Psalms 46 - Introduction

XLVI.

This psalm reflects the feelings with which a people, secure in the sense of Divine protection, looks on while surrounding nations are convulsed, and calmly awaits the issue. Such a situation was that of Israel in the seventh century B.C, while the giant powers of Egypt and Assyria were rending the East by their rivalries, and also during the wars of the Ptolemies and Seleucidæ. The former period suggests itself as the more probable date of the psalm, from its resemblance to much of the language of Isaiah when dealing with events that culminated in the destruction of Sennacherib’s army. Compare especially the recurrence of the expression, “God is with us,” Elohîm immânû, with the prophet’s use of the name Immanuel. The refrain, though missing after the first stanza, marks the regular poetical form.

Title. — For the first part see titles Psalms 4, 42, A song upon ‘alâmôth. This plainly is a musical direction, but the precise meaning must still remain matter of conjecture. Since ‘alâmôth means maidens, the most natural and now generally received interpretation is “a song for sopranos.” (Comp. title Psalms 6)