Works Volume 4, Book · Psalm 9
The Ninth PSALM.
TO the chief Muſitian upon ‖or the death of the Champion.Muth-Labben, A Pſalm of David.
Paraphrase. The ninth Pſalm is a ſolemn thankſgiving for Gods deliverances, and by the Title may be thought to reflect on the death of Goliah of Gath, the great Champion of the Philiſtims, vanquiſht and killed by David; but the Pſalm made ſome ſpace afterwards, when the Ark was placed in Sion, and the Philiſtims were utterly deſtroyed, v. 6. and yet in ſome other time of diſtreſs, v. 13. and of abſence from Sion, v. 14. and committed to the prefect of his Muſick.
1. I will praiſe thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will ſhew forth all thy marvellous works.
Paraphrase. 1. O Lord of all power and mercy, which art pleaſed to interpoſe thy omnipotence for me, and thereby to inable thy feeble ſervant to paſs through many great difficulties, I do with all the devotion of my ſoul acknowledge and proclaim this, and all other thy great mercies.
2. I will be glad and †exult, leap for joy foreign LXXII exultabo. Lat. Syr. Arab. Aeth.rejoyce in thee; I will ſing praiſes to thy name, O thou moſt Higheſt.
Paraphrase. 2. This is matter of infinite joy, and tranſporting delight unto me, without the leaſt reflection on my ſelf, (who am meer nothing) to magnifie thy ſublime and moſt powerful Majeſty, and attribute all my ſucceſſes unto thee.
3. When mine enemies are turned back, they ſhall †be galled, or lamed.fall and periſh ‖from thy face, or ſight. foreignat thy preſence.
Paraphrase. 3. By thee are our enemies put to flight, and flying they meet with gall-traps in their way, and ſo are lamed, overtaken, and killed in the purſuit. (This befell the Philiſtims on the diſcomfiture of their proud Champion, 1 Sam. xvii.51, 52.) And to thee only is it to be aſcrib'd; 'tis thy Majeſty that hath done the whole work intirely for us: thou foughteſt againſt them, and thereby they were thus worſted, and put to flight, and deſtroyed.
4. For thou haſt †pleaded foreign See note on Pſalm 2…2.a.maintained my right and my cauſe; thou ſatteſt in the Throne judging right.
Paraphrase. 4. When in the duel between that Champion and me, and ſo in many other battels with my Enemies, the cauſe was committed to thy ſacred judgment, thou wert pleaſed to take my part, to defend me, and to judge on my ſide, and with perfect juſtice to plead, and decide the controverſie betwixt us, give the victory to thy ſervant.
5. Thou haſt rebuked the heathen, thou haſt deſtroyed the wicked, thou haſt put out their name for ever and ever.
Paraphrase. 5. By the death of the ‖foreign the wicked Goliah; Chald.impious profane Goliah, the Philiſtims Champion, thou haſt put their whole hoſt to flight, and made this victory a foundation of utter extirpation to that Nation of the *foreign the peoples of the Philiſtims, Chald.Philiſtims.
6. O thou enemy, deſtructions are come ‖conſummate to the end, or for ever.to a perpetual end, and thou haſt †extirpated. foreigndeſtroyed Cities, the memorial is periſhed with them.
Paraphrase. 6. They are now finally deſtroyed, their Cities raſed to the ground, and (unleſs it be in the ſtories of their ruine) no remainders of them diſcernable: and all this muſt be attributed to thee, O Lord.
7. ‖And the Lord ſhall endure for ever, he ſhall ſit, he hath—But the Lord ſhall indure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.
Paraphrase. 7. ‖And the Lord ſhall endure for ever, he ſhall ſit, he hath—A ſignal evidence of thy power and immutability, of thy ſitting in heaven as on a Throne, or Tribunal of judicature.
8. And he ſhall judge the world in righteouſneſs; he ſhall miniſter judgment to the people in uprightneſs.
Paraphrase. 8. From whence thou ſhalt from time to time diſpenſe and adminiſter, and diſpoſe of all things here below, with all exact juſtice and uprightneſs.
9. The Lord alſo will be a ſure refuge for the oppreſſed *for reaſons, or, opportunities, in diſtreſs. foreign LXXII. in opportunitatibus, in tribulatione, Lat.in times of trouble.
