Works Volume 4, Book · Psalm 18
The Eighteenth PSALM.
TO the Chief Muſitian, a Pſalm of David, the ſervant of the Lord, who ſpake unto the Lord the words of this Song, in the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul; and he ſaid,
Paraphrase. The Eighteenth Pſalm was indited by David in commemoration of the many victories, and now quiet ſettlement in the Kingdom of Iſrael and Judah, which God had beſtowed on him by his powerful interpoſitions for him, in ſubduing the Philiſtims, Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites, that roſe up againſt him, in quieting the Rebellion of Abſalom, (ſoon after which it is recorded, 2 Sam. 22.) but eſpecially in reſcuing him out of the malitious bloody hands of King Saul. This he compoſed, and committed to the prefect of his Muſick, to be ſung on ‖for all the days wherein God had delivered him — Chald▪ Paraphr.ſolemn days, for the commemorating of theſe deliverances and victories. And theſe were the words of it.
1. I will love thee, O Lord my ſtrength.
Paraphrase. 1. O bleſſed Lord, I acknowledge thee to be the ſole Author of all my deliverances and victories; and ſo by all obligations imaginable I ſtand ingaged, moſt paſſionately to love, and bleſs, and magnifie thee, to pay all the affections of my whole ſoul, a due tribute to thee: and this I do, and am firmly reſolved to do all my dayes.
2. The Lord is my ‖refuge.rock, and my fortreſs, and my deliverer, my God, *my rock. foreignmy ſtrength, in whom I will truſt, my buckler, and the horn of my ſalvation, and my high tower.
Paraphrase. 2. To thee I have in all my diſtreſſes made my reſort, as to a place of perfect ſtrength, til a mighty champion to reſcue me, and thou haſt never failed to anſwer me in theſe addreſſes. O my God, thou haſt been a place of ſtrength and ſecurity unto me▪ and on that account I have always had confidence, and chearful expectations of deliverance, whatſoever my dangers have been; thou haſt been my ſure ſafeguard, ſo that I have needed no other ſhield, my mighty deliverer (ſee note on Luk. 1. n.) and my moſt impregnable fort or caſtle.
3. I will *praiſe, and call upon the Lord, ſo—call upon the Lord, which is worthy to be praiſed, ſo ſhall I be ſaved from my enemies.
Paraphrase. 3. If I am diſtreſt, or aſſaulted by my adverſaries, I have then my ſure ſanctuary to reſort unto. To him I come with acknowledgments of his abundant mercies formerly received from him, the eſſays of his power and readineſs to relieve me, and withall the pawns and pledges of them for the future; and to my ſongs of praiſe, I add my humbleſt requeſts and ſupplications for deliverance: and doing thus, I never fail of my returns from God, never miſs the deliverance that I ſtand in need of.
4. The †cords.ſorrows of death compaſſed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
5. The ‖cords.ſorrows of hell compaſſed me about, the ſnares of death prevented me.
Paraphrase. 4, 5. When whole Armies of blood-thirſty enemies cloſed me on every ſide, ready as a torrent to overwhelm …, …d …ere very terrible in that appearance, when their deſigns were even come to their deſired Iſſue, and there was no viſible way of my eſcape or preſervation▪
6. In my diſtreſs I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his Temple, and my cry came before him, even unto his ears.
Paraphrase. 6. In theſe ſtreights immediately I made my addreſs to God and moſt paſſionately poured out my requeſts before him: and he from Heaven, that place of his peculiar reſidence, (and therefore the ſanctuary whence all re…u… come, a… the place to which all petitions are brought,) afforded me a ſpeedy audience, conſidered, and immediately granted my deſires.
7. Then the earth ſhook and trembled; the foundations alſo of the hills moved and were ſhaken, becauſe he was wroth.
8. There went up a ſmoak out of his noſtrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured, coals were kindled by it.
9. He bowed the Heavens alſo, and came down; and darkneſs was under his feet.
10. And he rode upon a Cherub and did fly; yea, he did fly upon the wings of the ‖See Pſal. 104. note c.wind.
11. He made darkneſs his ſecret place: his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
12. At the brightneſs that was before him his thick clouds paſt, hail-ſtones and coals of fire.
13. The Lord alſo thundred in the heavens, and the higheſt gave his voice, hail-ſtones and coals of fire.
14. Yea, he ſent out his arrows and ſcattered them, and he ſhot out lightnings and diſcomfited them.
15. Then the chanels of waters were ſeen, and the foundations of the world were diſcovered; at thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blaſt of the breath of thy noſtrils.
