Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 6 · Book 2 · Commentary on psalm 8
PSAL. XLIX.
All are exhorted to heare Christs wisdome and parables. 7 To build the faith of Resurrection from the dead, not on worldly power, but on God. 17 Worldly prosperity is not to be admined, for man without understanding perisheth like the beast.
To the Master of the Musicke, to the sons of Korach a Psalme.
HEare ye this, all peoples; hearken ye… all inhabitants of the transitorie world. Both sons of base man, and sons of noble man, together rich and poore.
My mouth shall speake wisdomes; and the meditation of my heart, prudencies. I will incline min… eare to a parable, I wil open with harpe mine hidden matter. Why should I feare in the daies of evill, when the iniquitie of my foot-steps shall compasse me? They that trust in their wealthy power, and glory in the multitude of their riches. A man shall not redeeming redeeme his brother, shall not give to God his ransome. So precious shall be the redemption of their soule, and it shall cease for ever. That he may live yet to continuall aye, may not see the pit of corruption.
For he seeth the wise doe die, together the unconstant foole and brutish doe perish, and leave to others their wealthy power. Their inward thought is that their houses shall be for ever, their dwelling places to generation and generation; they proclaime their names on lands. But man in honour doth not lodge a night; he is likened to beasts that are silenced.
This their way is unconstant folly to them, and their posteritie like well of their mouth Selah. As sheepe they are put in hell, death shall feed them, and righteous men shall have rule over them at the morning, & their forme weare away in hell, from his dwelling place.
But God will redeeme my soule from the hand of hell, for he will receive me Selah. Feare thou not when a man shall grow rich, when the glory of his house shall be multiplied. For he shall not when he die take any thing, his glory shall not descend after him.
Though in his life he blesseth his soule, and they will confesse thee, when thou doest good to thy selfe. It shall come unto the generation of his fathers, unto continuall aye, they shall not see the light. Man in honour, and understandeth not, he is likened to beasts that are silenced.
Annotations.
THe transitory world] see Psal. 17. 14.
Vers. 3. base man] in Hebrew Adam, who was so called of Adamah the earth, whereupon this title is given to the baser sort of people. The Greek translateth it here earth-borne. So the Apostle saith, the first man of the earth, earthly, 1 Cor. 15. 47. noble man] in Hebrew Ish, which is the name of man in respect of heat, valour, noblenesse and dignitie, whereby man is, and excelleth; and in opposition to the former word Adam, it meaneth the great or nobler sort of people. The Chaldee paraphraseth thus, Both sons of Adam the first, and sons of Iakob, together righteous and sinner.
Vers. 4. wisdomes] that is, excellent and manifold wisdome; so after, prudencies, for very excellent prudence, and of sundry sorts. So Solomon calleth the chiefe and most excellent wisdome, wisdomes, Prov. 1. 20. and 9. 1.
Vers. 5. a parable] or a proverbe: in Hebrew Mashal, which denoteth rule, superiority or excellencie because such speeches prevaile much in the mindes of men, and are in esteeme. The new Testament in Greeke translateth it, a parable, Matth. 13. 35. from Psa. 78. 2. of the Latine, we name it a Proverb: in old English or Saxon, it was called a big-spel. Sometime it is used in the evill part, for a by-word, Psal. 44. 15. and 69. 12. mine hidden matter] my darke question, or grave doctrine, my riddle. The Hebrew Chidah, riddle, hath the name of sharpnesse, as proceeding from a sharpe wit, and needing the like to expound it. See Iudg. 14. 12, 18. Num. 12. 8. 1 King. 10. 1. Prov. 1. 6. The holy Ghost expresseth it in Greeke by hidden things, Matth. 13. 35. from Psal. 78. 2.
Vers. 6. Why should I feare] This is the hidden doctrine or riddle which the Prophet propoundeth, as in his owne name, and therefore also called it a parable. By feare, he meaneth dismay or discouragement. See vers. 17. the iniquitie] that is, punishment or death, which is the wages of sinne; see Psal. 31. 11. and by foot-steps or foot-soles, he meaneth his waies or workes. Or, he may call death the punishment of his heeles or feet, because the Serpent bruiseth Christ and his people but in the heele, Gen. 3. 15. the sting of death being done away, and it made a passage into life and glory, 1 Cor. 15. 55. 57.
Vers. 7. their wealthy power] their riches; which are thus called, because they are gotten by power given of God, Deut. 8. 18. with labour and industry; and to the rich, their goods are their strong citie, Prov. 10. 15. therefore here they are said to trust in them: contrary to 1 Tim. 6. 17. Iob 31. 24. Mark. 10. 24. glory] or praise themselves, vaunt, contrary to Ier. 9. 23.
Vers. 8. not redeeming redeeme] that is, shall in no wise, or not at all redeeme. The Chaldee expoundeth it, a wicked man cannot redeeming redeeme his captived brother.
