LXXX. That this plaintive cry for restoration to a state which should be indicative of the Divine favour, arose from Israel when groaning under foreign oppression which it was powerless to resist, is plain and incontestable. And if, with the almost unanimous consent of critics, we are right in rende... [ Continue Reading ]
The reference to the shepherd, so characteristic _of_ the Asaphic psalms, is, no doubt, here chosen especially in recollection of Genesis 48:15; Genesis 49:24. “Shepherd” and “Rock” were Jacob’s especial names for God, as the “Fear” was that of Isaac, and the “Mighty” that of Abraham; but in the ble... [ Continue Reading ]
BEFORE EPHRAIM... — The tribes named from Joseph’s sons and his uterine brother naturally range together; they encamped side by side on the west of the Tabernacle, and when the ark moved forward they took their places immediately behind it to head the procession. The preposition “before” would alone... [ Continue Reading ]
TURN US AGAIN — _i.e._, “restore us,” not necessarily with reference to the Captivity, but generally, _restore us to our pristine prosperity._ CAUSE THY FACE TO SHINE. — The desert encampment and march is still in the poet’s thought. As in Psalms 67:1 (see Note) we have here a reminiscence of the p... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW LONG WILT THOU BE ANGRY? — Literally, _until when hast thou fumed?_ A pregnant construction combining two clauses. Thou hast been long angry; how long wilt thou continue to be angry? (Comp. Psalms 13:2, Note, and Exodus 10:3.) Others say the preterite here has the sense of a future perfect, whic... [ Continue Reading ]
BREAD OF TEARS. — See Psalms 42:3. IN GREAT MEASURE. — Heb., _shalîsh, i.e.,_ a third part. (Comp. Isaiah 40:12, Margin.) Probably meaning a third part of an ephah. (See Exodus 16:36; Isaiah 5:10, LXX.) But here evidently used in a general way, as we say “a peck of troubles.”... [ Continue Reading ]
A STRIFE — _i.e.,_ an object of contention. In no other sense could Israel be a strife to neighbouring nations. For the bearing of this on the date of the psalm see its Introduction. LAUGH AMONG THEMSELVES. — Literally, _for themselves._ But LXX. and Vulg. read, “at us.”... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST BROUGHT. — The verb is to be taken as a historic present, “Thou bringest.” It is a verb used both of horticulture (Job 19:10) and, like the word “planted” in the next clause, of breaking up and removing a nomadic encampment, “pulling out the tent-pins, and driving them in.,, The vine (or... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU PREPAREDST ROOM. — The reference is, of course, to the casting out of the heathen in Psalms 80:8. DIDST CAUSE ... — Rather, _it struck its roots deep;_ literally, _rooted its roots. _... [ Continue Reading ]
GOODLY CEDARS. — Literally, _cedars of God._ The branches of the vine are to grow to resemble the luxuriance of the most magnificent of all forest trees.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SEA... THE RIVER — _i.e.,_ the Mediterranean and the Euphrates, the limits of the Solomonic empire. (See Deuteronomy 11:24; comp. Genesis 28:14; Joshua 1:4.)... [ Continue Reading ]
PLUCK. — For the same image of the broken fence, and the fruit gathered by the passers by, see Psalms 89:40.... [ Continue Reading ]
BOAR. — This is the sole mention of the _wild_ boar in Scripture. But it must not therefore be inferred that it was rare in Palestine. (See Tristram’s _Nat. Hist. Bib.,_ p. 54.) The writer gives a sad picture of the ravage a herd of them will make in a single night. Comp. — “In vengeance of neglect... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE VINEYARD WHICH... — Most modern scholars follow the LXX. and Vulg. in making the word rendered _vineyard_ an imperative of a verb, meaning _protect: And protect what thy right hand hath planted._ This makes a good parallelism.... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS BURNED. — This verse would certainly be far more intelligible, and also fit better into the rhythm, if it followed immediately after Psalms 80:13. The poet, while complaining that God fumed with anger while Israel prayed, would scarcely speak of themselves as perishing under His rebuke, which,... [ Continue Reading ]
MAN OF THY RIGHT HAND. — This is manifestly a continuation of Psalms 80:15, and should follow it: — “Protect what thy right hand hath planted, The branch which thou hast made strong for thyself: Let thy hand be over the man of thy right hand, Over the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.... [ Continue Reading ]
TURN US. — By a fine gradation in the style of the address to God, the refrain has at last reached its full tone, expressive of the completest trust — “God’s ways seem dark, but soon or late They touch the shining hills of day. The evil cannot brook delay; The good can well afford to wait.” WHITTIE... [ Continue Reading ]