Paraphrase. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. And then ſpeedily he expreſt his great diſpleaſure and wrath againſt my adverſaries: a moſt dreadful thing, the wrath of an All-powerful God, able to ſet all the world on trembling, and not ſo only, but even to ſet it on fire and conſume it, (ſee Exod. 20.18. and Heb. 12.29.) Then might you diſcern him interpoſing his hand for the diſcomfiting my enemies, as ſignally as if he had deſcended in a black thick cloud with a mighty wind, and appearance of Angels in mining garments, (as we read of his exhibiting himſelf, Num. 9.15. Mat. 9.7. Heb. 12.1….) with tempeſtuous ſhowers of hail and fire, (ſuch as Joſ. 10.11. Exod. 19.23.) with thunders and lightning; all theſe on purpoſe (as with arrows and fiery darts) to annoy and purſue them: and finally, with the ſame notoriety of his preſence, as when the waters of the Sea were driven back by a ſtrong Eaſt wind, and the deep turned into dry ground, Exod. 14.21, 22. to give the Iſraelites a ſafe paſſage out of their thraldome, and to drown the Egyptians.
16. He ſent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.
Paraphrase. 16. And thus did he, as by a party ſent on purpoſe from Heaven, deliver and reſcue me from ‖foreign from many people, Chald.the multitude of my adverſaries.
17. He delivered me from my ſtrong enemy, and from them which hated me, for they were too ſtrong for me.
Paraphrase. 17. And this at a time when they wanted neither power nor will to deſtroy me, being much ſuperior to me in ſtrength, had not he thus ſeaſonably come to my reſcue.
18. They prevented me in the day of my calamity; but the Lord was my ſtay.
Paraphrase. 18. When my diſtreſs was greateſt, (ſee note on Pſalm 17. k.) and all humane aids were obſtructed by them, then God, by his own ſpecial providence and interpoſition ſuſtained and ſupported me.
19. He brought me forth alſo into a large place: he delivered me, becauſe he delighted in me.
Paraphrase. 19. He freed me from all my ſtreights, reſtored me to a proſperous condition: and this upon no other account, but only of his kindneſs and mercy to me.
20. The Lord rewarded me according to my righteouſneſs: according to the cleanneſs of my hands hath he recompenſed me.
Paraphrase. 20. Thus hath God vindicated my uprightneſs, and given me at laſt thoſe returns which were anſwerable to the juſtice of my cauſe.
21. For I have kept the wayes of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
Paraphrase. 21. As ſeeing that indeed I have not knowingly tranſgreſt any command of his, (ſave only in the matter of Uriah, for which he repented, and obtained pardon from God, 1 King. 15.5.)
22. For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his ſtatutes from me.
Paraphrase. 22. But have obſerved his ſtatutes diligently, never refuſing to be ruled by any of them.
23. I was alſo upright before him, and kept my ſelf from mine iniquity.
Paraphrase. 23. And by ſo doing preſerved my innocence, and guarded me from compaſſion of any ſin. (This ſtill, according to Scripture ſtile, to be underſtood with exception of the matter of Uriah.)
24. Therefore hath the Lord recompenſed me according to my righteouſneſs, acccording to the cleanneſs of my hands in his ſight.
Paraphrase. 24. And accordingly hath God, out of his abundant mercy to me, accepted and rewarded my uprightneſs, and given teſtimony to the ſincerity thereof.
25. With the merciful thou wilt ſhew thy ſelf merciful; with an upright man thou wilt ſhew thy ſelf upright;
26. With the pure thou wilt ſhew thy ſelf pure; and with the froward thou wilt ſhew thy ſelf froward.
Paraphrase. 25, 26. For God is a moſt juſt impartial rewarder, ſees the heart, and accordingly recompenſes. To a merciful pious man he makes returns of mercy and pity; to the upright he will adminiſter juſtice, vindicate his cauſe from the oppreſſor and injurious. He that keeps himſelf pure from ſin, with him God will deal moſt ‖foreign pure, ſignifies alſo juſt and faithful.faithfully; perform his promiſe to him exactly; never leave any degree of goodneſs in him unrewarded. And on the other ſide the rule holds as true, that thoſe that deal frowardly and ſtubbornly with God, ſhall be ſure to be oppoſed and puniſhed by him. (See note on Mat. 9. k.)
27. For thou wilt ſave the afflicted people, and wilt bring down high looks.
Paraphrase. 27. For it is Gods conſtant method, to relieve the oppreſſed, and deſtroy (in his due time) the oppreſſor, be he never ſo confident.
28. For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will inlighten my darkneſs.
Paraphrase. 28. And on this ground I have built my confidence, that how hopeleſs ſoever my preſent condition can at any time be, the powerful Lord of Heaven, and my gratious God, will reſcue me out of it.
29. For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have ‖or, taken a fort.I leaped over a wall.
Paraphrase. 29. By him I have been inabled to ſubdue and bring down the ſtrongeſt forces.
