_A.M. 2964. B.C. 1040._ This Psalm is supposed to have been written by David, after the tribes of Israel had submitted to his sceptre, and he was settled in the throne, upon occasion of an illustrious victory, with which God had blessed his forces, over the Syrians and Edomites. See 2 Samuel chap.... [ Continue Reading ]
_O God, thou hast cast us off_ So highly had our sins provoked thy divine majesty, that thou didst reject or forsake us, so as to withdraw thy gracious and powerful presence from us, and no longer to go forth with our armies. Thus the Psalm begins with a melancholy memorial of the many disgraces and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou hast made the earth to tremble_ A poetical expression, signifying great and dreadful changes among the people. _Heal the breaches thereof_ Reconcile all those differences which our civil wars have made among us. _Thou hast showed thy people hard things_ Thou hast made us feel what it is to off... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou hast given a banner_, &c. But now thou hast granted the desires of those that devoutly worship and serve thee, and given an ensign to which all the tribes may repair. David, says Dr. Delaney, was the only centre of union which that people ever had, and God now made him their captain and ruler... [ Continue Reading ]
_God hath spoken_, &c. Having prayed that God would hear and save him, he now intimates that God had done it already, had prevented his prayers, _and had spoken_ to him, and of him, about the establishing of his throne; _in his holiness_ Or, rather, _by his holiness_, as this very expression, בקדשׁו... [ Continue Reading ]
_Gilead is mine_ All the land beyond Jordan, which was possessed by Reuben and Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh. _And Manasseh is mine_ The other half of that tribe within Jordan. _Ephraim is the strength_, &c. A chief part of my strength, either to offend mine enemies, or to defend myself. Fo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Moab is my wash-pot_ The _wash-pot_ being a mean article of household stuff, for the use of the feet, (as the Syriac interprets it,) the lowest part of the body, it is a fit title for the Moabites, whom David intended to bring into the lowest degree of servitude, and to render contemptible, 2 Samue... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who will bring me into the strong city_, &c. As if he had said, These are difficult things indeed; and I may well ask, when I consider how potent these nations are, By what power shall I enter that strongly fenced city? (or, _cities_ rather, the singular number being put for the plural.) Who is it... [ Continue Reading ]
_Give us help from trouble_ Do not frustrate these hopes, but afford us thy help against the Syrians also 2 Samuel 8:5, who now distress us; _for vain is the help of man_ No human force is able to deliver us; nor have we any confidence in it, but in thee alone. Observe well, reader, then only are we... [ Continue Reading ]