Vers 9. So precious shall be] or, And deare (costly) is: and consequently rare and hard to obtaine, as Dan. 2. 11. 1 Sam. 3. 1. of their soule] that is, of their life. So Exod. 21. 30. cease for ever] that is, it shall never be accomplished. So ceasing is used for the not doing of a thing, Deut. 23. 22. Zach. 11. 12.
Vers. 10. That he may live] this is referred to the end of the eight verse, not give his ransome, and so live. And, is here for That; see Psal. 43. 4. The Chaldee expoundeth live, to be the life eternall; & the pi…, to be the judgement of Gehenna (or hell.)
Vers. 11. the wise] The Chaldee saith, For hee shall see wicked wise men that die the second death, and are adjudged to Gehenna. unconstant foole and brutish] these two names are often joyned together, as Psal. 92. 7. and 94. 8. the one noting ficklenesse and mutabilitie, called Cesil, which is both the name of a foole and of a starre that causeth change of weather and tempests: (whereupon Solomon speaketh of the restlesnesse of this kind of folly, Eccles. 7. 27. and of the tumultuousnesse and light behaviour of such fooles, as having their eyes wandring unto the ends of the earth, Prov. 9. 13. and 17. 24.) the other, noting want of discretion, at brute beasts led with sensuality, and carried with ardent furious affections, 2 Pet. 2. 12. Iude 10. See Psal. 73. 22.
Vers. 12. Their inward thought] or, their meaning purpose. This word signifieth the nearest and most secret thought or purpose, the heart. See Psal. 5. 10. and 55. 5. and 64. 7. their houses for ever] to wit, shall continue: by houses, meaning their children or posteritie, as Psal. 115. 12. which they that want, are said to be barren of house, Psal. 113. 9. they proclaime their names on lands] or, they call lands, (their lands, as the Greeke explaineth it) by their owne names. As the land of Canaan, of Mitsraim, (that is, Aegypt) of Asshur, &c. So Absalom called his pillar by his owne name, 2 Sam. 18. 18. Cain, his citie by his sonnes name, Gen. 4. 17 thus thinking to make their memorie everlasting. Or, they proclaime their names (seeking to be famous) thorowout the lands or countries. The Chaldee expoundeth it, they were proud, and got themselves an evill name on earth.
Vers. 13. But man] or And Adam and this may be minded both for the first man Adam, who continued not in his dignity, & so for all his children: as the Chaldee saith, And the sonne of man a sinner, abideth not in honor. in honor] being in honour, dignitie, or estimation, not lodge a night] or, not continue. The word though it properly signifieth a nights lodging, or abiding, Gen. 28. 11. Exod. 23. 18. yet is used also for longer continuance, Psal. 25. 13. and 55. 8. Zach. 5. 4. The Greeke translateth, understandeth not, as the Hebrew also is in vers. 21. are silenced] that is, are cut off, die, or perish: the Greeke translateth, are like unto them. The Hebrew word signifieth silence or stilnesse, not onelyonly in speech, but in motion: as, the Sunne was still, or silent, when it moved not, Ios. 10. 12, 13. and people destroyed, are said to bee silenced, Isa. 15. 1. and the grave or death is called silence, Psal. 115. 17. and things without life are in the Hebrew phrase, dumbe, or silent, Hab. 2. 19. Exod. 15. 16.
Vers. 14. unconstant folly to them] that is, is their folly: or, a constant hope to them, that is, is their confidence. The originall word hath contrary significations: unconstant folly, Eccles. 7. 27. and constant hope, Psal. 78. 7. Iob. 31. 24. both wayes it may here be taken: confident hope, in their owne conceit, but indeed folly. The Greeke turneth it a seandall, (or stumbling blocke.) to them and their posteritie] or, yet those after them, their successors. their mouth] that is, their words, doctrine, counsell, precepts. The mouth is figuratively used for whatsoever commeth out of the same; as word, or commandement, 1 Sam. 12. 15. Iob 39. 30. Num. 9. 20. Deut. 1. 26. Mat. 18. 16. Luke 19. 22. The Chaldee here differeth much, saying, This their way occasioneth folly to them, and in their end with their mouth they shall manifest their sinnes to the world that is to come.
