LXXVIII. This is the first and the longest specimen in the Hebrew hymn-book of a species of composition peculiar to it, and indeed peculiar to the literature of the Jews, as combining narrative with instruction. It has been rightly called “epi-didactic.” It does not tell the story of the past with a... [ Continue Reading ]
For the formal opening see Psalms 49:1, Note. MY PEOPLE. — An expression pointing to a position of weight and authority. MY LAW. — Here, rather _instruction,_ or _doctrine. _... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL OPEN. — A difficulty is started by the fact that the psalm deals with history, and is neither a proverb (_mâshal_) nor riddle (_chîdah_). But the Divine rejection of the northern tribes may be the covert meaning which the poet sees to have been wrapped up in all the ancient history. The word... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE... — Better, taking the relative of time (comp. Deuteronomy 11:6; Psalms 139:15), _For he established_ (_it as_)_ a testimony in Jacob and_ (_as_)_ a law appointed_ (_it_)_ in Israel when he commanded our forefathers to make them_ (the _“wonderful works”_ of last verse) _known to their childr... [ Continue Reading ]
STUBBORN. — _Refractory._ THAT SET NOT THEIR HEART ARIGHT. — Literally, _did not establish their heart,_ which preserves the parallelism better.... [ Continue Reading ]
ARMED, AND CARRYING BOWS. — Following Jeremiah 4:29, and from analogy with Jeremiah 44:9 (“handle and bend the bow”) we get as literal rendering of the Hebrew here, _drawing and shooting with the bow._ LXX. and Vulgate, “bending and shooting with the bow.” But a close comparison of this verse with P... [ Continue Reading ]
FIELD OF ZOAN. — See Numbers 13:22. It is the classical “Tanis,” merely a corruption of _Tsoan, i.e.,_ low country (LXX. and Vulgate). Tanis is situated on the east bank of what was formerly called the Tanitic branch of the Nile. Between it and Pelusium, about thirty miles to the east, stretched a r... [ Continue Reading ]
AS AN HEAP. — See Note, Psalms 33:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND GAVE... — Literally, _and gave them to drink as it were a great deep,_ or as we might say, “oceans of drink” — a poetical exaggeration; or are we rather to think of the gift of water as produced by striking or boring through the rock to the great ocean on which the earth was supposed to rest?... [ Continue Reading ]
ROCK. — Rather, _cliff — sela,_ the word always used of the event that took place at Kadesh (Numbers 20:8), as _tsûr_ is of the rock in Horeb. The plural of this latter word in Psalms 78:15 is poetical and general.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SINNED YET MORE AND MORE. — This implies the discontent which had already shown itself before the miraculous supply of water.... [ Continue Reading ]
A comparison of these verses with the references in the margin shows how the ancient narratives fared under poetical treatment. FURNISH A TABLE. — Comp. Psalms 23:5, Note GUSHED OUT. — Comp. Psalms 105:41.... [ Continue Reading ]
See references in margin.... [ Continue Reading ]
ANGELS’ FOOD. — See margin, and comp. Wis. 16:20. LXX. and Vulgate, “angels’ bread.” Some explain, after Job 24:22; Job 34:30, _lordly_ food, such as _nobles_ eat — here, _quails._ But in connection with “food from heaven,” the popular idea of angels’ food which poetry reluctantly gives up may be re... [ Continue Reading ]
EAST WIND... SOUTH WIND. — Probably the very winds that brought the flights of quails, and not merely poetical details. (See Smith’s _Biblical Dictionary,_ art. “Quails.”)... [ Continue Reading ]
No doubt there is poetical hyperbole here, but for the enormous numbers of quails that are now caught, see the article quoted above.... [ Continue Reading ]
DESIRE. — See Numbers 11:34, margin.... [ Continue Reading ]
Evidently from Numbers 11:33, _They did not yet loath in consequence of their lusts, the meat was yet in their mouths when,_ &c. For the expression, comp. the Latin _alienari ab aliqua re,_ to be disinclined to a thing, and our own “stranger to fear,” &c... [ Continue Reading ]
SLEW THE FATTEST. — This may mean either the _strongest_ or the _noblest. _... [ Continue Reading ]
(32-33) For the allusion see Numbers 14:11; Numbers 14:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
ROCK. — A reminiscence of Deuteronomy 32:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