Paraphrase. 9. And this as to the puniſhing of the proud obdurate oppreſſor, ſo to the ſeaſonable ſupport of all that are not able to relieve themſelves; when their tribulations, and ſo their exigences, are greateſt, then have they in thee a ſure ſanctuary, to which they may opportunely reſort, and be confident to receive relief from thee.
10. And they that know thy name, will put their truſt in thee: for thou, Lord, haſt not forſaken them that ſeek thee.
Paraphrase. 10. And accordingly all that know any thing of Religion, that have either learnt from others, or experimented in themſelves theſe thy faithful all-righteous diſpenſations, in the oeconomy of the World, thoſe glories of thine, reſulting from the conjuncture of all thy attributes, of power, and juſtice, and wiſdom, and mercy, &c. will thereby be firmly grounded in their truſts and reliances on thee, (without applying themſelves to any of the ſinful aids and policies of the World for ſuccour) laying this up for an anchor of hope, that God never forſook or failed any pious man in his diſtreſs, that by prayer and faith made his humble and conſtant applications to him.
11. Sing praiſes to the Lord, which dwelleth in Sion; declare among the people his doings.
Paraphrase. 11. Let us therefore all joyn in magnifying the power and mercy of God, and to that end aſſemble to the Sanctuary, where he is pleaſed to preſentiate himſelf, giving all men knowledge of the ‖his miracles. Arab.wonderful acts he hath wrought for us.
12. When he maketh inquiſition for blood, he remembreth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the †afflicted, foreignhumble.
Paraphrase. 12. The Blood of humble, pious, helpleſs men, that is ſhed by oppreſſors, hath a cry that goes up to heaven, Gen. 4.19. and is moſt pretious with God: he will never ſuffer it to go unpuniſht, but will act ſevere revenges for it; purſue and find out the guilty perſons, and pour his plagues upon them.
13. Have mercy upon me, O Lord: conſider my ‖affliction, or oppreſſion from my enemies foreigntrouble which I ſuffer of them that hate me, thou that lifteſt me up from the gates of death.
Paraphrase. 13. On theſe grounds I continue to make my addreſſes to thee, O Lord, beſeeching thee to behold in mercy the low and afflicted condition of thy ſervant at this time; and as thou art wont to interpoſe thy ſeaſonable reliefs, when there is moſt need of them, to raiſe thoſe that are brought loweſt, ſo to reveale thy ſelf to me opportunely at this preſent.
14. That I may ſhew forth all thy praiſe in the gates of the daughter of Sion: I will rejoyce in thy ſalvation.
Paraphrase. 14. That ſo I may have continual matter of thanksgiving to pay thee, when I enter into the Aſſembly, in the midſt of the inhabitants of Sion, and triumphantly rejoyce, and bleſs thee for thy deliverance afforded me.
15. The heathen are ſunk down in the pit that they made; in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.
Paraphrase. 15. The evil machinations of godleſs men bring nothing but certain ruine on them: the miſchief that they deſign to others, falls conſtantly on themſelves.
16. The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is ſnared in the work of his own hands. ‖See note on Pſal. 3.6.Higgaion, Selah.
Paraphrase. 16. And this is a notorious act of Gods righteous judgment on them, that their acts and attempts of hurting others are all converted to their own ruine.
17. The wicked ſhall be turned into Hell, and all the Nations that forget God.
Paraphrase. 17. And in ſum, that all that forſake and deſpiſe God, and refuſe to enter into *foreign the fear or worſhip of God, Chald.his ſervice, or having entred apoſtatize from him, ſhall, whole Nations together, be utterly and finally deſtroyed.
18. For the needy ſhall not alway be forgotten; the expectation of the †oppreſt foreignpoor ſhall not periſh for ever.
Paraphrase. 18. For though God for a while permit his meek and obedient ſervants to be oppreſt, and triumpht over, and in the eye of the World to be forgotten, forſaken, and periſh; yet if they conſtantly adhere to him, and contentedly wait his leiſure, without flying for relief to any unlawful means, 'tis certain he will at laſt return to them, and reſcue them out of the oppreſſors hands.
