L I B R A^ K Y
Th
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logical Seminary.
PRINCETON, N. J.
Case
Shelf
Division. "^S-fl.'b..
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'OU
THE BOOK OF PSALMS
OF DAVID THE KING AND PIKIPHET.
THE BOOK OF PSALMS
''OF DAVID THE KING AND PROPHET
DISPOSED ACCORDING TO TIIK
RHYTHMICAL STRUCTURE
OF THE
ORIGINAL.
WITH THREE ES8AV.S :
I. — The Psalms of David Restored to David.
II. — The External Form of Hebrew Poetry.
III. — The Zion of David Restored to David.
UITH MAP AND ILLUSTRATIONS.
By E. F.
,- t n -vv n r ■'•
LONDON :
LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO.
1875.
LONDON :
R. CLAY, SONS, AND TAYLOR, PRIKTKRS,
BREAIi STREET HILL.
INTRODUCTION.
ilSr the following attempt to arrange the Psalms of David accord-
ing to the structure of the poetry of the Hebrew original, the reader
will observe that the old translation, or that in our Prayer-books,
has been retained, partly because the language is more simple and
Saxon, and therefore more rhythmical ; partly because it is more
deeply impressed upon our memory by the constant reading of the
Psalter in our daily services ; and partly because in many instances
it will be found that King James's Translation, being more literally
exact, is for that very reason, like all literal translations, sometimes
harsh, or even obscure ; whereas the old translation of 1539, by a
greater licence of translation, sometimes apparently guessing at the
sense, as in the Seventy-eighth Psalm — " their maidens were not
given in marriage," where the original is " their maidens were not
praised" — is not only more accordant to our English idiom, but
frequently more accordant also to the real meaning. One example
will suffice. In Ps. Ixix. 27 we have in the Bible translation —
Add iui(|uity unto their iniqiiitj'.
But the word here translated "add" is in the Hebrew ]^2 ; the
primitive meaning of which is to give, but which in Ps. xvi. 10,
and cxxi. 3, signifies to suffer, to allow, or to permit — " Thou wilt
not st/^er Thy Holy One to see corruption ; " *' He will not sufer
thy foot to be moved : " as in Ex. xii. 23, " The Lord will not
svjf'er the destroyer to come in : " so again in Esther ix. 13, "Let
it be granted to the Jews." It is in this sense that the word has
B
2 INTRODUCTION.
been taken by our old translators — Suffer them to go from one
iniquity unto another, or as they have given it —
" Let them fall from one wickedness to another,"
a translation which, though it looks like a mere paraphrase, is in
fact a more accurate rendering than the Bible translation; and,
c(msidered theologically, true, -while the latter is false : for this
appears to make God the author of evil : while that expresses the
mere act of sufferance. Hammond says — *' For so it is ordinary
with God, as a punishment of some former great sin or sins, thxmgh
not to infuse any malignity, yet by withdratvinr/ His [/race, and
delivering them up to themselves, to ])ermit more sins to follow,
one on the heels of the other." Words which seem to be copied
from Augustine, " Adde, non vulnerando, sed non sanando."
For the same reason, as few alterations have been made as pos-
sible, and care has been taken to endeavour to express these altera-
tions in as rhythmical language as the original translation, and in
«ivery case to examine them with the context, before adopting them.
These alterations are —
I. Where the signification was missed by our translators, as in
Ps. Ixxxiv., where sparrows and swallows are supposed to
build nests in God's house ! or where, as in Ps. xx. in
the Biblical version, we pray — Let the King hear us when
we call ; instead of praying that God would hear our prayers
for the king.
11. Where it was necessary to restore the tautology of the original,
which our translators have striven so much to do away with,
thinking that they thus gave greater richness to the style ;
being unaware that they thereby destroyed one great ele-
ment of the Hebrew poetry.
Ml. Where it was necessary to cast out any suporiluous words
which have been added by our translators, where such words
made the line too long.
IV. Where it was necessary to alter the construction of the
.sentence, if we wished to bring out the parallelism of the
original.