The verbs in the first clause should be in the present, _But he, the compassionate, forgives iniquity, and doth not destroy, and many a time he turned away, &c. _... [ Continue Reading ]
“And what’s a life? A blast sustained with clothing: Maintained with food, retained with vile self-loathing; Then, weary of itself, away to nothing.” — QUARLES: _Emblcms. _... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW OFT. — Ten instances of murmuring are actually recorded in Exodus and Numbers.... [ Continue Reading ]
LIMITED. — A verb used in Ezekiel 9:4 for putting a mark on the forehead, which has been very variously explained. Some render _branded_ or _cast a stigma on_ — _i.e.,_ brought discredit on the Divine name. The LXX. and Vulg. have “exasperated,” and so some moderns “crossed,” “thwarted.” Grätz emend... [ Continue Reading ]
The reminiscence of the plagues that follows is not a complete enumeration, and does not proceed in the order of the historic narrative.... [ Continue Reading ]
DIVERS SORTS OF FLIES. — Better, simply _flies._ See Note Exodus 8:21. FROGS. — See Exodus 8:2, and _Bib. Ed.,_ iv. 145.... [ Continue Reading ]
CATERPILLAR. — Heb., _chasîl._ (See 1 Kings 8:37.) Probably the _locust_ in the _larva_ or _pupa_ state. For _locust_ see Exodus 10:4 _seq.,_ and _Bib. Ed.,_ iv. 292. The LXX., Vulg., and Symmachus have “blight.” but in 2 Chronicles 6:28 “cockchafer,” as Aquila and Jerome here.... [ Continue Reading ]
VINES. — In the history of the plagues (Exodus 9:13) no mention is made either of vines or sycamores or of fig-trees, as in Psalms 105:33, and some consider that the poem reflects a Palestinian rather than an Egyptian point of view. But besides Numbers 20:5 and Joseph’s dream there is abundance of e... [ Continue Reading ]
HAIL. — Some copies read “pestilence,” which from its association with _resheph,_ as in Habakkuk 3:5, a word there denoting some contagious malady (comp. Deuteronomy 32:24; see Note Psalms 76:3), is probably to be preferred here though the authority of the LXX. is against it. If so, we must refer th... [ Continue Reading ]
EVIL ANGELS. — So LXX. and Vulg., but in the Hebrew _angels_ (or _messengers_)_ of ills_ (so Symmachus), with evident reference to the destruction of the firstborn.... [ Continue Reading ]
MADE A WAY. — Literally, _levelled a path._ So Symmachus.... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS MOUNTAIN — _i.e._, Zion, though from its apposition to _border_ some prefer to take it of all the mountain country of Judæa. PURCHASED. — Rather, _acquired. _... [ Continue Reading ]
TURNED ASIDE... — Better, _turned like a relaxed bow._ (See Note to Psalms 78:9.) The bows of the Hebrews, like those of other ancient nations, were probably, when unstrung, bent the reverse way to that assumed when strung, which makes the figure more expressive of the disposition which cannot be re... [ Continue Reading ]
FORSOOK. — The reference is of course to the disastrous defeat by the Philistines (1 Samuel 4). See especially Psalms 78:21 in connection with glory or _ornament_ as applied here to the Ark. For _strength_ in the same connection see Psalms 132:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE NOT GIVEN. — See margin. The desolation and misery were marked by the absence of the glad nuptial song.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEIR WIDOWS... — Undoubtedly referring to the fact that the wife of Phinehas died in premature labour, and so could not attend the funeral of her husband with the customary lamentations, which in Oriental countries are so loud and marked. The Prayer-Book version, therefore, gives the right feel... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT SHOUTETH... — For the boldness of the image which likens God to a giant warrior exhilarated with wine we may range this with the picture in Psalms 60 (See Notes.)... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SMOTE. — Possibly an allusion to 1 Samuel 5:9, or else to the repeated defeats of the Philistines under Saul and David.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE BUILT. — The first clause is vague, but evidently the poet is drawing attention to the grandeur and solidity of the Temple. Perhaps, _high as heaven_ — _firm as earth. _... [ Continue Reading ]
EWES GREAT WITH YOUNG — So also in Isaiah 40:11; but properly, _ewes with lambs._ Literally, _giving suck._... [ Continue Reading ]