Vers. 15. they are put] or laid: or, they put, that is, men put them. An Hebrew phrase, as Luke 12. 20. they shall fetch away thy soule, that is, it shall bee fetched away. The like is often used, Psal. 105. 28. and 141. 6. The Hebrew Text it selfe sometime explaineth this; as, they had anointed David, 2 Sam. 5. 17. that is, David was anointed, 1 Chron. 14. 8. Howbeit the Chaldee taketh it actively, saying, Like sheepe they put the just to death and kill them, and crush the Saints, &c. in hell] into a ditch: to the lowest grave or state of death, called Sheol. See the notes on Ps. 16. 10. death shall feed them] as a shepherd shall feed and rule them, as Psal. 78. 72. or death shall feed on them to devour them, as Ier. 50. 19. at the morning] the last day of judgement, for then all that sleepe in the dust of the earth shall awake and rise, and the new day of eternall life shall begin. their forme] their figure, shape, or image, with all their beauty and proportion: or their rocke, that is, their strength, or, (as the Greeke saith) their helpe, that wherein they trust: in Chaldee, their bodie. The Hebrew Tsur is usually a rocke; here it seemeth to be all one with Tsurah, a forme or figure: and this is confirmed by the writing, for though by the vowels and reading it is Tsur, yet by the letters it is Tsir, which is an image, Isa. 45. 16. And Tsurum, is for Tsuratham, as tebunam, is for tebunatham, in Hos. 13. 2. weare away in hell] or, wax old in the grave; understanding the word in, which is expressed in the Greeke: or without it thus, Hell (the grave) shall weare away (shall consume) their forme. The Hebrew leballoth, being indefinite, to weare out with age, is here of like signification as that which went before, shall have rule. The like Hebraisme is in Ier. 14. 5. Zach. 12. 10. and 3. 4. See also Psal. 65. 11. and 56. 14. and by this their affliction in hell is meant; as that which one Prophet calleth wearing out (or wasting) 1 Chron. 17. 9. another calleth afflicting, 2 Sam. 7. 10. from his dwelling place] that is, every of them, comming from, (or being thrust out of) his dwelling, or home: as the Greeke saith, they are thrust from their glorie. It may also be Englished, for his dwelling place; and so the Chaldee understood it, saying, Therefore their bodies shall wax old in Gehenna, because they stretched out their hand and destroyed the dwelling place of the house of his divine Majestie.
Vers. 16. from the hand of hell] that is, from the power of the grave, death, and damnation. So of all the faithfull he saith, I will redeeme them from the hand of hell, Hos. 13. 14. but so can no man redeeme himselfe, Psal. 89. 49. Hand is put for power, as Ps. 22. 21. And this is meant of the resurrection and redemption of body and soule from damnation by Christ. for he will receive me] or, when he shall receive, or take me: meaning, up into heaven, where God himselfe is, 1 Thess. 4. 14. Ioh. 14. 3. This manner of speech is used in Gen. 5. 24. Henoch was no more, for God received him. The Chaldee explaineth this verse thus, But God will redeem my soule from Gehenna for be will teach me his Law, and will lead me to his portion in the world to come.
Vers. 17. Feare thou not] that is, be not dismayed, or overcome with feare. The Hebrew phrase usually when it counselleth or prayeth against a thing, meaneth the height & full measure of it. So feare not, Gen. 50. 19. and grieve not, Gen. 45. 5. that is, be not overcome with griefe. So, lead us not into temptation, Mat. 6. 13. that is, let us not be overcome with temptation, 1 Cor. 10. 13. Therefore that which one Evangelist writeth, Feare not, Mat. 28. 5. another writeth, be not astonied, Mark. 16. 6. nothing the excesse of feare.
Vers. 18. take any thing] Hebr. take of all; that is, ought of all that he hath. For we brought nothing into the world, and it is certaine that we can carry nothing out, 1 Tim. 6. 7. Iob 1. 21.
Vers. 19. Though in his life] that is, whiles he liveth. So Psal. 63. 5. and 104. 33. and 146. 2. he blesseth his soule] that is, himselfe: as it is written, Soule, thou hast much goods laid up for many yeares, live at ease, eat, drinke, and take thy pastime, Luke 12. 19. will confesse thee] will commend, laud, and celebrate thee. doest good to thy selfe] that is, makest much of, cherishest, pamperest thy selfe. So good is used for worldly pleasure and emoluments, Psal. 4. 7.
Vers. 20. It shall come] to wit, the soule forespoken of, or the person: or, Thou shalt come. to the generation of his fathers] that is, to his wicked predecessors that are dead and gone; as the godly also at their death are gathered to their fathers and people, Iudg. 2. 10. Deut. 32. 50. Or, to the habitation of his fathers, their house, or lodge: for so Dor is used for an habitation, Esa. 38. 12. The Chaldee applieth this first branch to the just, the latter to the wicked. The memorie of the just shall come to the generation of the fathers, but the wicked for ever and ever shall not see the light. to continuall aye they shall not see] or, which for ever shall not see the light, to wit, the light of the living here on earth, as Psal. 56. 14. Iob 33. 28, 30. nor the light of joy in the world to come, being cast out into the utter darkenesse, Matth. 8. 12.
Vers. 21. understandeth not] or discerneth not, wanting prudence. A repetition of the 13. verse, with a little change of jalin, lodgeth, into jabin, understandeth; which the Chaldee openeth thus; A man, a sinner, when he is in honour and understandeth not; when his honour is taken away, he is like a beast and brought to nothing.