INTRODUCTION. 3
But altliongh the chief object of this work is to point out the
parallelism of the original ; it has been found desirable in many
instances, in order to avoid unnecessary departure from our au-
thorized translation, not to insist too strictly upon the particular
kind of parallelism there exhibited. In many instances where
an inverted parallelism of the original has been rendered by our
translators as a direct one, it would not only interfere too greatly
with the familiar phraseology of our recognized translation to change
it back to the inverted form, but the alteration would appear harsh,
and unconformable to the structure of our own lantiuaye. Thus
we should make no improvement upon —
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiviug,
Let us show ourselves glad in Him with psalms :
by changing it back to the inverted form, as in the original : —
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving,
And with psalms let us sing unto Him.
For the same reason we must be content to li't even the direct
parallelism remain as we find it in our translation, where not
exactly the same as the original : for we should gain nothing by
altering it, while we should lose greatly by a useless unsettling of
a translation which is so justly endeared to the hearts of so large a
portion of God's children. The following example will be suffi-
cient to illustrate this : —
Show me Thy ways, 0 Lord ;
And teach me Thy paths :
sufficiently exhibits the parallelism, without putting it in the
original form —
Thy ways, 0 Lord, show me :
And Thy paths teach me.
From what we have said it will, we think, be found that the
careful study of the ancient parallelism cannot fail to make more
clear and more emphatic the poetical portions of Holy Scripture.
Next to parallelism, we should direct our attention to the division
of paragraphs : and here again we cannot be too careful : for the
B 2
'4: INTRODUCTION.
proper appreciation of the Psalms of David depends very much
upon the assistance given to the eye and voice by the careful divi-
sions of the several parts. As Hebrew poetry was at one time
believed to be subject to the laws of Greek and Latin verse, so these
paragraphs have been thought by some German writers, as Heng-
stenberg, Kurz, and Delitzsch, to assimilate to strophes or stanzas,
and to be subject to a rule of numbers. Our attention is drawn to
the supposed fact that the paragraphs in a particular Psalm consist
of a certain number of verses, or that there is some certain number
of such stanzas, as though there were in this some particular
motive. This with Delitzsch is merely a poetical arrangement ;
but Hengstenberg attributes a cabalistic meaning to these numbers.
The natural result of such preconceived theories is to cut up the
poem into disjointed paragraphs, and so to do away with the use
and meaning of a paragraph.^
^ In some few instances, however, Delitzsch attaches a symbolical mean-
ing to the stanza. Thus in his commentary on Ps. xcii. we read — "Certainly
tlio unmistakeable (!) sti-ojihe-schema, 6, 6, 7, 6, 6, is not without signification.
The middle of the Psalm bears the stamp of the sabbatic number." And
ill Ps. xcix. — " The first two sanctuses are two hexa.stichs ; and two hexastichs
form the third, according to the very same law by which the third and the
sixth days of creation each consists of two creative works." And in Ps. ex.
— " The Psalm therefore bears the threefold impress of the number seven,
which is the number of an oath aud of a covenant. Its impress then is
thoroughly jirophetic." But such px]irossions occur in every page of Heng-
stenberg. There is, however, no autliority for a strophical arrangement. As
we shall see presentlj^, parallelism in Hebrew poetry is not confined to the two
hemistichs of a verse, but it is freipiently alternate, the first hemistich of one
verse being parallel to the first of the next verse ; and the second of the first
to the second of the next. This naturally gives us four lines, which would
constitute a stanza : and if this were general throughout the Psalms, there
would be no doubt of their being written in stanzas of four lines each. But
the contrary is the case : and thus all those who have adopted the stanza-
system have been obliged to divide their .stanzas into dilferent numbers of lines,
thus bearing a strong improbability on their very front. Let us, however, take
Dclitzsch's valuable and learned work, it being moreover one of the latest and
therefore most perfect expositions of the system, and .see how it works out ;
it being jircmised that this is done in no captious spirit against the work of
this distinguished author. Thus iu order to carry out the strophe-system he
is obliged to divide such passages as the following : —
The Lord Himself is the portion of mine inheritance and my cup,
■ Thou slialt maintain my lot.
The lot is fallen unto me in a fair ground,
Yea, I have a goodly heritage. (Ps. xvi. ) [He
INTRODUCTION. 5
The last thing that should engage our attention is the frequent oc-
currence of the antiphon. This is so marked in many of the Psalms
He bowed the heavens, and came down,
And there was darkness under His feet.
He rode upon the cherubim and did fly :
He soared upon the wings of the wind. (Ps. xviii.)