19. Ariſe, O Lord, let not man prevail; let the heathen be judged in thy ſight.
Paraphrase. 19. On theſe grounds, O Lord, I have now all confidence to fly, and pray to thee, that thou wilt not permit ‖foreign the ſon of wicked man, Chaldee.wicked men any longer to proſper and be victorious, but that thou wilt interpoſe thine own juſt hand of vengeance.
20. ‖or, ſet them a razor.Put them in fear, O Lord, that the Nations may know themſelves to be but men.
Paraphrase. 20. To chaſtiſe them ſharply and ſubdue them; that by this means they and all other preſumptuous ſinners may be humbled, and inſtructed, brought to a ſight of themſelves, and a fear of thee, and thy judgments.
Annotations on Pſal. IX.
Tit. Muth-Labben.] The Title of this Pſalm (as of the former) hath been matter of much queſtion and uncertainty, in both parts of it, foreign,foreign and foreign For the former, many of the learned Hebrews incline to read it, as one word, foreign. So Abu Walid, who ſaith that, perhaps, from that notion of the word, wherein it ſignifies occultari, it might be a certain way, or kind of ſtill, hidden, or low Muſick or Melody. And ſo the Jewiſh Arabick Tranſlator interprets it, an hidden low ſlender tune. To this the LXXII. agree, who rendring it foreign, appear to have read it foreign, in one word, and either foreign before it, or elſe ſupplying the want of that praepoſition by foreign,foreign Then for Labben, the Jewiſh-Arabick tranſlator would have it to be from Ben, the name of one of the Praefects of Muſick, mentioned 1 Chron. 15.18. as if the Pſalm were for Ben, or thoſe belonging to Ben, to ſing. And thus, it ſeems Kimchi's Father took it. To this interpretation that place in the Chronicles ſeems ſomewhat favourable, where, as v. 18. of thoſe of the ſecond degree are reckoned Zachariah, Ben, Jaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Ʋn…i, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaſiah, &c. ſo ver. 20. eight of the ſame perſons are repeated again (which number muſt reaſonably be ſuppoſed to contain all the reſt) as ſingers to ſound with Pſalteries on Alamoth, where the Hebrew foreign is reteined by the LXXII. foreign, and moſt probably ſignifies the name of a tune known by that title: and ſo indeed ‖on Pſ. 3.Kimchi among the known tunes of the Hebrews names Alamoth for one. And ſo this is no improbable account of this title. Yet in a matter where there is not ground for any more then conjecture, it may not be amiſs to ſet down ſome other deſcants. Firſt then, it will be found no news, for the antient interpreters to put into one, thoſe words which were, and ought certainly to be divided in the Hebrew. An example we have in this very particular, Pſal. 48. he ſhall be our guide foreign unto death. The Chaldee render, as if it were one word, foreign youth, in the days of our youth: where yet the Maſorites read in two words foreign till death; and ſo there the LXXII. render it in ſenſe, though not in words, foreign, for ever, (for by that they might more probably expreſs foreign till death, than be thought to have read foreign ſecula, as ſome learned men conjecture.) And thus Kimchi reports of his Father, that in his opinion Almuth were two words, yet to be read as one. And if they were two, [foreign upon the death] then all the difficulty will be, what is meant by foreign Labben. foreignThat ſome of the Hebrews will have read by way of Anagram, backward, foreign as if it were on the death of Nabal: but that ſure is but phanſy, though I ſee it taken up by a very learned man. The LXXII. render it foreign, of the ſon, ſimply: And ſome account may be given of that, not from thoſe that will underſtand it of the death of Chriſt, the Son by way of eminence, but in a far different ſenſe, ſo as to underſtand it of one whoſe father was not known; in which notion the Latine conceiving foreign, 1 Sam. 17.4. to be literally [a man, or one of the ſons] have rendred it vir ſpurius, a baſtard. And though the LXXII. there read in a diſtant ſtyle foreign, a mighty or ſtrong man, a gyant; yet I ſuppoſe this is but conſequent to the ſame notion. For it is by the Hebrews obſerved from Gen. 6.2. and 4. that the gyants, i. e. great or mighty men, were begotten by thoſe unlawful conjunctions or promiſcuous uſe of women, and ſo generally lived without obſervation of any Laws of chaſtity, or marriage, (which is the meaning of corruption and violence, v. 11.) and ſo might well be thought to be meant by that phraſe [men of the ſons] as that ſignifies a ſpurious offspring, whoſe father is not known (as generally 'tis obſervable of any gyant in Scripture, that he hath no other extraction taken notice of, but either that he is a ſon, or of the ſons of the gyant, 1 Chron. 