LV. This is one of the most passionate odes of the whole collection — bursts of fiery invective alternating with the most plaintive and melancholy reflections: it has supplied to Christianity and the world at least two expressions of intense religious feeling, the one (Psalms 55:6) breathing despai... [ Continue Reading ]
I MOURN. — A verb found in this form only in three other passages, always with the idea of _restlessness_ — _e.g.,_ Genesis 27:40, of the roving life of a Bedouin; Jeremiah 2:31, of moral restlessness; Hosea 12:1, of political instability. Here it may either indicate that bodily restlessness which o... [ Continue Reading ]
OPPRESSOR. — This meaning of a rare word is secured from Amos 2:13. CAST INIQUITY. — Better, _roll mischief._ The figure seems to be drawn from the practice of rolling stones down on an enemy from a height. In Psalms 140:10 the same verb is used of rolling burning coals on a foe. HATE ME. — Better... [ Continue Reading ]
_(_4_)_ IS SORE PAINED. — Better, _writhes with pain._ TERRORS OF DEATH — _i.e., terrors caused by death, a horror of death. _... [ Continue Reading ]
OH THAT I HAD. — Literally, _who will give me?_ — The bird that was in the psalmist’s thought was doubtless the Rock Pigeon (_Columba livia_)_,_ which selects for its nesting the lofty cliffs and deep ravines far from the neighbourhood of man. (Comp. Song of Solomon 2:14, Note.) BE AT REST. — So th... [ Continue Reading ]
REMAIN. — Better, _lodge. _... [ Continue Reading ]
DESTROY. — Literally, _swallow up._ So the LXX., forcibly, “drown in the sea.” The object _them_ must be supplied. This sudden change from plaintive sadness to violent invective is one of the marked features of this poem. Some think there has been a transposition of verses, but in lyric poetry thes... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY GO. — It is quite in keeping with the Hebrew style to suppose _mischief_ and _strife_ personified here as the ancient versions do, and not only occupying the _city_ as inhabitants, but prowling about its walls. So in the next verse _corruption_ (see Psalms 5:9, Note), _deceit,_ and _guile_ are... [ Continue Reading ]
DECEIT. — Rather, _oppression,_ or _violence._ STREETS. — Rather, _squares,_ the open space at the gate of an Oriental city where public business was conducted. It is a miserable picture of mis-government; in the very seat of justice is nothing but oppression and guile.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR. — The ellipse must be supplied from Psalms 55:9, _I invoke destruction for,_ &c THEN I COULD... — Better, _then_ (or _else_)_ I might bear it. _... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IT WAS... — Better, _But thou art a man of my own standing._ The word _erek_ is used (Exodus 40:23) of the row of loaves constituting the shewbread, and the cognate verb means “to arrange.” Here it may denote _rank,_ but more probably the expression is _man of my assessment,_ and so of the same... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WALKED... — _i.e.,_ joined the great public processions to the temple. (Comp. Psalms 44:4.) The word rendered “company” occurs again (Psalms 64:2. Authorised Version, “insurrection.” Comp. the same root, Psalms 2:1.) The intimacy of these former friends was public as well as private.... [ Continue Reading ]
Let death. — According to the written text we should render _desolations upon them._ Here we have another sudden outburst of overmastering feeling. QUICK — _i.e.,_ alive, perhaps with reminiscence of the fate of Korah. (Comp. Proverbs 1:12.) HELL. — _Sheôl._ (See Note Psalms 6:5.) AND AMONG THEM.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH DELIVERED. — The Targum rightly makes this the petition just mentioned, “Deliver,” &c (18) FROM THE BATTLE. — The reading of the LXX. is preferable, “from these drawing near to me.” FOR THERE WERE MANY WITH ME. — This is only intelligible if we insert the word _fighting. “_For there were m... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD SHALL HEAR. — Render this verse, God shall hear and afflict them, He abideth of old; One in whom are no changes, And yet they fear not God. (Comp. James 1:17, “with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”) As the text stands, for _afflict_ we should have _answer_; but the LXX. and... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH. — As in Psalms 55:12, the individual specially prominent in the traitorous crew is here singled out, and his treachery exposed. HE HATH BROKEN... — Literally, _he perforated._ In a note in his work on the Creed, referring to Colossians 2:14, Bishop Pearson says one mode of cancelling a bon... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORDS OF HIS MOUTH. — The ancient versions and the grammatical anomalies point to a corruption of the text. Read, _Smoother than butter is his face._ The reading _face_ for _mouth_ is suggested by the LXX., though their version has wandered far from the text even thus amended. DRAWN SWORDS. — T... [ Continue Reading ]
BURDEN. — A word peculiar to this passage, probably meaning “gift,” hence “lot” or “condition.” The Talmud, however, uses the word as meaning “burden” and the LXX. by rendering “care” have prepared the way for the Christian consolation in 1 Peter 5:7.... [ Continue Reading ]