Psalms 43:1

PSALM XLIII

The psalmist begs God to take his part against his enemies,

1, 2;

to send his light and truth to guide him to the tabernacle, 3;

promises, if brought thither, to be faithful in the Divine

service, 4;

chides himself for despondency, and takes courage, 5.

NOTES ON PSALM XLIII

There is no title to this Psalm in the Hebrew, nor in the Chaldee. The Syriac says it was composed "by David when Jonathan told him that Saul intended to slay him." The Arabic says of this, as of the preceding, that it is a prayer for the backsliding Jews. It is most evidently on the same subject with the forty-second Psalm, had the same author or authors, and contains the remaining part of the complaint of the captive Jews in Babylon. It is written as a part of the forty-second Psalm in forty-six of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS.

Verse Psalms 43:1. Judge me, O God, and plead my cause] ריבה ריבי ribah ribi, a forensic term, properly enough translated, plead my cause, be my counsellor and advocate.

Ungodly nation] The Babylonians; the impious, perfidious, wicked, and deceitful Babylonians.

The deceitful and unjust man.] Nebuchadnezzar.