At the brightness of His presence
There issued from His thick clouds
Hailstones and coals of fire.
The Lord thundered out of heaven,
And the Highest gave His thunder,
Hailstones and coals of fire. (Ps. xviii.)
The Lord lookcth down from heaven ;
He beholdeth all the children of men :
From the habitation of His dwelling
He considereth all them that dwell on the earth. (Ps. xxxiii.)
Let them fall from one wickedness to another.
And let them not come into Thy righteousness :
Let them be blotted out of the book of life,
And let them not be written among the righteous. (Ps. Ixix.)
He gave them their own desire.
They were not disappointed of their desire. (Ps. Ixxviii.)
He turned their rivers into blood,
And theii' waters they coidd not drink :
He sent swarms of flies to devour them,
And frogs to destroy them :
He, etc. etc. (Ps. Ixxviii.)
While passages like the following arc united, where one part refers with all
the previous portion of the Psalm to the king ; and the other, with all the
concluding portion of the Psalm, refera to God's enemies :—
For the king putteth his trust in the Lord :
And in the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved.
All Thine enemies shall feel Thy hand :
Thy right hand shall find out them that hate Thee. (Ps. xxi.)
Hengstenberg, whose commentary is otherwise so valuable, endeavours to
show that these strophes have a mystical meaning, the verses of which they
are composed bearing some sacred numerical value. His favourite numbers
are seven ; four and three ; and ten. This hypothesis, elaborately instanced
in every Psalm, is unproved, mystical, and unsatisfactory. He also attaches
great weight to the name of God appearing so many times : which was one of
the conceits of the Talnuidis^s. But while we repudiate the strophe-system,
with its evident inconsistencies, and its fanciful symbolism, we shall see that
there are some few occasional instances in which the Psalm does resolve itself
into stanzas.
6 INTRODUCTION.
that it woukl be unwise not to seek for it in others. The antiphon
gives life and spirit to the psalm ; and there can be no doubt that
what is called antiphonal singing in our churches, where the two
sides of the choir sing alternately, Avould be much more effective
and full of meaning if the alternate song were by paragraph, instead
of verse ; and would be still more so, as well as much more in
accordance with ancient practice, if the antiphon proper, or re-
sponse, only, were sung as a chorus by the whole choir or con-
gregation, as in ancient times.^ The alternate recitation by the
people^ instead of by the two sides of the choir, has sprung out
of the congregational worship of our Protestant Church : before
the discover}' of printing the people were not sufficiently educated
to take such part.
We shall find numerous indications of this antiphon in different
parts of Scripture. The word to which we give this interpretation,
njj/ Onoh, signifies to sing in answer. This is the meaning attri-
buted to the word in the Septuagint, the Vulgate, by Hammond,
Bishop Lowth," Street, Jebb, Dathe, Rogers, Phillips, De Burgh, and
Hengstenberg.^ This answering was by the whole congregation, and
corresponded with our chorus, and was a bearty acquiescence by the
people in the subject of the song, taking up and emphasizing the
most striking verse or sentiment. Thus, when ]\Ioses and Joshua
came down from Mount Sinai, Aaron and the people had been sacri-
licing to the golden calf, and Joshua exclaimed, as they heard the
voices of the people in the distance, " There is a" noise of war in
the camp;" but Moses replied — "It is not the voice of them that
shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being
overcome, but the noise of them that sing in answer do I hear."
(Ex. xxxii. 18.) On the building of the second temple, after the
return from Babylon, we read that the priests and the Levites the
1 " The Psahn should be distributed between the Levites and the congre-
gation, the lines containing tlie refrains being probably sung antiphonallj' by
the latter." (Pcrovvne, ii. 328.) The only Psalms whiih are ada])ted for alter-
nate recitation are the hundi-ed and thirty-sixth, (l)ut hei-o it is not every other
verse which .should be read alternately, but every other line,) the twenty-
ninth, and the sixty-seventh, which are in alternate stanzas.
- I'rccL xix. ^ In I's. cxlvii., but not in Ts. Ixxxviii. Tit.
