_A.M. 2962. B.C. 1042._ This Psalm is generally thought to have been composed by David, to be sung, with some others, on that festive and joyful occasion, the removal of the ark from the house of Obed-edom to the tent pitched for it in Zion. Accordingly the first words of it are the same that Moses... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let God arise_, &c. As God was in a peculiar manner present in the ark, and as his presence was the great security of the Israelitish nation from the dangers of the wilderness, and the power of their enemies, Moses addressed his prayer to him in these words whenever the ark was taken up for their s... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sing unto God_, &c. “The prophet here exhorts the people of God to magnify with Psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, the eternal and incommunicable name of Him _who was, and is, and is to come;_ who, deriving being from none, gives it to all, and who, as Redeemer of his people, is exalted above... [ Continue Reading ]
_A father of the fatherless_ He now proceeds to mention some of the reasons for which God is to be praised. Of these this is one, that he is the patron of such as are injured and oppressed, and have not power to help themselves; _is God in his holy habitation_ In his tabernacle, or rather, in heaven... [ Continue Reading ]
_O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people_ In the cloudy pillar, as their captain, leading them out of Egypt; _the earth shook _ Or, _trembled_, that is, either the inhabitants of those parts of the earth, according to Exodus 15:14; or the earth itself, through an earthquake, as a token of G... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain_, &c. Hebrew, נדבות, גשׁם, _geshem nedaboth_, a rain of spontaneousness, or liberality. The Seventy render it, βροχην εκουσιον, _a spontaneous, voluntary_, or _free rain._ As we do not read of any showers of rain that fell during the continuance of the Israe... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy congregation_ Thy people Israel, who are all united in one body, under thee their head and governor. It is true, the word חיה, _chajab_, here rendered _congregation_, primarily signifies _life, living creature_, or _animal_, and is often put for _beast_, and _wild beast;_ but, as the best lexic... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord gave the word_ The matter of the word, or discourse here following. He put this triumphal song into the mouths of his people; he gave them those successes and victories which are here celebrated. Or he gave the _matter_ or _thing_ which was published. Having celebrated the goodness of God,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Kings of armies_ The kings of the Midianites, of Canaan, and other nations, which came forth against the Israelites with numerous and powerful armies; _did flee apace_ Hebrew, ידדונ ידדונ, _jiddodun, jiddodun, fled away, fled away_, the reduplication of this word denoting their hasty flight and utt... [ Continue Reading ]
_Though ye have lien among the pots_ The word שׁפתים, _shepattaim_, here rendered _pots_, “signifies _kettles, pots_, or _furnaces_, for various uses, fixed in stone or brick, placed in double rows, and so regularly disposed for convenience and use; and refers to those pots, or furnaces, at which th... [ Continue Reading ]
_When the Almighty scattered kings in it_ In Canaan, at the coming of the Israelites thither; _it was white as snow in Salmon_ “The Almighty appeared most illustrious as Salmon,” says Bishop Patrick, that is, as mount Salmon covered with snow: “The land and nation,” says Mr. Samuel Clark, “were then... [ Continue Reading ]
_The hill of God_ That is, Zion, the seat of God's ark; _is as the hill of Bashan_ Equal, yea, superior to it. Bashan was a rich and fruitful mountain beyond Jordan, called by the LXX. πιον ορος, a _fat mountain_, and ορος τετυρωμενον, a mountain that yielded much butter and cheese. But Zion had gre... [ Continue Reading ]
_Why leap ye, ye high hills_ Why exult ye, or triumph, boasting of your height, and looking down upon poor Zion with scorn and contempt, as an obscure and inconsiderable hill, if compared with you? He speaks to the hills by a usual figure, called a _prosopopœia. This is the hill,_ &c. This hill, tho... [ Continue Reading ]
