LXXVIII.
This is the first and the longest specimen in the Hebrew hymn-book of
a species of composition peculiar to it, and indeed peculiar to the
literature of the Jews, as combining narrative with instruction. It
has been rightly called “epi-didactic.” It does not tell the story
of the past with a... [ Continue Reading ]
For the formal opening see Psalms 49:1, Note.
MY PEOPLE. — An expression pointing to a position of weight and
authority.
MY LAW. — Here, rather _instruction,_ or _doctrine.
_... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL OPEN. — A difficulty is started by the fact that the psalm
deals with history, and is neither a proverb (_mâshal_) nor riddle
(_chîdah_). But the Divine rejection of the northern tribes may be
the covert meaning which the poet sees to have been wrapped up in all
the ancient history. The word... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE... — Better, taking the relative of time (comp. Deuteronomy
11:6; Psalms 139:15), _For he established_ (_it as_)_ a testimony in
Jacob and_ (_as_)_ a law appointed_ (_it_)_ in Israel when he
commanded our forefathers to make them_ (the _“wonderful works”_
of last verse) _known to their childr... [ Continue Reading ]
STUBBORN. — _Refractory._
THAT SET NOT THEIR HEART ARIGHT. — Literally, _did not establish
their heart,_ which preserves the parallelism better.... [ Continue Reading ]
ARMED, AND CARRYING BOWS. — Following Jeremiah 4:29, and from
analogy with Jeremiah 44:9 (“handle and bend the bow”) we get as
literal rendering of the Hebrew here, _drawing and shooting with the
bow._ LXX. and Vulgate, “bending and shooting with the bow.” But a
close comparison of this verse with P... [ Continue Reading ]
FIELD OF ZOAN. — See Numbers 13:22. It is the classical “Tanis,”
merely a corruption of _Tsoan, i.e.,_ low country (LXX. and Vulgate).
Tanis is situated on the east bank of what was formerly called the
Tanitic branch of the Nile. Between it and Pelusium, about thirty
miles to the east, stretched a r... [ Continue Reading ]
AS AN HEAP. — See Note, Psalms 33:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND GAVE... — Literally, _and gave them to drink as it were a great
deep,_ or as we might say, “oceans of drink” — a poetical
exaggeration; or are we rather to think of the gift of water as
produced by striking or boring through the rock to the great ocean on
which the earth was supposed to rest?... [ Continue Reading ]
ROCK. — Rather, _cliff — sela,_ the word always used of the event
that took place at Kadesh (Numbers 20:8), as _tsûr_ is of the rock in
Horeb. The plural of this latter word in Psalms 78:15 is poetical and
general.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SINNED YET MORE AND MORE. — This implies the discontent which
had already shown itself before the miraculous supply of water.... [ Continue Reading ]
A comparison of these verses with the references in the margin shows
how the ancient narratives fared under poetical treatment.
FURNISH A TABLE. — Comp. Psalms 23:5, Note
GUSHED OUT. — Comp. Psalms 105:41.... [ Continue Reading ]
See references in margin.... [ Continue Reading ]
ANGELS’ FOOD. — See margin, and comp. Wis. 16:20. LXX. and
Vulgate, “angels’ bread.” Some explain, after Job 24:22; Job
34:30, _lordly_ food, such as _nobles_ eat — here, _quails._ But in
connection with “food from heaven,” the popular idea of angels’
food which poetry reluctantly gives up may be re... [ Continue Reading ]
EAST WIND... SOUTH WIND. — Probably the very winds that brought the
flights of quails, and not merely poetical details. (See Smith’s
_Biblical Dictionary,_ art. “Quails.”)... [ Continue Reading ]
No doubt there is poetical hyperbole here, but for the enormous
numbers of quails that are now caught, see the article quoted above.... [ Continue Reading ]
DESIRE. — See Numbers 11:34, margin.... [ Continue Reading ]
Evidently from Numbers 11:33, _They did not yet loath in consequence
of their lusts, the meat was yet in their mouths when,_ &c. For the
expression, comp. the Latin _alienari ab aliqua re,_ to be disinclined
to a thing, and our own “stranger to fear,” &c... [ Continue Reading ]
SLEW THE FATTEST. — This may mean either the _strongest_ or the
_noblest.