INTRODUCTION. 7
sons of Asaph praised " the Lord, after the ordinance of i-)avid
king of Israel, and they sang together by course in praising and
giving thanks unto the Lord:" and then follows the antiphon
which they sang —
" For He is good :
For His mercy endureth for ever toward Israel ; "
" and all the ji^ople shouted with a great shout when they praised the
Lord." (Ezra iii. 10, 11.) And a few years later on the occasion
of rebuilding the walls, "The singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their
overseer, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great
joy. The wives also and the children r^ejoiced : so that the joy of
Jerusalem was heard even afar off." (Nehem. xii. 42, 43.) Thus
we see that the solemn feasts were attended not only with the har-
mony and music of the Levites, but with tlie hosannas and acclama-
tions of the people. Hence Jeremiah compares the military clamours
of the victorious Chaldeans in the temple, to those that were
formerly made there in the day of a solemn feast : — " They have
made a noise in the house of the Lord, as in a day of a solemn
feast." (Lam. ii. 7.) David says — " Blessed are they that hear the
joyful sound." (Ps. Ixxxix. 15.)
In most cases we are not only told that they sang in ausiver, but
we have the words of the answer or antiphon. Thus, when
" Moses and the children of Israel sang a song unto the Lord " on
the occasion of passing through the Eed Sea, it was the princi])al
verse of the song, or the antiphon, or refrain, only, which " Miriam
the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, with a timbrel in her hand, aud
all the ivomen with timbrels and with dances, answered —
' Sing ye to tlie Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously ;
The horse aud his rider hath He cast into the sea.'" (Ex. xv? 21.)
Here is a long song of some forty lines, and yet it is only one
verse which is taken up as a refrain. Other instances of the
antiphon occur in I^um. xxi. 17, where we read that "Israel
sang in ansrver this song —
'Spring up, 0 wells.' "
8 INTRODUCTION.
In Is. xxvii. 2, the Prophet says—" In that day sing ye in
ansxver to her —
' A vineyard of red wine.' "
On the occasion of David's victory over Goliath " the women came
out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King
Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music ; and
the women answered as they played, and said —
' S.aul hath slain his thousands,
And David his ten thousands ;' " (1 Sam. xviii. 6, 7.)
words which, like the antiphon in general, were so terse, concise,
and yet expressive, that they were easily remembered, and were
repeated afterwards on two occasions by the Philistines. (1 Sam.
xxi. 11 ; xxix. 5.)
From these instances in other parts of Scripture, we may expect
to meet with antiphons in the Book of Psalms ; for it was in
psalms and songs such as those of which this book is composed
that the antiphon occurred. That antiphons do occur, and occur
most frequently, so frequently indeed as to be almost universal,
this work will, it is hoped, prove : but what we have now to show
is that these antiphons are referred to as such. We naturally
begin with Ps. Ixxxviii., which bears the title of "Leannoth,"
a responsive or antiphonal song; a title justified by the Psalm,
which we find divided into three parts, the second and third of
wliich are, as it were, echoes of the first, each part beginnuig with
an antiphon —
0 Lord God of my salvation !
In the day-time have I cried, and in the night, before Thee. (Yer. 1.)
1 have called daily, 0 Lord, unto Thee,
I have stretched forth my hands unto Thee. (Ver. 9.)
Unto Thee have I cried, 0 Lord !
And early shall my prayer come before Thee. ^Ver. 13.)
INTRODUCTION. 9
The next instance we will notice is in Ps. cxlvii. wliere we
find the following antiphous —
Praise ye the Lord !
For it is a good thing to sing psalms unto our God,
For it is a joyful and pleasant thing to sing praises. (Ver.' 1.)
Praise the Lord, O Jenisalem :
Praise thy God, 0 Sion ! (Ver. 12.)
0 raise the antiphon unto the Lord, with thanksgiving :
Sing praises upon the harp unto our God ; (Ver. 7. )
or, as it is more literally, " 0 sing in ansiver unto the Lord." In
all these cases the singing was the song itself, and the chorus or
antiphon followed, accompanied by loud noise. So in the Psalms
we have — " The singers go before ; the minstrels follow after ; " ^
and in another Psalm — "The singers also and minstrels' (shall
sing) ; and in each case there follows the antiphon which they
sang : in the former instance —
' ' Bless ye God in the congregations :
Even the Lord, ye that are of the fountain of Israel ; "
and in the latter —
"All my fountains are in thee." (Ps. Ixxxvii. 7.)
