Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 6 · Book 2 · Commentary on psalm 19 – Commentary on psalm 20
PSAL. LX.
David complaining to God of former afflictions, now upon better hope prayeth for deliverance. 8 Comforting himselfe in Gods promises, hee craveth that helpe wherein he trusteth.
To the Master of the Musicke, upon Shushan eduth, Michtam of David, for to teach.
When he fought with Aram of Mesopotamia, and with Aram of Zobah: and Ioab turned, & smote Aedom in the valley of salt, twelve thousand.
O God, thou didst cast us away, thou didst break us, thou wast angry; turn againe unto us. Thou didst make the land to quake, didst rive it; heale thou the breaches thereof, for it is moved. Thou didst shew thy people a hard thing; thou diddest give us to drinke the wine of astonishing horrour. Thou hast given to them that feare thee, a banner to be high displayed, because of the certaine truth Selah. That thy beloved may be delivered; save thou with thy right hand, and answer me. God spake by his holinesse, I will be glad: I shall divide Shechem, and measure the valley of Succoth. Gilead shall be mine, and Manasseh mine, and Ephraim the strength of mine head; Iehudah shall be my law-giver. Moab my washing pot: over Aedom I shall cast my shooe: Palestina shout thou over me. Who will lead me along to the citie of strong defence, who will lead me unto Aedom? Is it not thou, O God, that hadst cast us away, and wouldest not goe forth, O God, in our hosts? O give thou us helpe from distresse, for vaine falshood is the salvation of earthly man. Through God we shall doe valiantnesse, and he will tread down our distressers.
Annotations.
SHushan] that is, the six-stringed instrument, (or Lily.) See Psal. 45. 1. eduth] that is, the testimony; which here either belongeth to the musick now unknowne to us, or meaneth the Psalme to be a testimony of Davids faith & thankfulnesse; or to be sung by the Priests before the Ark of God in the Sanctuary; which Arke and Tables of the covenant in it, was called the Testimony, Exod. 40. 5, 20. Michtam] a golden song: See Psal. 16. 1.
Vers. 2. Aram] that is, the Aramites, or Syrians; the posterity of Aram, the sonne of Shem, the sonne of Noah, Gen. 10. 22. Mesopotamia] a country so commonly called of the Greeke, Act. 7. 2. in Hebrew Naharajim, that is, of (or between) the two rivers, meaning Tygris and Euphrates, betweene which this land lay. So the Chaldee expoundeth it, Aram which is by Euphrates. Zobah] a country neare the other, called of Greeke Writers Syria Saphena. Aedom in the valley of salt] that is, the Aedomites, or Idumeans in the salt valley, a place in that countrey, whereof mention is also made, 2 King. 14. 7. twelve thousand] in the history, 2 Sam. 8. 13. this victory is ascribed to David, in 1 Chron. 18. 12. it is ascribed to Abishai, Ioabs brother, and there also the number is eighteene thousand. It seemeth that Captaine Abishai first set on them, and slew 6000. after him followed Ioab, and slew 12000 moe, here mentioned. And to David is this victory attributed, because he was King.
Vers. 3. cast us away] This complaint seemeth to have reference unto that miserable state wherein Israel was, 1 Sam. 13. 19, &c. and 31. 7. turne] The Chaldee addeth, turne thy glory to us.
Vers. 4. the land quake] that is, change the state thereof; as Hag. 2. 7. compared with Hebr. 12. 26, 27, 28. also Ezek. 31. 16. This land, the Chaldee expoundeth the land of Israel. rive it] as at earthquakes rifis and chinkes appeare. This word is not else-whereused in Scripture. heale] that is, repaire: See the like phrase, 2 Chron. 7. 14.
Vers. 5. astonishing horrour] or reeling, giddinesse: meaning, they were drunken with afflictions, which caused horrour, as drunkennesse with wine causeth giddinesse. This word is also used, Esay 51. 17, 20, 21, 22.