30. †Gods way, foreignAs for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all that truſt in him.
Paraphrase. 30. He is moſt juſt and faithful, his promiſes without all deceit or poſſibility of failing: he will certainly protect all thoſe that rely and depend on him.
31. For who is God, ſave the Lord? or who is a rock ſave our God?
Paraphrase. 31. This cannot be ſaid of any other. The deities of the heathens are not able to yield them any defence, nor any, but the one God whom we adore.
32. It is God that girdeth me with ſtrength, and maketh my way perfect.
Paraphrase. 32. From him I have received all my ſtrength, to him I acknowledge it wholly due, that I have been preſerved in ſafety.
33. *He fitteth, makes even—He maketh my feet like hinds feet, and ſetteth me up upon my high places.
Paraphrase. 33. When I was purſued by Saul, he inabled me by ſwiftneſs of flight to eſcape to the wilderneſs and mountains, and ſo to ſecure my ſelf.
34. He teacheth my hands to warr, ſo that a bow of ſteal is broken by my arme.
Paraphrase. 34. At other times he gave me ſtrength for battel, and inabled me to obtain moſt wonderful victories, (by mine own hand on Goliah, on all other my enemies by my armies.)
35. Thou haſt alſo given me the ſhield of thy ſalvation, and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy †care▪ or diſcipline.gentleneſs ‖or, haſt thou multiplyed to me.hath made me great.
Paraphrase. 35. Conſtantly he hath protected me from all evil, …n time of diſtreſs ſupported me, and at laſt, by his continued multiplyed acts of providence, raiſed me to the greateſt height.
36. Thou haſt inlarged my ſteps under me, that my feet did not ſlip.
Paraphrase. 36. I am now by his mercy brought to a condition of ſafety, no enemies to diſtreſs or ſtreighten me, no dangers to apprehend:
37. I have purſued my enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were conſumed.
Paraphrase. 37. Having put all my enemies to flight, purſued my victory, and finally ſubdued, and deſtroyed them,
38. I have wounded them that they were not able to riſe; they are fallen under my feet.
39. For thou haſt girded me with ſtrength unto the battel: thou haſt ſubdued under me thoſe that roſe up againſt me.
Paraphrase. 39. And all by that ſtrength with which thou haſt furniſht me: my victories are all thy gifts of mercy.
40. Thou haſt alſo given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might deſtroy them that hate me.
Paraphrase. 40. 'Tis thou that haſt by thy wiſe and powerful providence ſubjected them to me. (See Jos. 10.24.)
41. They cried, but there was none to ſave; even unto the Lord, but he anſwered them not.
Paraphrase. 41. When thou wert thus their enemy, there was none to yield them any relief; the aid from heaven failed them, and no other would ſtand them in any ſtead.
42. Then did I beat them as ſmall as the duſt before the winde: I did caſt them out as the dirt in the ſtreets.
Paraphrase. 42. Being thus aſſiſted by thee, I put to flight and deſtroyed all their forces.
43. Thou haſt delivered me from the ſtrivings of the people, and thou haſt made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known ſhall ſerve me.
Paraphrase. 43. And now I am landed in a calm harbour, after all the ſtormes that incompaſt me, not onelyonly mine own Kingdom being quieted, but the neighbouring heathens, Philiſtims, Moabites, &c. added to my dominions.
44. As ſoon as they hear of me, they ſhall obey me: the ſtrangers ſhall ‖or, ly, or, yield feigned obedience to me.ſubmit themſelves unto me.
Paraphrase. 44. Some of them overcome and ſubdued by me, others through their dread of my power paying a feigned obedience to me;
45. The ſtrangers ſhall †languiſh, or conſume foreignfade away, and *move fearfully out of their holes, or fenced places.be afraid out of their cloſe places.
Paraphrase. 45. And theſe living in a languiſhing condition of fear and dread, keeping cloſe, not daring to appear abroad, for the terror that thy ſignal preſence with me hath brought upon them.
46. The Lord liveth, and bleſſed be my rock: and let the God of my ſalvation be exalted.
Paraphrase. 46. Bleſſed and exalted be the name of the living Lord, which hath given me ſtrength, and reſcued me from all my diſtreſſes.
47. It is God that avengeth me, and ‖deſtroyeth, or breaketh to pieces, foreign See 2 Chr. 22.10.ſubdueth the people under me.
Paraphrase. 47. All this work of execution on mine enemies, and of ſubduing them under me, is to be attributed to him only.
48. He delivereth me from mine enemies, yea, thou lifteſt me up above thoſe that riſe up againſt me, thou haſt delivered me from the violent man.