_The chariots of God are twenty thousand_ Nor let the heathen boast of their hosts or armies, or of the multitude of their chariots, wherein chiefly their strength consists; for in Zion there are ten thousand times more, even innumerable hosts of angels, who attend upon God, to do his pleasure, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou hast ascended on high_ “When the ark had ascended mount Zion, and was deposited in the place assigned for it, the singers are supposed, by Dr. Chandler, to gave proceeded with this part of the Psalm, in which (he thinks) they celebrate the ascension of their God and king, by the symbol of his... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessed be the Lord_, &c. Having surveyed God's dispensations of grace and mercy to his church and people, thus manifested in their redemption and salvation, the psalmist is so overcome with gratitude for them, that he thus breaks forth abruptly in praise and thanksgiving; _who daily loadeth us wit... [ Continue Reading ]
_But God shall wound the head of his enemies_ Of Satan, the old serpent, of whom it was, by the first promise, foretold, that _the seed of the woman should bruise his head;_ and the heads of all the powers of the nations, whether Jews or Gentiles, that oppose him and his kingdom among men. Psalms 11... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord said_ Purposed within himself, and promised by divers of his prophets, though not in the same words which are here used: see 2 Samuel 4:8. _I will bring again from Bashan_ I will repeat my ancient favours, and give my people, by David, as great deliverances as I formerly gave them when I s... [ Continue Reading ]
_They_, &c. When the ark was safely deposited, the sacrifices offered, the solemnity well nigh concluded, and the whole assembly about to return back, Dr. Chandler supposes the singers struck up and joined in the remaining part of this noble anthem. _They have seen_ Men saw and observed, _thy goings... [ Continue Reading ]
_The singers went before_ David had ordered the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren for singers, _by lifting up the voice with joy, 1 Chronicles 15:16_; _the players on instruments followed after _ Of which see 2 Samuel 16:15; 1 Chronicles 13:8. _Among them were the damsels_ According to... [ Continue Reading ]
_There is little Benjamin_ Present in this solemn pomp of carrying the ark to Zion, under the conduct of David their king. That tribe is called _little_, partly because it was the youngest, as being descended from Jacob's youngest son, and principally because it was exceedingly diminished, and almos... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy God_, O Israel, _hath commanded_ Hath ordained, or effectually procured; _thy strength_ All that strength and power which thou hast effectually exerted at any time against thine enemies, and which is now greatly increased by the union of all the tribes under one head. In other words, the great... [ Continue Reading ]
_Because of thy temple at Jerusalem_ The tabernacle erected there by David, in which the ark was now placed; or rather, the temple which he foresaw would be built, and which he knew would be very magnificent, and of fame and glory throughout _all countries_, as he says, 1 Chronicles 22:5; and such a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rebuke_, &c. Chastise those that will not bring presents unto thee till they see their error and submit themselves. It is a prophetical prayer against the enemies of the Israelitish Church. _The company of spearmen_ The reading in the margin, _The beasts of the reeds;_ or, as קנה חית, _chajath kane... [ Continue Reading ]
_Princes shall come out of Egypt_ The word חשׁמנים, _chashmannim_, here rendered _princes_, is not found elsewhere in the Scriptures, and therefore its precise meaning is not certainly known. Elias, a Jewish rabbi, observes that the Jews call cardinals by this name in Italy: and the term is thought... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth_ Not only Egypt and Ethiopia, but other kingdoms and nations also, who shall partake of the same grace with them. _To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens _ Upon the highest heavens, his truest and best sanctuary; dwelling there in infinite glory and m... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ascribe ye strength unto God_ Acknowledge that he is mighty, and able to do whatsoever he pleaseth for his people, or against his or their enemies. _His excellency is over Israel_ His excellent power and goodness; Hebrew, גאותו, _gaavatho_, his _highness_, or _majesty;_ this dwells among them, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_O God, thou art terrible_ Hebrew, נורא, _nora, venerable_, yea, infinitely worthy to be both reverenced and feared. _Out of thy holy places_ Or, _sanctuaries._ “Heaven was his sanctuary of old; his earthly sanctuary was in Zion: he was worthy to be feared as inhabiting both, and he is represented a... [ Continue Reading ]