CIX. The peculiar horror of the imprecations in this extraordinary psalm does not lie in the dreadful consequences they invoke. Shakespeare puts curses equally fierce and terrible into Timon’s mouth: “Piety, and fear, Religion to the gods, peace, justice, truth, Domestic awe, night-rest, and neighb... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD OF MY PRAISE. — That is, God to whom as covenant God it was a privilege to make _tehillah._ (See Deuteronomy 10:20, where Jehovah is said to be “the praise” of those who “swear by His name.” Comp. also Psalms 106:2, and Note, and Psalms 33:1. Perhaps _“_God of my glory or boast” would more nearl... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THE DECEITFUL. — Properly, as in margin, _of deceit;_ consequently, to make the two expressions alike, it is proposed to read, instead of “mouth of the wicked” (properly, _of a wicked man_)_,_ “mouth of wickedness.” In any case the best English equivalent will be, “a wicked mouth and a deceitful... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR MY LOVE... — _i.e., in return for my love_ I _give myself unto prayer._ For a concise expression of the same kind as “I prayer,” see Psalms 120:7, “I peace.” Of course the psalmist means, that in the face of all the taunts and reproaches of his maligners, he simply and naturally has recourse to... [ Continue Reading ]
SET THOU A WICKED MAN OVER HIM. — This rendering is abundantly confirmed by Leviticus 26:16; Numbers 4:27; Numbers 27:16; Jeremiah 15:3; Jeremiah 51:27, against Hitzig’s proposed “Pronounce against him — guilty,” which also would only anticipate Psalms 109:7. (Comp., too, the noun “office” in Psalms... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE SHALL BE JUDGED. — Literally, _in his being judged._ (See margin.) The meaning is, “may he go out of court a condemned man.” LET HIS PRAYER BECOME SIN. — If this clause stood by itself, the most natural way would be to give “prayer” and “sin” their usual sense, and see in it the horrible hop... [ Continue Reading ]
OFFICE. — See Note, Psalms 109:6. Evidently some post of power and influence.... [ Continue Reading ]
CHILDREN... WIFE. — It is one of the sadly peculiar features of this series of curses that the resentment of the imprecator cannot satisfy itself on the _person_ of his foe, but fastens also on his innocent descendants. To invoke a speedy death does not content him; he must feast his anger with the... [ Continue Reading ]
BE CONTINUALLY VAGABONDS. — “Wander and wander about” would better reproduce the original. DESOLATE PLACES. — Rather, _ruins._ They are imagined creeping out of the ruins of their homes to beg. But there was a different reading, followed by the LXX. and Vulg., “let them be driven out of their homes... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THE EXTORTIONER. — Better, _let the usurer lay traps to catch all that he hath._ So Timon: “Let prisons swallow them, Debts wither them to nothing.”... [ Continue Reading ]
POSTERITY. — The Hebrew theory of the Divine government was, that if ruin did not overtake the sinner himself, it would fall on his posterity; his name would be forgotten, and his race extinct.... [ Continue Reading ]
FATHERS. — The sweet of vengeance lies in its completeness. The curse must strike backwards as well as forwards, and the root as well as the branch be destroyed. Undoubtedly the Mosaic Law, which proclaimed that the “iniquity of the fathers should be visited on the children,” suggested the form of t... [ Continue Reading ]
POOR. — The Hebrew word thus rendered, viz., ‘_anî,_ has suggested a reference to the murder of the high priest Onias (2Ma. 4:34-36).... [ Continue Reading ]
LET. — The optatives in the English are wrong. These verses express facts, and the imprecation follows in Psalms 109:19. Render — He loved cursing; and it comes; He delighted not in blessing; and it departs; Yea, he clothed himself in cursing as with his cloak, And it came like water into his bowel... [ Continue Reading ]
REWARD. — Either “work” or “wages.” The LXX. and Vulg. take it in the former sense, “This is their work who,” &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
DO THOU FOR ME. — It is almost impossible in English to retain the emphasis of this appeal, made still more emphatic by the sudden change from imprecation on an enemy to prayer for mercy towards self.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHADOW WHEN IT DECLINETH. — Literally, _a lengthened shade._ (Comp. Psalms 102:11, and see Note. Song of Solomon 2:17.) When the day declines the shadow lengthens, it becomes longer and longer, till it vanishes in the universal darkness. Thus does the life of the suffering generation pass away. TOS... [ Continue Reading ]
FAILETH OF FATNESS. — Literally, _has failed me from fat, i.e.,_ has dwindled away.... [ Continue Reading ]
(28-31) It is impossible not to notice the anti-climax in these verses, if they are spoken by the same person as Psalms 109:16, and directed against the same enemies, of whom the one there singled out is the prominent figure. It is not only that the effect is weakened by the change back to the plura... [ Continue Reading ]
MANTLE. — Heb., _meîl,_ which was also a garment worn over the tunic.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE... — Jehovah is the poor man’s advocate, just as an adversary was the wicked man’s accuser.... [ Continue Reading ]