Paraphrase. 48. To him therefore I deſire to acknowledge both my reſcue, and my victory over all the forces that have been raiſed againſt me.
49. Therefore will I give thanks unto thee (O Lord) among the heathen, and ſing praiſes unto thy name.
Paraphrase. 49. And for this will I laud and magnifie thy holy name among all the people of the world. And this ſhall be the ſum of my lauds.
50. Great deliverance giveth he to his King, and ſheweth mercy to his Anointed, to David, and to his ſeed for evermore.
Paraphrase. 50. O thou which haſt wrought theſe wonderful deliverances for him whom thou haſt ſet up on the Throne, which haſt exalted me to this dignity, and ſince incompaſt me with thy ſignal favour and mercy, and wilt perpetuate the ſame to all my poſterity, that ſhall ſucceed me in the regal power, (if they continue to adhere faithfully to thee) and wilt at length ſhew forth thy power and mercy, in a moſt illuſtrious manner in the Meſſias, the ſon of David, whoſe Kingdom ſhall never have end; To thee be all honor and glory and praiſe to all eternity.
Annotations o… Pſalm XVIII▪
foreignV. 1. Rock] Though foreign … ſignifie a rock, and ſo is uſed, and rendred … ▪ rock in moſt places; yet by Synecdoc… it ſometimes ſignifies a tower, or fort, 2 King. 14.…. becauſe ſuch are commonly, for ſecurity, built on rocks or hills; and by Metaphore alſo any …, to which any, whether Man or Beaſt, is wont to reſort, becauſe (as Pſal. 104.18. is affirmed) to rocks and hills they are wont to fly from approaching dangers. Thus Pſal… ▪ 42.10. foreign my rock] is by the Chaldee rend… foreign my hope, by the LXXII. foreign, my … … er. So when Iſa. 31.1. Iſrael is reproved for goi… down to Aegypt for help, as to a refuge, it is ſaid, ….9. foreign ▪ we render, his rock, or ſtrong hold; it mu… … his refuge (or thoſe to whom he went down for help) ſhall paſs away for fear. This therefore … the fitteſt rendring of the word in this place; the primitive notion of rock being after … which ſignifies that exa… ▪ and the …doch… notion for a fort or … …he ver… …ext wo… foreign my tower, … and to that … Chaldee agree, who … it foreign my for… … or ſtrong hold for … the LXXII▪ foreign my firmament, and … the Latine (as Pſal. …0.…. foreign, ſtrength.) Apollinarius hath foreign, to the ſame ſenſe, the Syriack foreign my confidence, or my hope. All which are meant to ſignifie the Metaphorical, and not Original notion of it.
foreignV. 3. Worthy to be praiſed] foreign literally ſignifies laudatum, praiſed, and ſo it is rendred both by the Interlinear, and Caſtellio; but the meaning of it will be beſt reſolved on by the antient Interpreters, that have not followed the phraſe ſo literally. foreign, ſay the LXXII. prayſing I will call upon the Lord; not reading foreign (as ſome ſuppoſe,) but thus chooſing to expreſs the ſenſe▪ and ſo the Latine, laudaus invoca…o; the Chaldee foreign in a ſong or hy… I pour out prayers; Apollinarius, foreign, praiſing thee with prayers, or joyning my praiſes and re…, my doxologies and litanies together. But the Arabick more expreſly, I will praiſe the Lord, and call upon him: and R. Tanchum, I will call upon him, and ſeek him with celebration and praiſe. And this, without queſtion, is the meaning of the Poetick phraſe, I will call on him being praiſed, i. e. I will firſt praiſe, then call upon him; praiſe him for his paſt mercies, and then petition for freſh: the uniting of theſe two being the condition, on which they may hope for deliverance from God. A like phraſe we have in Latine, Laudatum dimiſit, he diſmiſt him being praiſed; i. e. firſt praiſed him, then ſent him away; and many the like.