1 ' ' Proportoinable to this was the ancient Greek custom, poetically expressed
by Apollo and the Muses, Apollo singing, and they following ev djuoiffaio),
answering with musical instruments to the tune which he began. So in
Homer (IL w, 720), in a funeral, there are first 9p-nvo}v e^apxoi, the beginners or
precentors of the lamentations, and then kAuIccv dfj.((>iaTaT ofxiAos, the com-
pany stood about wailing, and eirl Se (rTevdxoi'ro ywaiKes, the women came
after, or answered in their moaning, this ivailing bearing their proportion
with the music which was often used in their funerals." — (Hammond, in
Ps. Ixxxviii. I'it.)
2 This text has puzzled commentators, but it is easily explained by the
context. God is represented as saying — Some of those who become my
children come from Egypt and Babylon, from Philistia, Tyre anel Ethiopia,
and other strange lands : but the great bulk of those who become my chil-
dren spring from thee, 0 Sion. It is curious that the word "fountain " should
be connected with "singers and minstrels" in two passages, here, and in
Ps. Ixviii. 25, 26. That it has the signification above given is evident from
Deut. xxxiii. 28, "Israel then shall dwell in safety alone. The fountain of
Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine : all his heavens shall droj)
down dew." And Is. xlviii. 1, "Hear ye this, 0 house of Jacob, which are
called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah."
10 INTRODUCTION.
The " singers and minstrels," though relating to the annual
" goings-up " to Jerusalem, refer especially to the first entrance of
the ark into the holy city, (2 Sam. vi.,) on which occasion a psalm
was composed by David, (1 Chron. xvi. 7 — 36,) which begins —
" Give thanks unto the Lord," and at the end of it it is stated
that "all the people said, Amen, and praised the Lord." The
words of their praise were probably what we read immediately
before, and which constituted their auti])hon —
" Blessed be tlie Lord God of Israel, for ever and ever ; "
the subject of which agrees with the beginning of the Pi^alm, and
with its title, as it does also with the antiphon of Ps. Ixviii. in
which this entrance to Mount Sion is referred to ; the singers
going before, and the minstrels following after, singing —
"Bless ye God in the congregations :
Even the Lord, ye that are of the fountain of Israel."
Ps. Ixxxix. exhibits an instance where the antiphon comes
first —
"Righteousness and equity are the lialiitation of Tlij" seat,
Mercy and truth shall go before Thy face."
Immediately after which we have —
" Blessed are the people who know the shouting ; "
thereby indicating that the preceding antiphon had been sung witli
shouting.
This antiphon, as we have seen, was sung by the whole congre-
gation, and with loud voice ; so loud as to be heard from a great
distance. That shouting is the proper word to be used in all such
passages is evident from an examination of Ex. xxxii. 17, 18;
Josh. vi. 20; 1 Sam. iv. 5 j 2 Sam. vi. \b ; 1 Chron. xv. 28;
2 Chron. v. 13, xv. 14, xxix. 27; Ez. iii. 11 — 13. Such shout-
ing having its institution in the command of God — " Sing ye for
j(\y unto God our strength ; shout aloud unto the God of Jacob
.... For this was made a statute for Israel, and a law of the
God of Jacob." Ps. Ixxxi. 1 — 5 ; see also 2^um. x. 10. We have
INTRODUCTION. 11
several indications of this in the Psalms, where the people are
called upon to sing with all their strength.
Sing with joy unto the Lord, 0 ye righteous !
For it becometh well the just to be thankful.
Praise the Lord with the harji.
Sing psalms unto Him with tlie ten-stringed psaltery.
Sing unto Him a new song.
Strike the chords skilfully, with shouting. (Ps. xxxiii.)
0 clap your hands together, all ye people !
Shout unto God with the song of rejoicing !
God is gone up with a shout,
And the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. ^Ps. xlvii. )
Sing ye joyfully unto God our strength !
Shout aloud unto the God of Jacob !
Take the psalm, bring hither the tabret,
The'pleasant harp, with the lute.
Blow ye the trumpet in the new moon.
At the time appointed, and upon our solemn feast-day. (Ps. Ixxxi.)
0 come, let us sing with joy unto the Lord,
Let us shout aloud unto the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving,
Let us shout aloud unto Him with psalms. (Ps. xcv. )
Shout aloud upto the Lord, all ye lands.
