Psalms 34:1

PSALM XXXIV

David praises God, and exhorts others to do the same, 1-3;

shows how he sought the Lord, and how he was found of him, 4-6.

All are exhorted to taste and see the goodness of God; with

the assurance of support and comfort, 7-10.

He shows the way to attain happiness and long life, 11-16;

the privileges of the righteous, and of all who sincerely seek

God, 17-22.

NOTES ON PSALM XXXIV

The title states that this is "A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed." The history of this transaction may be found in 1 Samuel 21:10-9, on which chapter see the notes. But Abimelech is not the person there mentioned; it was Achish, king of Gath, called here Abimelech, because that was a common name of the Philistine kings. Neither MS. nor version reads Achish in this place; and all the versions agree in the title as it stands in our version, except the Syriac, which states it to be "A Psalm of David, when he went to the house of the Lord, that he might give the first-fruits to the priests."

Of the occasion of this Psalm, as stated here, I have given my opinion in the notes on 1 Samuel 21:10-9, to which I have nothing to add. On the whole I prefer the view taken of it by the Septuagint, which intimates that "David fell into an epileptic fit; that he frothed at the mouth, fell against the doorposts, and gave such unequivocal evidences of being subject to epileptic fits, and during the time his intellect became so much impaired, that Achish Abimelech dismissed him from his court." This saves the character of David; and if it cannot be vindicated in this way, then let it fall under reproach as to this thing; for hypocrisy, deceit, and falsehood, can never be right in the sight of God, whatever men may ingeniously say to excuse them.

This is the second of the acrostic or alphabetical Psalms, each verse beginning with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. But in this Psalm some derangement has taken place. The verse which begins with ו vau, and which should come in between the fifth and sixth, is totally wanting; and the twenty-second verse is entirely out of the series; it is, however, my opinion that this verse (the twenty-second) which now begins with פ phe, פודה podeh, redeemeth, was originally written ופודה vepodeh or with פדה padah, as more than a hundred of Dr. Kennicott's MSS. read it, thus making ופדה vepodah, "and will redeem" and this reads admirably in the above connection. I shall here place the verses at one view, and the reader shall judge for himself:

Ver. Psalms 34:5. "They looked unto him, and were enlightened: and their faces were not ashamed."

Ver. Psalms 34:22. "AND the Lord will redeem the soul of his servants, and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate."

Ver. Psalms 34:6. "This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles."

Ver. Psalms 34:7. "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them."

Thus we find the connection complete, with the above emendation.

Verse Psalms 34:1. I will bless the Lord at all times] He has laid me under endless obligation to him, and I will praise him while I have a being.