foreignV. 5. Sorrows] foreign ſignifies two things, a cord, and a pang of a womans travaile; and which it ſignifies, muſt be reſolved ſtill by the context. 1. He… ▪ where 'tis joyned with incompaſſing, it is moſt fitly to be underſtood in the fo…er ſenſes becauſe ropes or cordes are proper for that tu… as for holding and keeping in, when they are … ▪ And thus I conceive it moſt proper to be ren…d in the next verſe, where it is joyned with …ar as ▪ … which cords very well agree (ſee Pſal… 140.…. … proud laid a ſnare for me, and co… ) but p…gs … …vail do not. The Chaldee indeed paraphraſe it in that other ſenſe of pangs, diſtreſs hath compaſt not as a woman in travail, which hath not ſtrength to bring f… ▪ and is in danger to dye; and the LXXII. read … foreign, the pan… of death ▪ But it is uſual for them thus to do, when the ſame Hebrew ſignifies … Greek words, to take one of them for the … and according … from them taken by St. Luke, … 2.24. … …ntion of looſing and … hol… … reſtrein it to the other … of … pa…gs, (ſee Annot. …on Act. ….) … reads … …re, and the … Cords. And in the next verſe the Chaldee … the ſame word by foreign a troupe, … which may well be the meaning of the …tive e…preſſion; for a company (which we call … …nd) of ſouldiers, much more an army, incompaſs … gir… in, as cords do: and the Syriack there ex…ly foreign the cords of ſcheol be…ged me, and ſo the margin of our Engliſh; and therefore in all reaſon it muſt be ſo alſo in this … ▪
V. 9. Come down] This whole paſſage of 9. foreignverſes from v. 7. to 15. is but a Poetical deſcript… of Gods executing vengeance on Davids … ▪ And as in the New Teſtament▪ Chriſts vengeance on his Crucifier… (the Jews,) is frequently called the coming of Chriſt, and ſometimes coming in clouds, (ſee Mat. 24. note b. and 2 Theſſ. 2. note b. and 2 Pet. i. e.) and as Pſal 96.13. Gods judgments are expreſt by, he cometh, he cometh, and Pſal ▪ 97.5. by the preſence of the Lord, and many the like: ſo here we have the repreſentation of a glo…iou… and …errible coming of God, bowing the heavens, and coming, incloſed with a dark cloud, v. 11. as being inviſible; riding on a cherub, or Angel, v. 10. (all Gods ap…s being by Angels,) and this in a tempeſtuou… manner, haile, thunder, and lightning, v. 12, 13, 14. and foreign (thrice repeated) coals of fire, thereby repreſenting the bolt, or thunder-ſhaft, which is with great fitneſs thus expreſt poetically, as the lightning by brightneſs, the congealed moiſture of the cloud by haile (which in thoſe countries accompanied thunder, as rain does with us, Exod. 9.23.) ſo that miſſile ſhot out of the cloud with ſo much terror both of noiſe and ſplendor, what is it but the earthy ſ…lph… reous part, made up of the ſame ingredients as a fiery cinder among us, and all this to denote the terribleneſs of it; and laſt… ▪ after the manner of his deſtroying of the Aegyptians ▪ by drying up the channels of the Sea, that deep whereon the earth is oft ſaid to be founded, and ſo ingaging them in it, and then bringing the waters upon them, to the overwhelming them all: and all this but preparatory to Davids deliverance, which follows, v. 17.
V. 14. foreignShott out] The Hebrew foreign ſignifies to multiply, and to ſhoot o… da…. In the latter ſenſe 'tis Gen. 49.23. the arch…s grieved him, foreign and ſhot at him. And thus by the compariſon here made between arrows and lightning, we may conclude it to ſignifie. Yet the antient …nterpreters generally render it in the former notion. The Chaldee read foreign and many lightnings, the LXXII. foreign, and he multiplyed lightnings, and ſo the Syriack and Vulgar Latine, and Arabick, and Aethiopick from them; and ſo alſo the Interlinear, multiplicavit, and Caſtellio, cr…bris fulgoribus, with frequent lightnings: and onelyonly our Engliſh ſeems to have pitched on the right rendring it, caſt forth, in the old, and ſhot forth in the new tranſlation.
