XLVIII. Jerusalem has been in great peril from some coalition either of neighbouring monarchs or of the tributary princes of one of the great world-powers, and has been delivered through some unexplained sudden panic. With this event the poet of this psalm is contemporary. So much is clear from Psa... [ Continue Reading ]
TO BE PRAISED. — See Psalms 18:3, Note.... [ Continue Reading ]
SITUATION. — Heb., _nôph._ A word only found here, but explained from a cognate Arabic word to mean _elevation._ And this feature is quite distinctive enough of Jerusalem to lend confirmation to this explanation — “Its elevation is remarkable.” (See Stanley, _Sinai and Palestine,_ p. 170.) On the o... [ Continue Reading ]
REFUGE. — See Note, Psalms 46:1. Prominence should be given to the idea of security from _height._ We might render, “God among her castles is known as a high and secure tower.”... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KINGS. — With the striking picture of the advance and sudden collapse of a hostile expedition that follows, comp. Isaiah 10:28; possibly of the very same event. THE KINGS. — Evidently known to the writer, but, alas! matter of merest conjecture to us. Some suppose the kings of Ammon, Moab, and Ed... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SAW. — A verse like Psalms 46:6, vivid from the omission of the conjunctions, wrongly supplied by the Authorised Version. It has reminded commentators of Caesar’s _Veni, vidi, vici._ THEY _looked, even so were terrified, bewildered, panic-struck._ HASTED AWAY. — Or, _sprung up in alarm. _... [ Continue Reading ]
BREAKEST. — It is natural at first sight to connect this verse immediately with the disaster which happened to the fleet of Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:48; 2 Chronicles 20:36). And that event may indeed have supplied the figure, but a figure for the dispersal of a _land army._ We may render: With a bla... [ Continue Reading ]
AS WE HAVE HEARD. — The generations of a religious nation are “bound each to each by natural piety.” Probably here the ancient tale of the overthrow of Pharaoh and his host recurred to the poet’s mind. GOD WILL ESTABLISH IT. — Better, _God will preserve her for ever, i.e., the holy city._ This form... [ Continue Reading ]
THY TEMPLE. — This verse seems to indicate a liturgic origin for the psalm.... [ Continue Reading ]
ACCORDING TO THY NAME... — “Name” here has plainly the meaning we give it in the phrase, “name and fame.” God’s praise was up to the reputation His great deeds had won. (Comp. Psalms 138:2.) THY RIGHT HAND IS FULL OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. — Not like Jove’s, as heathen say, full of thunderbolts, but of jus... [ Continue Reading ]
DAUGHTERS OF JUDAH. — Not the maidens of Jerusalem, but the towns and villages of Judah. JUDGMENTS. — Perhaps here, as in Psalms 119:132, with prominent idea of God’s _customary_ dealings with His people.... [ Continue Reading ]
WALK ABOUT ZION. — Notice here the strong patriotic feeling of Hebrew song. The inhabitants of the city are invited to make a tour of inspection of the defences which, under God’s providence, have protected them from their foes. We are reminded of the fine passage in Shakespeare’s _Cymbeline,_ which... [ Continue Reading ]
CONSIDER. — The Hebrew word is peculiar to this passage. The root idea seems to be _divide,_ and the natural sense of _divide her palaces_ is, _take them one by one and regard them. _... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO DEATH. — The words (‘_al mûth_) are proved by the ancient versions and various readings to be really a musical direction, either placed at the end instead of the beginning, as in Habakkuk 3:19, or shifted back from the title of the next psalm. See Psalms 9 title, _‘alamôth._... [ Continue Reading ]