Break forth, sing joyfully, and sing psalms.
Sing psalms unto the Lord upon the harp,
With harp, and with melody of praise.
With trumpet also, and with melody of cornet ;
Shout aloud uuto the Lord the King ! (Ps. xcviii.)
Shout aloud uuto the Lord, all ye lands !
Serve the Lord with gladness.
And come before His pre.sence with a song of rejoicing ! (Ps. c.)
Arise, 0 Lord, into Thy resting-place.
Thou and the ark of Thy strength !
Let Thy priests be clothed with righteousness.
And let Thy saints shout with joj^fulness.
1 will clothe her priests mth salvation.
And her saints shall shout for joy, and rejoice with sliouting. (Ps. cxxxii. )
12 INTRODUCTION.
In all tliese instances the words themselves appear to constitute
the antiphon : but the antiphonal shouting is referred to in other
instances —
I will sacrifice in His tabernacle sacrifices with shouting :
I will sing ; I will sing psalms unto the Lord. (Ps. xxvii.)
That they would sacrifice unto Him the sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And tell out His works with shouting. (Ps. cvii. )
This responsive song, or antiphon, sung by the whole congregation
to the accompaniment of loud music, was a striking feature of the
Jewish worship, and accordingly we find the Psalmist exclaiming —
Blessed is the people who know the shouting :
They shall walk in the light of Thy countenance. (Ps. IxxxLx. 15.)
In the same manner we find the Prophet Hosea (ii. 15), when fore-
telling the punishment of God's people for their sins, holding out a
promise of reconciliation, and telling them — " I will give her the
valley of Achor for a door of hope, and she shall sing in anstver
there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she
came up out of the land of Egyjit," when she sang —
"Sing ye to the Lord, for He hatli triumphed gloriously ;
The horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea."
Some of these antiphons were doubtless great favourites among
the people, such as that which we have twice noticed ^ as referring
to themselves as the " fountain of Israel," but that which was most
common was —
" 0 give thanks unto the Lord : for He is good,
For His mercy endureth for ever."
This was the antiphon composed by David, and which he
instructed his choir to sing, when he established the tabernacle
service —
0 give thanks unto tlie Lord !
Because His mercy endureth for ever ! (1 Chron. xvi. 41.)
' See ante, note, p. 9.
INTRODUCTION. 13
This it was which Solomon adopted when he arranged the temple
service —
0 praise the Lord !
Because His mercy endureth for ever ! (2 Cbron. vii. 6.)
and which he directed to be sung when the ark was brought into
the temple —
0 praise the Lord : for He is good !
For His mercy endureth for ever ! (2 Chron. v. 13.)
This it was which Jehoshaphat directed to be sung when he marched
out against the Moabites and the Ammonites —
0 praise the Lord !
For His merey endureth for ever ! (2 Chron. xx. 21.)
And this antiphon was sung, not by the priests and Levites only,
but by all the people. For at the consecration of the temple we
read — " And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came
down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed
themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and
worshipped, and praised the Lord, saying —
* For He is good !
For His mercy endureth for ever ! ' " (2 Chron. vii. 3.)
And this is the antiphon which David incorporated into so many
of his Psalms ; the hundred and sixth, the hundred and seventh,
the hundred and eighteenth, and the hundred and thirty-sixth,
beginning —
0 give thanks unto the Lord,
For the Lord is good !
For His mercy endureth for ever !
the last verse of the hundred and eighteenth being the same,
while three other verses of this Psalm, and every verse of the
hundred and thirty-sixth, terminate with —
For His mercy endureth for ever !
And only two years before the Babylonian captivity and the
destruction of the city, Jeremiah, in delivering his final prophecy
14 INTRODUCTION.
against the city, announced God's gracious promises of reconcilia-
tion, saying — " Again there shall be heard in this place .... the
voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom,
and the voice of the bride, and the voice of them that shall say —
' Praise the Lord of hosts !
For the Lord is good !
For His mercy endureth for ever !' " (Jer. xxxiii. 11.)
