretations focus on Pharaoh's lifeless body, which, after being cast upon the shore, fell prey to beasts and scavengers. Regardless of these varied interpretations, the core message is simply the account of Pharaoh’s downfall. In the following verse 15, he narrates the story of sweet water springs that gushed forth from the rock or hard flint to quench the thirst of the people. He concludes by describing how God caused the rivers of Etham, which means swift in Hebrew, to dry up and reversed the flow of the Jordan River, allowing His people to cross freely.

It is also noteworthy that the Holy Spirit has woven together the truths of Christian faith with Jewish history, thereby providing comfort to the Jewish reader who perceives these words in a literal sense, while simultaneously offering joy to the Christian who perceives their deeper significance (Theodoret, Euthymius).