_... [ Continue Reading ]
(32-33) For the allusion see Numbers 14:11; Numbers 14:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
ROCK. — A reminiscence of Deuteronomy 32:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
The verbs in the first clause should be in the present, _But he, the
compassionate, forgives iniquity, and doth not destroy, and many a
time he turned away, &c.
_... [ Continue Reading ]
“And what’s a life? A blast sustained with clothing:
Maintained with food, retained with vile self-loathing;
Then, weary of itself, away to nothing.” —
QUARLES: _Emblcms.
_... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW OFT. — Ten instances of murmuring are actually recorded in
Exodus and Numbers.... [ Continue Reading ]
LIMITED. — A verb used in Ezekiel 9:4 for putting a mark on the
forehead, which has been very variously explained. Some render
_branded_ or _cast a stigma on_ — _i.e.,_ brought discredit on the
Divine name. The LXX. and Vulg. have “exasperated,” and so some
moderns “crossed,” “thwarted.” Grätz emend... [ Continue Reading ]
The reminiscence of the plagues that follows is not a complete
enumeration, and does not proceed in the order of the historic
narrative.... [ Continue Reading ]
DIVERS SORTS OF FLIES. — Better, simply _flies._ See Note Exodus
8:21.
FROGS. — See Exodus 8:2, and _Bib. Ed.,_ iv. 145.... [ Continue Reading ]
CATERPILLAR. — Heb., _chasîl._ (See 1 Kings 8:37.) Probably the
_locust_ in the _larva_ or _pupa_ state. For _locust_ see Exodus 10:4
_seq.,_ and _Bib. Ed.,_ iv. 292. The LXX., Vulg., and Symmachus have
“blight.” but in 2 Chronicles 6:28 “cockchafer,” as Aquila and
Jerome here.... [ Continue Reading ]
VINES. — In the history of the plagues (Exodus 9:13) no mention is
made either of vines or sycamores or of fig-trees, as in Psalms
105:33, and some consider that the poem reflects a Palestinian rather
than an Egyptian point of view. But besides Numbers 20:5 and
Joseph’s dream there is abundance of e... [ Continue Reading ]
HAIL. — Some copies read “pestilence,” which from its
association with _resheph,_ as in Habakkuk 3:5, a word there denoting
some contagious malady (comp. Deuteronomy 32:24; see Note Psalms
76:3), is probably to be preferred here though the authority of the
LXX. is against it. If so, we must refer th... [ Continue Reading ]
EVIL ANGELS. — So LXX. and Vulg., but in the Hebrew _angels_ (or
_messengers_)_ of ills_ (so Symmachus), with evident reference to the
destruction of the firstborn.... [ Continue Reading ]
MADE A WAY. — Literally, _levelled a path._ So Symmachus.... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS MOUNTAIN — _i.e._, Zion, though from its apposition to _border_
some prefer to take it of all the mountain country of Judæa.
PURCHASED. — Rather, _acquired.
_... [ Continue Reading ]
TURNED ASIDE... — Better, _turned like a relaxed bow._ (See Note to
Psalms 78:9.) The bows of the Hebrews, like those of other ancient
nations, were probably, when unstrung, bent the reverse way to that
assumed when strung, which makes the figure more expressive of the
disposition which cannot be re... [ Continue Reading ]
FORSOOK. — The reference is of course to the disastrous defeat by
the Philistines (1 Samuel 4). See especially Psalms 78:21 in
connection with glory or _ornament_ as applied here to the Ark. For
_strength_ in the same connection see Psalms 132:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE NOT GIVEN. — See margin. The desolation and misery were marked
by the absence of the glad nuptial song.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEIR WIDOWS... — Undoubtedly referring to the fact that the
wife of Phinehas died in premature labour, and so could not attend the
funeral of her husband with the customary lamentations, which in
Oriental countries are so loud and marked. The Prayer-Book version,
therefore, gives the right feel... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT SHOUTETH... — For the boldness of the image which likens God to
a giant warrior exhilarated with wine we may range this with the
picture in Psalms 60 (See Notes.)... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SMOTE. — Possibly an allusion to 1 Samuel 5:9, or else to the
repeated defeats of the Philistines under Saul and David.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE BUILT. — The first clause is vague, but evidently the poet is
drawing attention to the grandeur and solidity of the Temple. Perhaps,
_high as heaven_ — _firm as earth.
_... [ Continue Reading ]
EWES GREAT WITH YOUNG — So also in Isaiah 40:11; but properly, _ewes
with lambs._ Literally, _giving suck._... [ Continue Reading ]