LVI. If the title referring to an imprisonment of David at Gath is to be defended, it must be from 1 Samuel 21:10, on the supposition that the feigned madness did not succeed in its object, although the narrative gives reason to suppose that it did. The alternative of rejecting the inscription appea... [ Continue Reading ]
MAN... — Heb., _enôsh,_ either as in Psalms 9:19, “mortal man,” or, contemptuously, “a rabble, a multitude.”... [ Continue Reading ]
SWALLOW ME UP. — The root idea of the Hebrew word so rendered is by no means clear. In many passages where it is used the meaning given here by the LXX., “trample on,” will suit the context quite as well as, or even better than, the meaning, “pant after,” given in the Lexicons. (See Job 5:5; Isaiah... [ Continue Reading ]
What time. — Heb., _yôm,_ apparently with same meaning as _beyôm_ in Psalms 56:10, “in the day.” I AM AFRAID... — No doubt the right reading: is, “I cry.”... [ Continue Reading ]
IN GOD. — This verse, which forms the refrain (Psalms 56:11 are wrongly separated), is as it stands hardly intelligible, and the text is rendered suspicious by the fact that the LXX. read “my words,” instead of “his word,” and by the omission of the suffix altogether in Psalms 56:11, where the first... [ Continue Reading ]
WREST. — Properly, _afflict;_ and so some, “injure my cause.” But “torture my words” is intelligible.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY HIDE THEMSELVES. — Better, _they set spies._ MARK MY STEPS. — Literally, _watch my heels._ (See Psalms 49:5; Psalms 89:51.)... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL THEY... — Literally, _upon iniquity escape to them_; the meaning of which is by no means clear. The ancient versions do not help us. If we adopt a slight change of reading, viz., _palles_ for _pallet,_ the meaning will be clear, _for iniquity thou wilt requite them. _... [ Continue Reading ]
WANDERINGS. — Rather, in the singular, _wandering,_ which, from the parallelism with “tears,” must mean “mental restlessness,” the “tossings to and fro of the mind.” Symmachus, “my inmost things.” PUT THOU MY TEARS INTO THY BOTTLE. — There is a play of words in the original of “bottle,” and “wander... [ Continue Reading ]
THY VOWS — _i.e._, vows made _to Thee,_ but the form is most unusual. For the thought comp. Psalms 22:25; Psalms 50:14. I WILL RENDER — _i.e.,_ in fulfilment of the vows.... [ Continue Reading ]
WILT THOU NOT DELIVER? — Better, _hast thou not delivered?_ FROM FALLING. — Literally, _front a thrust._... [ Continue Reading ]