20.4. and 6. or a brother of ſuch a man, as of Goliah, v. 5.) ſomewhat like this we find ii Sam. 21.16. where Iſhbibenoh is ſaid to be of the ſons of the gyant, and in the Chaldee foreign of the ſons of the ſtrong man, without naming any father. And it is not improbable that the name it ſelf Iſhbibenob, was a light variation from that phraſe foreign a man of the ſons, as a known title for a gyant. And if this be appliable to foreign Labben here, then it may ſignifie the Gyant of Gath, Goliah, and give ground of conjecture either that this Pſalm was compoſed (though long after) in remembrance of, or reflexion on Goliah) his death, as the Chaldee, v. 5. (and Kimchi, who is not of this mind for Labben, doth yet acknowledge the matter of the Pſalm to agree to Goliah) or elſe was ſet to the tune of one that had been compoſed on that ſubject, for ſo Kimchi, as was ſaid, among their known tunes, names Alamoth for one, which ſure refers to this place. Beſides this, one farther interpretation there is, of which the word may be deemed capable, and that concurring to the ſame end, to determine Goliah the perſon here referred to.foreign For foreign in Hebrew and Chaldee ſignifies inter or in medio, between, or in the middle, and may fitly denote a Champion, or Combatant, that ſtands forth, and is in the middle, to challenge the enemy. So 1 Sam. 17.4. when Goliah comes out to challenge the Iſraelitiſh hoſt, it is,foreign foreign vir intermedius ſaith the Interlinear, a man, or one in the midſt came out from the Camp of the Philiſtims; and the Chaldee in like manner foreign a ſtrong man, or gyant, or champion from among them. And many like paſſages there are in Authors, of combatants ſtanding forth betwixt the Camps: So he whom Manlius Torquatus killed in Livie, l. 7. This foreignHomer expreſſes in like ſtyle, by foreign, in the midſt,
foreign.
i. e. ſaith Euſtathius, p. 291. l. 23. foreign, betwixt the two Armies, which, ſaith he, after Homers time, foreign, or foreign, they expreſs by one word, which ſignifies between the Armies, and is, ſaith he, †Ibid. p. 296. l. 20.afterward more fully deſcribed by foreign, there was a little plain or field about them. Agreeable to which is our ſtyle of duellers, challenging to the field. And in reference to this it may poſſibly be, that Goliah ſhould be here noted by foreign, or ſimply foreign the man between, i. e. the Champion. And then foreign the death of this (here called Labben) will be no more than the plainer words expreſs, 1 Sam. 17.51. foreign that their ſtrong man or champion was ſlain or dead: which the LXXII. render foreign, their mighty man (as v. 4. they rendred foreign the man between) and the Syriack, and the Arabick, their gyant. Of him then this title may be underſtood; and the Pſalm either have been compoſed for ſome anniverſary commemoration of his death, or elſe ſet to the tune of ſome that was thus compoſed. But this is but conjecture in a matter of great uncertainty.
V. 3. Shall fall. foreign] The notion of foreign here is military, being ſpoken of enemies in war, and it refers to thoſe that either faint in a march, or are wounded in a battel, or eſpecially that in flight meet with gall-traps in their way, and ſo are galled and lamed, rendred unable to go forward, and ſo fall, and become liable to all the ill chances of purſuits, and, as here, are overtaken, and periſh in the fall. And thus 'tis by the Chaldee foreign (foreign being lightly varied from this) impingent, ſtumble or light on any gall-trap, or other ſort of ſcandall. But the LXXII. both here and in moſt other places render it foreign, being weak, and ſo the Latine infirmabuntur, and the Arabick and Aethiopick all to the ſame ſenſe; meaning no other then this of being galled, and ſo made unfit for progreſs: See Pſal. 27.2. foreign, they were weak, or wounded, or galled in their March, and then they fell, as a conſequent of it. And thus muſt it be rendred here, not falling, but being gall'd and lame, praecedent to falling. And ſo in St. Paul, Rom. 14.21. foreign, offended and made weak, are in the ſame ſenſe for him that is gall'd and diſcouraged, or hindred in his Chriſtian courſe. See note on 1 Cor. 8. b.
