INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 129 A SONG OF DEGREES. This psalm was written in later times, after many of the distresses of Israel; very probably upon the Jews return from the Babylonish captivity, by Ezra, or some other godly person. Aben Ezra says the psalmist speaks in the language of Israel in captivit... [ Continue Reading ]
MANY A TIME HAVE THEY AFFLICTED ME FROM MY YOUTH,.... That is, the enemies of Israel, afterwards called "ploughers". This may be understood of literal Israel, the posterity of Jacob; whose youth was the beginning of their constitution as a nation and church, or the first times of it; when they were... [ Continue Reading ]
MANY A TIME HAVE THEY AFFLICTED ME FROM MY YOUTH,.... This is repeated for the confirmation of it, to excite attention to it, and to express the vehement affection of the speaker; YET THEY HAVE NOT PREVAILED AGAINST ME; the Egyptians could not prevail against literal Israel; the more they were affl... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PLOUGHERS PLOUGHED UPON MY BACK,.... "Sinners", as the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions, render it; such that plough iniquity, and sow wickedness, Job 4:8; which may be understood of their carrying Israel captive, when they put yokes and bonds upon their necks, as upon oxen when th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD [IS] RIGHTEOUS,.... Or gracious and merciful; hence acts of mercy are called righteousness in the Hebrew language; the Lord has compassion on his people under their afflictions, and delivers them; or is faithful to his promises of salvation to them, and just and righteous to render tribulat... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THEM ALL BE CONFOUNDED,.... Or "ashamed": as all the enemies of God's people will be sooner or later, either in this world, or however when Christ shall come in the clouds of heaven; or let them be disappointed of their views, aims, and ends, when they will be confounded, as disappointed persons... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THEM BE AS THE GRASS [UPON] THE HOUSETOPS,.... The tops of the houses in Judea were flat, and so grass grew upon them, being covered with plaster of terrace; though it was but small and weak, and being on high was exposed to the scorching sun, and soon withered b; and Menochius says c he saw suc... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREWITH THE MOWER FILLETH NOT HIS HAND,.... Such grass never rises high enough to be mowed, nor is of that account to have such pains taken with it; nor the quantity so large as to fill a mower's hand, and carry it away in his arms; NOR HE THAT BINDETH SHEAVES HIS BOSOM; when corn is mowed or rea... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER DO THEY WHICH GO BY SAY, THE BLESSING OF THE LORD [BE] UPON YOU,.... As was usual with passengers, when they went by where mowers, and reapers, and binders, were at work in the field in harvest time; who used to wish the presence and blessing of God with them, and upon their labours; and who... [ Continue Reading ]