Psalms 81 - Introduction

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 81

To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A [Psalm] of Asaph. Of "gittith", Psalms 8:1. The Targum renders it,

"upon the harp which came from Gath;''

and so Jarchi says it was a musical instrument that came from Gath. The Septuagint, and the versions which follow that, render it, "for the winepresses". This psalm, according to Kimchi, is said concerning the going out of the children of Israel from Egypt; and was composed in order to be sung at their new moons and solemn feasts, which were typical of Gospel things in Gospel times; see 1 Thessalonians 2:16 and so the Syriac version,

"a psalm of Asaph, when David by him prepared himself for the solemnities.''