V. 20. Cleanneſs] What is here meant by the cleanneſs of Davids hands, to which he here pretends, may to ſome ſeem difficult, eſpecially when ſo many other expreſſions are added to it; keeping Gods ways indefinitely, not wickedly departing from him, v. 21. having all Gods judgments before him, and not putting away his ſtatutes, v. 22. being upright before him, and keeping himſelf from his iniquity, v. 23. and again, righteouſneſs and cleanneſs of hands in his eye-ſight, v. 24. when yet if we conſider the ſeries of the hiſtory, this Pſalm, 2 Sam. 22. was indited after the commiſſion of thoſe great ſins, of Adultery with Ʋ riahs Wife, making him drunk, contriving his death, and theſe lived in a long ſpace, at leaſt a twelve monethmonth, before Nathan came to him from God, and brought him to repentance; which as it was a conjunction of many known deliberate wilful ſins, and a long courſe and ſtay in them, ſo no doubt it could not be reconcileable with Gods favour, whilſt unrepented of, nor conſequently with that uprightneſs in Gods ſight, which here is ſpoken of. With that indeed many ſins of weakneſs or ſuddain ſurreption, for which his heart preſently ſmites him, (ſuch as that of numbring the people) might be competible, as being but the ſpots of ſons, ſuch as God is favourably pleaſed to pardon in his ſons, and ſincere ſervants; but for theſe waſting wilful ſins, which have none of that excuſe of weakneſs at the time of Commiſſion, nor that inſtant ſmiting of the heart, humiliation and confeſſion, and change, and ſacrifice, to allay the poyſon of them, but accumulation of more, one on the back of the other, and a long continuance in them, theſe are not of that ſort; they exclude from the favour of God, as long as they remain unreformed. For the anſwering of this therefore, it muſt be remembred, 1. That Repentance, when ſincere, reſtores to the favour of God: and David was now in that ſtate, at, and long before the time of inditing that Pſalm, ſuppoſing it to be compoſed by him after the quieting of Abſaloms rebellion, as the ſeries of the ſtory ſets it, 2 Sam. 22. and then be his ſins as red as ſcarlet, God hath made them as white as ſnow, Gods pardon and acceptance ſets him right again; and that may be his ground of confidence, in thus mentioning the cleanneſs of his hands, viz. ſuch as now was reſtored to him by repentance. 2. As general affirmations have frequently ſome one or perhaps more exceptions, which yet comparatively, and in balance, with the contrary, are not conſidered; ſo his profeſſion of Ʋniverſal uprightneſs here, is to be interpreted with this exception of that matter of Ʋriah, according to that ſtyle of Scripture, which ſaith of him, that he did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and turned not aſide from any thing that he commanded him all the dayes of his life, ſave onelyonly in the matter of Uriah the Hittite; which though it were very foule, yet was not fit to prejudice the univerſal uprightneſs of all the reſt of his life, and ſo is not named here in the Pſalm, but muſt, as an implicite exception, be, from that paſſage in the Kings, fetcht, to give the true importance of theſe phraſes, which in ſound pretend to Ʋniverſal Ʋprigh…neſs and ſincerity, but muſt be taken with this allowance, except, or ſave only in that one matter.
foreignV. 23. Iniquity.] For foreign from mine iniquity] Which the LXXII. and Latine and Arabick and Aethiopick follow, the Chaldee ſeems to have read foreign from iniquities, in the plural, for ſo they read foreign from debts, or faults, and ſo the Syriack alſo. But the Vulgar reading need not be parted with, being in ſenſe the ſame, I kept my ſelf from mine iniquity, i. e. from my falling into any ſuch.
foreignV. 29. Leaped] In this 29. v. where the Hebrew read foreign I will run through a troop, the Chaldee have foreign I will multiply armies, but the LXXII. foreign, I ſhall be delivered from temptation; both no doubt by way of Paraphraſe, not literal rendring. In the end of the verſe, the word foreign from foreign to look, foreignſignifies both a wall, from whence to look, and obſerve the approach of enemies, and alſo a watch-tower or fort, from the ſame ground. Thus wall among us, being lightly deduced from vallum, ſignifies alſo a fort, Colwal, the fort on the hill; becauſe generally when walls are thus built in war, there are ſome ſuch forts erected on them.foreign To this is joyned foreign from foreign to leap, or leap over. If we take foreign in the notion of a wall, then 'tis rightly rendred, I will leap over a wall: but if in the notion of a fort, then 'tis to ſeize on it with force and ſuddenneſs, as if one leapt into it, and ſo will be beſt rendred to take it. Thus the Chaldee foreign I will ſubdue fortified Towers.
V. 32. Perfect] That foreign ſignifies intire, foreignor abſolute, complete or perfect, there is no queſtion. Being applied to a way, 'tis generally thought to ſignifie uprightneſs of manners. But the context here will not permit it to be taken in that ſenſe, being joyn'd with ſtrength for the battel. As then ſin is the blemiſh of Manners, and the grace to eſchew that, is fitly yet figuratively ſaid to make the manners perfect, or foreign, immaculate (as the LXXII. and Latine and Syriack here read;) ſo Gods power and providence, that delivers from dangers, which are as contrary to the health and ſafety of the body, as ſins are to the ſafety and health of the mind, may as fitly be ſaid to make the way perfect, or intire, i. e. ſafe; and to that the context confines it in this place.
