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John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

Psalms 82 - Introduction

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 82

A Psalm of Asaph. This psalm was written for the use of persons in power, for the instruction of kings and princes, judges and civil magistrates; according to Kimchi, it was written about the times of Jehoshaphat, who appointed new judges throughout the land; those that were before having been very corrupt, to whom he gave a charge agreeably to the purport of this psalm, 2 Chronicles 19:5, but it seems rather to be written by Asaph, in the times of David, under a spirit of prophecy, and has respect to the times of Christ, when there was a great corruption among the judges and rulers of the Jews, both civil and ecclesiastic. The Syriac version calls it, "a reproof of the ungodly Jews"; our Lord cites a passage out of it in vindication of himself from their charge of blasphemy, John 10:34.

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See also Psalms 82 - Introduction in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    This, too, is a “Psalm of Asaph.” See Introduction to Psalms 73. There is nothing, however, in its contents to determine the time or the occasion of its being composed, although there is no difficulty...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    BOOK II. PSS. XLII.- LXXII. Psalms 42-83 are Elohistic, _i.e._ they use the word God (Elohim) and avoid the proper name Yahweh, probably from motives of reverence. Here and there, however, the name Y...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    This Psalm is a vision of judgement. It sets forth, in a highly poetical and imaginative form, the responsibility of earthly judges to the Supreme Judge, Whose representatives they are, and from Whom...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    1:1 seat (a-27) Or 'in the company.'...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    LXXXII. This psalm represents the conviction which was so profoundly fixed in the Hebrew mind, that Justice is the fundamental virtue of society, and that its corruption implies total disorganisation...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _A.M. 2959. B.C. 1045._ This Psalm contains an admonition, either, 1st, To the chief rulers of Israel, whether judges or kings, or their great council, called the Sanhedrim. Or, rather, 2d, To all th...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    * An exhortation to judges. (1-5) The doom of evil rulers. (6-8)...

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