This is one of the grandest of the Pss., but its origin and date are involved in much obscurity. It contains expressions borrowed from the Blessing of Moses (Deuteronomy 33) and the Song of Deborah (Judges 5), and presents several parallels with the exilic prophecy of Isaiah 40-66. It may be assigne... [ Continue Reading ]
Taken from the invocation of Moses at the moving of the ark (Numbers 10:35), with the change of Lord (_Jehovah_) into God (_Elohim_). 2, 3. THE WICKED.. THE RIGHTEOUS] the heathen and Israel respectively.... [ Continue Reading ]
EXTOL.. HEAVENS] RV 'cast up a high way for him that rideth through the deserts': cp. Isaiah 40:3. BY HIS NAME JAH] RV 'his name is JAH,' an abbreviation of Jehovah, as in Hallelujah.... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS HOLY HABITATION] heaven: see Deuteronomy 26:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN FAMILIES] RM 'in a house.' THOSE.. CHAINS] RV 'the prisoners into prosperity': cp. Isaiah 61:1; Psalms 146:7. DWELL IN A DRY (RV 'parched')_land_] like the rebellious Israelites who perished in the wilderness.... [ Continue Reading ]
8. A free quotation from the Song of Deborah (Judges 5:4). Note again the substitution of 'GOD' for 'Lord.' SELAH] see on Psalms 3:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HEAVENS ALSO DROPPED] in the rain which accompanied the thunderstorms of Sinai: see Psalms 77:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
A PLENTIFUL RAIN] here a figure for all the blessings of the sojourn in the wilderness. Omit whereby with RV.... [ Continue Reading ]
HATH DWELT] RV 'dwelt.' THEREIN] in the wilderness. HAST PREPARED] RV 'didst prepare.' THE POOR] or afflicted, the needy wanderers in the desert.... [ Continue Reading ]
GAVE THE WORD] secured the victory by his simple command. GREAT _was_ THE COMPANY, etc.] RV 'the women that publish the tidings are a great host.' In the East it is the women who celebrate victories with song and dance: see 1 Samuel 18:6; 1 Samuel 18:7; Psalms 68:12 are the words of the women.... [ Continue Reading ]
Another echo of Deborah's Song (Judges 5:30). The kings are the kings of Canaan subdued by Joshua.... [ Continue Reading ]
AMONG THE POTS] RV 'among the sheepfolds,' another phrase from Deborah's Song (Judges 5:16), where it rebukes the inactivity of the Reubenites. RV reads, 'will ye lie.. sheepfolds, as the wings of a dove,' etc., in the same sense of reproof. But the best rendering is in RM, 'When ye lie among the sh... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WAS _white,_ etc.] RV '_It was as when_ it snoweth in Zalmon.' Zalmon was a wooded hill near Shechem (Judges 9:48). The scattered kings of C anaan were like the driven snowflakes seen against the dark green background.... [ Continue Reading ]
RV 'A mountain of God' (i.e. a great mountain: see Psalms 36:6), 'is the mountain of Bashan; an high mountain is the mountain of Bashan.' Hermon, which bounds Bashan on the N., is probably meant. Though it is so lofty God has chosen Zion in preference to it (Psalms 68:16).... [ Continue Reading ]
RV 'Why look ye askance' (i.e. why are ye jealous), 'ye high mountains, at the mountain' (Zion), 'which God hath desired for his abode?'... [ Continue Reading ]
THOUSANDS OF ANGELS] RV 'thousands upon thousands.' God enters Zion in a great procession of His heavenly armies: cp. Deuteronomy 33:2. _As in_ SINAI, ETC.] RM 'Sinai _is_ in the sanctuary.' The holy associations of Sinai are transferred to Zion.... [ Continue Reading ]
Having taken possession of Zion God has returned to His heavenly throne. CAPTIVITY] RV '_thy_ captivity,' thy band of captives. See Deborah's Song (Judges 5:12). FOR men.. _for_ the REBELLIOUS] RV 'among men.. _among_ the rebellious.' God's conquered enemies pay Him tribute. St. Paul's quotation in... [ Continue Reading ]
LOADETH US _with benefits_] RV 'beareth our burden.'... [ Continue Reading ]
RV 'God is unto us a God of deliverances: and unto Jehovahthe Lord,' etc. THE ISSUES FROM DEATH] the ways of escape from death, which God can provide.... [ Continue Reading ]
WOUND] RV 'smite through.' THE HAIRY SCALP] the long flowing locks which were the sign of the warrior's strength and of his devotion to his cause. See Deuteronomy 32:42; RM, and the Song of Deborah (Judges 5:2), where we should read 'For that flowing locks were worn in Israel.'... [ Continue Reading ]
BRING; _my people_] RV 'bring _them,_' i.e. Israel's enemies, who will be gathered for vengeance from the most inaccessible hiding places. Bashan was a country of intricate and rocky retreats.... [ Continue Reading ]
RV 'That thou mayest dip thy foot in blood, that the tongue of thy dogs may have its portion from _thine_ enemies.' God is still the speaker, and Israel is addressed. For the tone cp. Psalms 58:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN] RV 'into.'... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM THE FOUNTAIN] RV '_ye that are_ of the fountain,' all the descendants of Jacob: cp. Deuteronomy 33:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
_WITH_ THEIR RULER] RV 'their ruler,' the tribe from which the first king was taken (1 Samuel 9:21). COUNCIL] 'company.' Zebulon and Naphtali (see Judges 5:18) represent the northern kingdom, Benjamin and Judah the southern.... [ Continue Reading ]
Read, 'O God, command thy strength: be strong, O God, thou that hast wrought for us.'... [ Continue Reading ]
THE COMPANY OF SPEARMEN] RV 'the wild beast of the reeds,' the hippopotamus, the symbol of Egypt. Bulls, with the calves of the people (RV 'peoples')] heathen kings and their subjects. _Till every one_ SUBMIT, etc.] RV 'trampling under foot the pieces of silver.' God treats the tribute of the heathe... [ Continue Reading ]
EGYPT] as Israel's ancient enemy. ETHIOPIA] as one of the remotest of lands. 33, 34 Cp. Deuteronomy 33:26.... [ Continue Reading ]