V. 33. foreignMaketh my feet] The word foreign here from foreign ſignifies [he makes my feet alike,] neither of them ſhorter then his fellow, (that which the Greeks expreſs by foreign,) from whence proceed fleetneſs, or nimbleneſs, which therefore the Hebrews ſignifie by this phraſe; as on the contrary a lame man is by them ſtiled foreign one whoſe legs or feet are not equal, and correſpondent one to the other. And this the LXXII. ſeem to have conſidered, when they render it foreign, he that made my feet whole, and compleat as they ſhould be, (ſee note on 2 Cor. 13. c.) juſt in the notion of foreign, forementioned, as that is foreign, one whoſe feet are whole and entire, in oppoſition to any kind of lame-neſs. The Latine alſo, that read perfecit pedes meos, hath perfected my feet, and other interpreters that follow the LXXII. muſt be underſtood in this notion. And the Chaldee having retained the Hebrew foreign have added agile, or nimble, to it, by way of paraphraſe, foreign which I ſuppoſe is moſt fully rendred, by evening or fitting my feet he makes them nimble, or he fits my feet, nimble as an Hinds feet; and not as the Latine renders it, qui ponit pedes meos agiles, which puts or ſets my feet nimble: for though it be true, that foreign in Piel, is by the Chaldee uſed for ſet, yet in this place, where the Hebrew uſe that word, and the Chaldee take it from them, it is not probable they ſhould uſe it in a ſenſe wherein the Hebrew did not uſe it. But however that be with the Chaldee, the Hebrew is ſure thus to be rendred, and ſo is by the interlinear, adaequa…s, making even.
V. 33. foreignHigh places] What foreign high places] ſignifies here, may perhaps be queſtion'd. The word ſignifies any high places, and ſo is oft taken for altars erected there, which from thence are foreign in the Greek. Beſides, it may be thought to ſignifie the Royal throne, to which David was now exalted, and ſo conſtituted by God. But the ſwiftneſs of the Hind, that is here joyned with it, doth rather confine it to the moſt vulgar acception, for the tops of hills, whither both men, and beaſts, and birds are wont to fly, for the avoiding any imminent danger; and to ſuch David was forced to fly from Saul, and by that means was then preſerved.
foreignV. 34. Broken] from foreign contritus eſt, to be broken in pieces, is foreign here, is broken. For it the LXXII. (and from them the Latine and Aethiopick) ſeem to have read, foreign thou haſt given; for according to that, they render it, foreign—thou haſt ſet or made my arms a brazen bow; and the Chaldee to the ſame ſenſe, thou haſt ſtrengthened my arms as a ſteel bow, and ſo the Syriack and Arabick: unleſs we may rather reſolve, that reading as we now do, they thought thus to paraphraſe, rather than literally to render the place; and then it will be very proper thus to expreſs the great military ſtrength that God had beſtowed on David.
foreignV. 35. Gentleneſs] From foreign afflixit, humiliavit, depreſſit; afflicting, humbling, depreſſing, comes the noun foreign which properly notes affliction, humiliation, poverty; and thus moſt of the antient interpreters render it here. The Chaldee indeed render it foreign by thy word, from another notion of foreign frequent with the Chaldee, for ſpeaking. But the Syriack read foreign (from foreign erudivit, and caſtigavit) thy teaching, or thy correction; and the LXXII. rendring foreign which is joyned with it, two ways, 1. foreign, hath rectified me, and 2. foreign, ſhall teach me, (in the notion of foreign from whence their teachers or maſters were called Rabbines) they have to each of thoſe verbs prefixt foreign, diſcipline, by that rendring foreign, and probably noting affliction, or chaſtiſement by it. And thus it is appliable to David, who was afflicted, and chaſtiſed, and oppreſt, and kept down for a while; but this in the way to his exaltation, in that notion of foreign for increaſe, or making great, in which the Chaldee interpret it foreign thou haſt increaſed me. But there is another notion of the noun foreign for care, but lightly varied from diſcipline (by which the LXXII. and Syriack render it,) and ſo R. Tanchum here, thy care, or, thy providence: ſo foreign in Arabick ſignifies, and ſo Abu Walid underſtands it, and Kimchi in radic. The Jewiſh-Arab reads, thy anſwering me, from foreign reſpondit. As for the foreign haſt made me great] R. Tanchum renders it, thou haſt multiplyed unto me, rendring foreign in the accuſative caſe, thy care thou haſt multiplyed unto me: and that may be pitcht on as the cleareſt rendring.
foreignV. 44. Submit] That foreign in Piel, as here it lyes, ſignifies to lye, or ſpeak falſely, there is no queſtion. And ſo the Chaldee render it, foreign &c. they ſhall lie in my preſence; the LXXII. foreign they lyed unto me; and ſo the Latine and Aethiopick, and Arabick. Only the Syriack with ſome difference, foreign they ſhall ſubmit themſelves to me: but this I ſuppoſe not meant by them in oppoſition to the former ſenſe, but in this ſubordination to it; they ſhall feign themſelves to have been obedient to me, ſhall fear me when they ſee my power, and themſelves unable to reſiſt it, and thereupon flatter, and pretend they have never oppoſed me. And that is the full meaning of the place, which ſets out Davids power ſo great, that all that were near to ſee it, diſſembled their hoſtility, made fair with him, which is in effect a ſubjecting themſelves to him, as long as this his power continued; a forced, and ſo hypocritical ſubjection, from awe to his greatneſs, not from love or unfeigned obedience to him. So Abu Walid, who puts among the notions of foreign that of ſubmitting ones ſelf, and for that inſtances in this place, derives it (as the other of being lean) from the firſt of lying and denying, viz. ſubmitting feignedly, for want of ſtrength to reſiſt. And to that well accords the conjugation Hithpael, 2 Sam. 22.45. and Abu Walid thinks, foreign which occurs in the ſame ſenſe, Deut. 33.29. ought to be reckoned as of that conjugation, the foreign being recompenſed by Dageſh in foreign. And though here it be in the plain form of Piel, yet the Pſalm being but one here, and 2 Sam. 22. the ſame muſt be reſolved of both places.
