Psalms 68:4

to his name Praising Him for all that He has revealed Himself to be. Cp. Psalms 44:8; Exodus 3:15.

extol&c. Render,

Cast up a high way for him that rideth through the deserts;

His name is JAH; and exult ye at his presence.

God's advent is described under the figure of the progress of an Oriental monarch, for whose chariot pioneers prepare the road. In almost identical words the prophet calls to the exiles in Babylon (Isaiah 40:3),

"Prepare ye in the wilderness the way of the Lord,

Make straight in the desert a high way for our God:"

and in Isaiah 57:14; Isaiah 62:10 the same word cast up a high wayis used of preparing for the return of Israel from Babylon. God's people must prepare a way for Him by the removal of the obstacles of unbelief and faintheartedness and ungodliness which hinder Him from coming to deliver them.

The renderings of A.V. Extol … upon the heavensare derived from Jewish sources. The Targ. renders "Extol him that sitteth upon the throne of his glory in Arâbôth," which is explained by comparison of Psalms 68:33 to mean the seventh or uppermost heaven. See Talm. Chagigah12 b(Streane's transl. p. 65). The curious addition as it were upon an horsein P.B.V. (Great Bible, but not Coverdale) appears to come from Münster's Latin Version (1534 5) veluti equo insidet.

JAH is a shortened form of Jehovah(Jahveh), chosen here perhaps with allusion to its use in Exodus 15:2 (upon which are based Isaiah 12:2; Psalms 118:4), to recall the memories of the Exodus. It is peculiar to poetry, and outside the book of Psalms, where it occurs most frequently in the familiar Hallelujah= -Praise ye Jah," it is found only in Exodus 15:2; Exodus 17:16; Isaiah 12:2; Isaiah 26:4; Isaiah 38:11.

A curious mistake is to be found in the older editions of the Prayer Book, until about 1750: "Praise him in his name: yea, and rejoice before him." The Great Bible of 1539 has, "Prayse ye him in his name la and reioyse before hym"; but the edition of Nov. 1540 and others have: "Prayse hym in hys name: yea, and reioyce before hym." It appears to be simply a typographical error.