LIX. The fascinating conjecture of Ewald which connects this psalm with the Scythian irruption into Judæa in the reign of Josiah is not easily surrendered. Some wild nomad tribe supporting itself by pillage, terrifying the inhabitants of a beleaguered city with an outlandish gesture and speech, seem... [ Continue Reading ]
DEFEND ME. — Literally, _set me on high, i.e.,_ place me on some lofty and secure height.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR, LO, THEY LIE IN WAIT ... — Better, _for look, they have laid an ambush._ MIGHTY. — Perhaps with the idea of insolence in their strength. NOT FOR MY TRANSGRESSION ... — Better, _Without transgression or fault of mine,_ as in next verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY RUN AND PREPARE. — These words might both be taken in a military sense. For “run,” see Psalms 18:29; Job 15:26; Job 16:14. HELP ME. — Literally, as in margin, _meet._ It is found in a hostile sense, and never in the sense of helping. A suggested emendation, “Awake to my _calling,_ and behold,”... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE ... — Better, _Yea, even Thou ..._ Not only is there an emphatic “thou,” but the passion of prayer cannot exhaust itself without piling up all the customary names of the Divine Being. GOD OF ISRAEL. — This is added so emphatically because of the “heathen,” against whom aid is invoked. AL... [ Continue Reading ]
A DOG. — This comparison to the gaunt half-starved wild dogs of an Eastern town has met us before (Psalms 22:16). The verbs should be rendered as futures here and in Psalms 59:15. MAKE A NOISE. — Better, _howl._ (See Note Psalms 55:7.) An English traveller has described the noise made by the dogs of... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD. — Without question this word should, as Mr. Burgess suggests, be emended to “spears” (_chanîth_ instead of _hinneh_)_,_ to give — “Spears they pour out with their mouths, Swords with their lips.” (Comp. Psalms 57:5, and “She speaks poniards.” — _As You Like It. _... [ Continue Reading ]
LAUGH. — Comp. Psalms 2:4, Note. Probably the same contrast is intended in these clauses as in Psalms 59:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS STRENGTH. — This gives no intelligible meaning, and Psalms 59:17 shows that the ancient versions (and some MSS.) are right in reading “my strength” (vocative). The first two words of the next verse must also be brought back to this: “My strength, on Thee let me wait. For God is my fortress, God... [ Continue Reading ]
PREVENT — _i.e._, come to meet. (See Psalms 21:3, Note.) SEE MY DESIRE. — See Note, Psalms 54:7. (Comp. Psalms 92:11.)... [ Continue Reading ]
SLAY THEM NOT, LEST MY PEOPLE FORGET... — The Spartans refused to allow the destruction of a neighbouring city, which had often called forth their armies, saying, “Destroy not the whetstone of our young men.” Timon, in the play, is made to say — “Live loath’d and long You smiling smooth detested pa... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE SIN... — As the text stands, it runs: _Sin of their mouth, word of their lips, and they are taken in their pride, and cursing and lying they say_; where some would supply a copula, “The sin of their mouth is the word of their lips,” which seems tautological nonsense. But, perhaps, we should... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THEY MAY NOT BE. — Better, _That they may be no more._ These words are to be taken closely together. The signal overthrow of the poet’s foes is to be a proof to the ends of the world of the sovereign rule of the God of Jacob.... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THEM WANDER. — This verse is variously understood. The margin gives the rendering of most modern scholars; but what does it mean by “They will pass the night”? To say they will not go away unsatisfied seems poor. Ewald’s conjecture, “They will satisfy themselves forsooth, and remain,” _i.e.,_ di... [ Continue Reading ]