Psalms 79:1

Cp. Jeremiah 51:51; Lamentations 1:10; and for the desecration of the Temple cp. Psalms 74:7; Ezekiel 7:21-22.

the heathen Lit. as in Psalms 79:6; Psalms 79:10, the nations: but where, as here, the nations are in antagonism to God and His people, the rendering heathenmay be retained. thine inheritance Here of the holy land (cp. Exodus 15:17): more commonly of the people (Psalms 74:2; Psalms 78:62; Psalms 78:71).

on heaps I.e. in ruins: perhaps an allusion to the prophecy of Micah (Micah 3:12; cp. Jeremiah 26:18). For the archaic use of -on," Wright (Bible Word-Book, p. 436) quotes Shakespeare, Henry V, v. 2. 39;

And all her husbandry doth lie on heaps.