Psalms 47 - Introduction

XLVII.

This is one of those psalms that tantalise by seeming to tell the story of their origin, though on closer inspection the story refuses to be satisfactorily identified. Some public rejoicing for victory evidently gave it birth, but whether it was that of Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20). or of Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:8), or of John Hyrcanus over the Idumæans (Jos., Ant., xiii. 9, 1), must remain in the region of conjecture. The reading, “with the people,” in Psalms 47:9 (see Note), would lend probability to the last of these queries. The occasion, whatever it was, seems to have led to a re-dedication of the Temple (Psalms 47:5), such as we read of 1Ma. 4:54. The rhythm is fine and varied.

Title. — See titles Psalms 42:3.