foreignV. 6. Deſtructions.] The Hebrew foreign vaſtatus eſt, hath many nouns derived from it: foreign deſolation, deſtruction, and alſo a fight, or war; foreign a ſword; and foreign a ſouldier. And accordingly the LXXII. render foreign here foreign, ſwords, and ſo the Syriack, and Latine; the Arabick read it weapons, and the Chaldee paraphraſe it by armies and Caſtles. But the ordinary rendring is to be preferred (though the other need not be deſpiſed) and ſo the ſenſe will be, that the Philiſtims deſtructions are completed to the uttermoſt; (as foreign, to the end, by which the LXXII. render foreign here, is duly tranſlated, 1 Theſſ. 2.16.) and then that which follows, and thou haſt deſtroyed Cities] muſt not be applyed to the enemy, in the beginning of the verſe, but to the God of Iſrael, who deſtroyed them. And thus the Jewiſh-Arabick tranſlator applyes it. The enemies Countrey deſolation hath fully ſeiſed on, made a full end of it; The People of their Cities thou haſt cut off, till, or ſo that their memory is utterly periſhed.
foreignIn the end of the verſe where the Hebrew hath foreign with them, the LXXII. it ſeems read foreign a noiſe, or tumult, and ſo render it foreign, with a ſound; and ſo the Latine and Arabick and Aethiopick after them: But the Chaldee have foreign from them; and the Syriack leave it out as redundant, being conteined in foreign their memoriall, precedent.
V. 7. But the Lord.] The rendring of this Verſe is beſt learnt from the Chaldee, who make three parts of it.foreign 2. foreign i. e. literally, And the Lord for ever, they render, The word of the Lord for ever, by way of Ellipſis, to be ſupplied by addition of ſome verbe, is, or abideth for ever. foreign2. foreign he ſhall ſit, which they paraphraſe, his habitation in the higheſt heavens. 3. foreign — he hath prepared his throne, or tribunal for juſtice. The two former of theſe the LXXII. confound, and put into one, and ſo the Syriack and Latine, and Arabick, and Aethiopick after them: but the more diſtinct reading, which the Chaldee follows, is moſt literal and full, and with reaſon to be preferred.
V. 14. Daughter of Sion.] The word daughter, foreignapplyed to a city or nation, ſignifies the people or inhabitants of it, the city being as it were the parent from whence they ſpring; and accordingly the Chaldee here expreſſes it by foreign the aſſembly of Sion, from foreign and foreign congregavit.
V. 20. In fear.] foreign here is by the LXXII. foreignrendred foreign, a Law-giver; and ſo the Syriack and vulgar and Aethiopick follow them, and the Arabick with a little change, a doctor or teacher of the Law, probably referring to foreign a doctor or teacher, coming regularly from foreign docuit. The Chaldee render it foreign fear, as if it were foreign from foreign timuit. foreignAnd ſo between theſe, the generality of interpreters is divided. If the former be accepted, the ſence will well bear it, thus; Set them a teacher, an inſtructer, that, as it follows, they may know themſelves to be but men, learn humility and piety by this means, and Gods judgments or puniſhments may be this teacher: as 1 Tim. 1.20. delivering to Satan to be buffeted, and afflicted by him, is foreign, that they may be taught not to blaſpheme. If it be the ſecond, then 'tis; Put them in fear—i. e. bring them to the acknowledgment and fear of thee, and that by thy puniſhments alſo. But 'tis ſure the Hebrew foreign according to its punctation here ſignifies a Razor; ſo Judg. 13.5. foreign and a razor, foreign ſay the Chaldee, ſhall not come upon his head, and 1 Sam. 1.11. in like manner. Now this in the Prophetick ſtyle is frequently uſed for the execution of Gods vengeance: See Iſ. 7.20. The Lord ſhall ſhave with a razor that is hired, even the King of Aſſyria, and Ezek. 5.1. take thee a barbers razor, thereby to ſignifie Gods judgments upon Jeruſalem. And this, and nothing but this, is the importance of the word, thus pointed; and then it will fitly be rendred, in prophetick dialect, ſet them, or thou wilt ſet them a razor, bring ſome ſharp puniſhment upon them, that ſo they may know themſelves to be but men.