Psalms 68:21

But God shall wound the head&c.) Yea, God shall smite through the head &c. Cp. Judges 5:26; Habakkuk 3:13-14.

and the hairy scalp Omit and. The warrior's long hair is mentioned not merely as "a sign of exuberant strength and impenitent pride," but in allusion to the ancient practice of allowing the hair to grow when a vow had been undertaken. "With warriors in primitive times the unshorn head was a usual mark of their consecration to the work they had undertaken, and their locks remained untouched till they had achieved their enterprise or had perished in the attempt. War among most primitive peoples is a sacred function." J. S. Black in the Smaller Cambr. Bible for Schools, on Judges 5:2, which should be rendered

"For that flowing locks were worn in Israel,

For that the people volunteered themselves, bless ye the Lord,"

i.e. give thanks for the zeal with which the people devoted themselves to the sacred war of independence. Cp. Deuteronomy 32:42, where "from the beginning of revenges on the enemy" should be rendered "from the hairy head of the enemy."

of such a one&c. According to strict grammar, the hairy scalp that goeth on in his guiltiness, the scalp standing by metonymy for the man. The verb expresses the idea of open and defiant persistence.