Vers. 6. a banner] or ensigne. This word is applied to the flagge or ensigne of the Gospell, Esay 11. 12. and 49. 22. and 62. 10. here, to David and his victory. to be high displayed] or, to use for a banner, which hath the name of lifting high. the certaine truth] of thy promises.
Vers. 7. answer me] or us, me and my people. The Hebrew hath both readings. The Chaldee explaineth it, Receive my prayer.
Vers. 8. shall divide] this meaneth a full possession after conquest, Ios. 1. 6. and 13. 7. Shechem] a citie in the tribe of Ephraim, not far from Samaria, Gen. 33. 18. Ios. 20. 7. Succoth] a citie in the tribe of Gad, beyond the river Iarden, Ios. 13. 27.
Vers. 9. Gilead] and Manasseh: These were the utmost borders of the land of Canaan without Iarden: which howsoever for a time they resisted David, and clave to Ishbosheth Sauls son, 2 Sam. 2. 8, 9. &c. yet were by Gods promise to be subjected unto David. strength of my head] that is, my hornes wherewith I shall smite the people together, according to that promised blessing, Deut. 33. 17. or by head, may be meant headship, kingdom or principalitie. law-giver] or statute-maker, a title of authoritie; therefore the Greeke translateth here, King. This also accordeth to the promise made to Iudah, Gen. 49. 10. 1 Chron. 5. 2.
Vers. 10. Moab] the land or people of the Moabites, neare to the land of Israel; these were the posterity of Lot, Abrahams nephew, begotten by Lot in his drunkennesse, of his own daughters, Gen. 19. 33,—36, 37. they had now forsaken the true God, and worshipped Baal-pehor and Chemosh, Numb. 25. 1, 3. and 21. 29. were enemies to Israel, Numb. 22. Iudg. 3. 12. and subdued by David, 2 Sam. 8. 2. washing pot] that is, used for base services, as a vessell to wash my feet in. over Aedom shall I cast my shooe] that is, I shall walke thorow, possesse, and tread downe the land of Aedom (or Idumea,) whose inhabitants were Aedomites, the posteritie of Aedom, that is, Esau the elder brother of Iakob, who prophanely selling his birth-right for a messe of red pottage, (called in Hebrew Adom,) had his name therefore Aedom, to the perpetuall shame of him and his seed, Gen. 25. 30. and 36. 8 9. Heb 12. 16. as Jakob by faith obtained the glorious name of Israel; see Psal. 14. 7. Palestina shout thou] for this, in Psal. 108. 10. it is said, over Palestina I will shout. So here it seemeth to be spoken in mockage; intimating, that howsoever the Philistims dominiered and triumphed for a while, (as appeareth, Judg. 10. 7. and 13. 1. 1 Sam. 4. 10. and 31. 1.) yet should they by David be subdued; as came to passe, 2 Sam. 8. 1. Therefore the Greeke turneth it, the aliens are subject to me: the Chaldee thus, concerning the Philistines, shout and be strong, O congregation of Israel. Palestina (called in Hebrew Pelesheth,) was a part of the land of Canaan, westward by the sea, inhabited by the Philistims, which came of the Casluhims nephewes of Mizraim the sonne of Cham, the sonne of Noah, Gen. 10. 14. These with the Caphtorims, first inhabited Caphtor, & from thence came to Palestina, Amos 9. 7. where they drove out the Avims, (the ancient inhabitants of the land) and dwelt in their stead, Deut. 2. 23. And this seemeth to be the reason why usually the Philistims are called in Greeke Allophyloi, Aliens, (of another tribe or nation;) because they were not the first naturall inhabitants.
Vers. 11. Who will lead] it is a kinde of wish, as Psal. 14. 7. yet implying also some difficultie, as the next verse here sheweth. of strong defence] that is, defenced or fortified: see Ps. 31. 22. This may be meant generally of all strong cities that resisted David; or specially of Rabbah, the chiefe citie of the Ammonites, whereof see 2 Sam. 12. 26, 29, &c.