V. 45. Afraid] In this place the Hebrew Copies of the Pſalms differ from the reading 2 Sam. 22.46. One leſſer variation there was in v. 44. (See note o.) and in this next verſe, a ſecond; whether made by David himſelf, or by Eſdras that collected them into a Volume, or by any Scribe that wrote it out, muſt be uncertain; as alſo which is the Original reading, that in 2 Sam. or this here. There it is foreign from foreign ligavit, and claudicavit: foreignand ſo 'tis rendred, by the LXXII. foreign, they ſhall ſtumble, there, and foreign, here, they were lamed; by the Latine, contrahentur, they ſhall be contracted, there, and claudicaverunt here, they were lame, as if it were from foreign claudicavit, in both places. Here 'tis by tranſpoſition of a letter foreign from foreign commotus eſt, trepidavit, being moved, or trembling.foreign In this ſenſe the Chaldee ſeems to have read it, and render it here foreign and ſhall go, or remove, and there foreign, ſhall be moved; both evidently from foreign was moved. In this variety what ſhall be reſolved, might be uncertain, were it not for one direction, which we have from Mich. 7.17. There we read foreign ſhall move, which the Chaldee render by the ſame word, whereby they render this, 2 Sam. 22. foreign ſhall be moved. Now as there and here, the adjunct is the ſame, foreign from their holes, or cloſe or fenced places (foreign occluſit, foreignto ſhut up) rendred here by the LXXII. foreign, paths, but there more properly foreign, clauſtrum, cloſe place; ſo in all reaſon the ſenſe muſt be the ſame. There in Michah, 'tis ſpoken of worms, or creeping things, which move out of their holes, and are afraid, i. e. move in great fear, when they come out of their holes (and ſo foreign, the word uſed here, oft ſignifies in Arabick to go out, as Pſal. 19.4. Mat. 2.6.) and ſo here being ſpoken of the Heathen people, which ſtood in ſuch aw of David, the conqueror, it ſignifies, that for fear they ran as into holes and Caverns, whether caſtles, or other places of ſecurity, and now they moved out of them, as worms out of their holes, extreamly fearful, (before he aſſaults, when they do but hear of him, v. 44.) to fall into the hands of this powerful Prince. And this trembling motion of theirs is expreſt moſt fitly by foreign, that ſignifies both to be moved, and to tremble; or (more fully) to move fearfully, or ſollicitouſly; and this is well enough expreſt alſo by foreign going lame, which is uſed 2 Sam. 22. and rendred to that ſenſe by the LXXII. and Syriack, and Latine, and Arabick, and Aethiopick, in this place, and moreover in the Arabick dialect hath the notion of fearful, as in Alkamus the great Arabick Lexicon appears. And ſo the antient Jews, as they doubt which to prefer, foreign or foreign, ſo they reſolve one to be the ſame with the other, only by tranſpoſition of letters; and accordingly the Hebrew Arabick gloſſary renders foreign by foreign to fear. And ſo this may remove that difficulty
50. For evermore] That this laſt paſſage of the Pſalm, which is Prophetical, and extended beyond the perſon of David, to his ſeed for evermore, is to be applied to the Meſſias, may be confirmed from ſeveral paſſages of the Chaldee Paraphraſe on this Pſalm, eſpecially on v. 29. and 32. On the 29. v. they have theſe words; Becauſe thou ſhalt inlighten the lamp of Iſrael, which is put out in the Captivity, for thou art the author of the light of Iſrael: The Lord my God ſhall lead me out of darkneſs into light, ſhall make me ſee the conſolation of the age which ſhall come to the juſt. And on v. 32. Becauſe for the miracle and redemption which thou ſhalt ſhew foreign to thy Chriſt, and to the reliques of the people which ſhall remain; all the people, nations and languages ſhall give praiſes to thee, &c. And v. 49. thou ſhalt reſcue me from Gog— by whom the Jews are wont to deſcribe Antichriſt.