XLI. Recalling the treachery of some pretended friends, the writer in this psalm pronounces, in contrast, a eulogy on those who know how to feel for and show compassion to the suffering. There is nothing, however, to indicate who the author was, or what particular incidents induced him to write. Po... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED IS HE. — This general statement of the great law of sympathy and benevolence — fine and noble however we take it — may be explained in different ways, according as we take the Hebrew word _dal_ as _poor,_ with the LXX. and Vulg. (comp. Exodus 30:15), or with the margin, as _sick, weak in bod... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SHALL BE BLESSED. — Not as in margin Isaiah 9:16, and in Symmachus “called happy,” but with deeper meaning, as in Proverbs 3:18. Another derivation is possible, giving the meaning, “he shall be led aright,” _i.e.,_ shall have right moral guidance. The context, however, does not favour this.... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL STRENGTHEN. — Literally, w_ill prop him up, support him._ WILT MAKE. — Literally, _hast turned._ Some think with literal allusion to the fact that the Oriental bed was merely a mat, which could be turned while the sick man was propped up. But such literalness is not necessary. To _turn_ here i... [ Continue Reading ]
I SAID. — After the general statement, the poet applies it to his own case, which showed such sadly different conduct on the part of friends from whom more than sympathy might have been expected. The pronoun is emphatic: _In my case, I said,_ etc. But it is a singular mark of the psalmist’s sinceri... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL HE DIE... PERISH. — Better, _When will he die, and his name have perished. _... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF HE COME. — Some one particular individual is here singled out from the body of enemies. TO SEE. — The usual word for visiting a sick person. (Comp. 2 Samuel 13:5; 2 Kings 8:29.) VANITY. — Better, _lies._ No more vivid picture of an insincere friend could be given. Pretended sympathy lies at... [ Continue Reading ]
AN EVIL DISEASE. — Margin, _thing of Belial._ (For “Belial,” see Deuteronomy 13:13.) The expression may mean, as in LXX. and Vulg., “a lawless speech,” so the Chaldee, “a perverse word.” Syriac, “a word of iniquity,” or “a physical evil,” as in Authorised Version, or “a moral evil.” The verse is dif... [ Continue Reading ]
HATH LIFTED UP HIS HEEL. — See margin. The meaning is, possibly, _kicked violently at me._ But Böttcher’s conjecture is valuable, “has magnified his fraud against me,” which is supported by the LXX. and Vulg., “has magnified his supplanting of me.” (For the quotation of this verse in John 13:18, see... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THIS I KNOW. — Better, _shall know._ His restoration would be a sign of the Divine favour, and a pledge of his victory over his enemies. TRIUMPH. — Literally, _shout;_ “sing a paean.”... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU UPHOLDEST. — Here we seem to have the acknowledgment that the prayer just uttered is answered.... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED. — This doxology is no part of the psalm, but a formal close to the first book of the collection. (See _General Introduction._)... [ Continue Reading ]