Vers. 13. from distresse] or from the distresser, the adversary. for vaine] Hebr. and vaine: but and is often used for because, or for; as 2 Sam. 22. 28. with Psal. 18. 28. so Isa. 64. 5.
Vers. 14. doe valiantnesse] or valour, that is, valiant acts: according to the prophesie, Num. 24. 19. or make a power, that is, gather an armie, as the phrase is used, 1 Sam. 14. 48. and in Ezek. 28. 4. it is used for gathering of wealth. See the Notes on Psal. 18. 33. will tread downe] in Greeke, will set at nought, or contemne.
PSAL. LXI.
David flieth to God upon his former experience. 5 He voweth perpetuall service unto him, because of his promises.
To the Master of the Musicke, upon Neginath, a Psalme of David.
HEare thou, O God, my shouting, attend to my prayer. From the end of the land unto thee do I call when my heart is overwhelmed: lead thou me unto the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast beene a safe hope to me, a tower of strength from the face of the enemie. I will so journe in thy tent for ever, I will hope for safetie in the secret of thy wings Selah. For thou, O God, hast heard my vowes, hast given inheritance to them that feare thy name. Thou wilt adde daies unto the daies of the King, his yeares shall be as generation and generation.
He shall sit for ever before God; prepare thou mercy & truth, which may keep him. So will I sing Psalme to thy name, unto perpetuity, that I may pay my vowes day by day.
Annotations.
VPonUpon Neginath] or with neginath, that is, the playing on the strings of the instrument: meaning that this Psalme was to be sung with musick of stringed instruments. See Psal. 4. 1.
Vers. 3. end of the land] the utmost border of the land of Canaan, where David sometime was driven to abide, 2 Sam. 17. 24. or, end of the earth. is overwhelmed] or covered over, to wit, with griefe, (as the Greeke explaineth it,) whereby it fainteth; opprest with sorrow. So Psal. 102. 1. and 77. 4. and 107. 5. and 142. 4. lead thou] or, thou wilt lead: a speech of faith, from former deliverances, as the next verse sheweth. higher than I] which I cannot get up on, unlesse thou lead me.
Vers. 4. a safe hope] or, shrowding place, where he hoped for, and had found safe shelter.
Vers. 5. I will sojourne] or shall abide. See Psal. 15. 1. in the secret] or, the hiding place, called else-where the shadow of his wings, Psal. 36. 8. and 63. 8. See Psal. 91. 1,—4.
Vers. 6. my vowes] that is, my prayers made with vowes, as the Saints used, Gen. 28. 20. Iudg. 11. 30, 31. Hereupon, prayer is called in Greeke Proseuche, of powring out vowes to God. inheritance to them] so the Greeke also hath it; or, given me the inheritance of them; that is, such a blessing as usually thou bestowest on such as feare thee. The Chaldee paraphraseth, thou hast given an inheritance in the world to come to them that feare thy name.
Vers. 7. Thou wilt adde] or prayer-wise, adde thou &c. so the rest. daies unto daies] or, upon daies, that is, a long life. of the King] meaning himselfe, and specially Christ, who was to be his Sonne after the flesh. So the Chaldee saith, of the King Christ. See Psalm. 72. and 89. 21, 30, 37, 38.
Vers. 8. He shall sit] to wit, on the throne, that is, reigne, or sit, that is, dwell, or abide, as Psalm. 140. 14. prepare] or, appoint, as his due and readie portion. The Heb…. is Man, a name whereby that prepared meat was called, which God gave his people from heaven, Psal. 78. 24.
Vers. 9. day by day] or day and day, that is, daily. The Hebrew usuall phrase is, day day, so Psal. 68 20. Gen. 39. 10. Isa. 58. 2. Exod. 16. 5. sometime day and day, as Hest. 3. 4. 2 Cor. 4. 16. So two two, Mark. 6. 7. for, two and two. The Chaldee maketh this paraphrase, when I pay my vowes in the day of the redemption of Israel, and in the day when the King Christ shall be anointed to reigne.