Psalms 84:10

For a day&c. The connexion of thought is obscure. Forapparently introduces a reason for the foregoing prayer. A -good day," i.e. a day of festivity and rejoicing, was regarded as a propitious occasion for preferring requests (1 Samuel 25:8). A day spent in Jehovah's courts was better than a thousand others, and therefore the most opportune occasion for this prayer. Some commentators connect this verse with Psalms 84:1, taking Psalms 84:8 as parenthetical, and regard it as giving the reason for the desire to enter the Temple which is the dominant idea of the Psalm. But neither of these explanations is quite satisfactory, and the difficulty disappears if we render, Surely a day &c. After offering the prayer of Psalms 84:9 the Psalmist returns to the thought which inspires his song, the blessedness of approach to God in His house.

- Oneday" (P.B.V.) comes from the LXX through the Vulg.

I had rather be a doorkeeper Lit., be at the threshold. Delitzsch thinks that this is an allusion to the office of the Korahites as "keepers of the thresholds of the tent" (1 Chronicles 9:19). If so, the reference must be to some subordinate position, and not to the distinguished office of "keeper of the threshold" (2 Kings 22:4; 2 Kings 25:18); for the sense clearly is, -I had rather perform the humblest service at the temple of Him who tolerates no evil (Psalms 5:4) than be entertained as a guest where wickedness makes its home." But the meaning may simply be, I had rather stand, or, lie, at the threshold, wait humbly at the gate as a suppliant. Cp. LXX, παραριπτεῖσθαι, Vulg. abiectus esse.

The tents of wickednessprobably refers to the heathen neighbours of whose scoffing this Psalmist had had such a bitter experience (Psalms 42:3; Psalms 42:10). Cp. Psalms 120:5.