If we turn again to the Book of Psalms we shall find, that
though in general the antiphon springs out of its particular Psalm,
as in Ps. Iviii., where we have —
And thus shall it be said—
Verily, there is a reward for the righteous :
Verily, there is a God that judgeth the earth ;
in many cases the antiphon is of a more general character, and is
common to several Psalms. The most common would naturally be
the ascription of praise to the Lord God of Israel who liveth for
ever and ever, which is more or less full in different instances.
Blessed be the Lord God, even the God.of Israel,
Which only doeth wondrous things.
And blessed be the name of His majesty for ever
And lot all the earth be filled with His majesty.
Amen and Amen. (Ps. Ixxii.)
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
From everlasting to everlasting !
And let all the people say —
Amen : Praise ye the Lord. (Ps. cvi. )
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
From everlasting to everlasting !
^ Amen, and Amen. (Ps. xli. )
Blessed be the Lord for evermore !
Amen, and Amen. (Ps. Ixxxix.)
Other antiphons in the Psalms are — "The Lord shall reign for
ever and ever," (Ps. x. 18, and cxlvi. 10,) taken from the song of
Moses, Ex. XV. 18. — "The Lord is merciful and gracious, long-
suffering, abundant in goodness, and truth," (Ps. ciii. 8 ; cxlv. 8,)
INTRODUCTION. 15
taken from God's description of Himself on Mount Sinai. (Ex.
xxxiv. 6.) — "Bless the Lord, 0 ray soul." (Ps. ciii. 1, 22 ; civ. 1,
35; cxlvi. 1.) — "Let them be ashamed and confounded together,
that seek after my soul to destroy it. Let them be driven back-
ward, and put to rebuke, that wish me evil. Let them be desolate,
and rewarded with shame, that say unto me, Fie upon thee, fie
upon thee!" (Ps. xxxv. 4, 26; xl. 17, 18; Ixx. 2, 3.)— "Give
unto the Lord the honour due unto His name : worship the Lord
with holy worship." (Ps. xxix. 2 ; xcvi. 9.) — " Eejoice in the Lord,
ye righteous ; and give thanks for a remembrance of His hoHness."
(Ps. XXX. 4 ; xcvii. 12.) — " Be glad, 0 ye righteous, and rejoici'
in the Lord : and be joyful, all ye that are true of heart." (Ps.
xxxii. 12 ; Ixiv. 10.) — " Set up Thyself, 0 God, above the heavens :
and Thy glory above all the earth." (Ps. Ivii. 6, 12 ; cviii. 5.) —
" Our help standeth in the name of the Lord ; who made heav«h
and earth." (Ps. cxxi. 2 ; cxxiv. 7.) — " 0 Israel, trust in the Lord ! '
(Ps. cxxx. 7 ; cxxxi. 4.) — " 0 praise the Lord ! For it is a good
thing to sing praises unto our God : yea, a joyful and pleasant
thing it is to be thankful." (Ps. cxlvii. 1 ; xcii. 1.)
Many excellent works on the Psalms of David, as those by
Hammond, Hengstenberg, De Burgh, and Wordsworth, are simple
Commentaries, with critical notes on the authorized version, and
therefore, although of most essential use in enabling us to ascertain
the true meaning of Scripture, are only of secondary assistance iu
giving to the text itself its original character. It is only in new
translations that we may hope to effect tliis ; but here also we fail
in arriving at any satisfactory result. The reason is that each
man sits down to write a new translation, according to his own
critical and philological training ; without sufficiently examining
the labours of others, without accepting the work which they
have achieved, and consequently without the hope or intention ot
arriving at any generally accepted standard. Surely with such an
admirable translation as we possess in our old version, based upon
the Hebrew, the Septuagiut, and Jerome's translation, and re-
sembling, more than any other translation, the easy flow and
rhythm of the original, we should endeavour to correct and perfect
16 INTRODUCTION.
this translation, instead of setting up another ; so that the reader,
in recognizing the general form of words to which he is accustomed,
should be better able to estimate and value the alterations which
are made. Instead of this, we find each man proposing some new
form, even when that new form brings out no new meaning, but
merely substitutes other words and other idioms, in the place of
those which are so hallowed to us. Let us take, as an instance in
illustration, a passage in which we have the same word "H^P, which
we have met with before, but differently pointed. In Ps. xviii. 35,
we have in our Prayer-book translation, " Thy loving correction
shall make me great," which is founded on the reading of the
Seventy, the Vulgate, the Syriac, and the Arabic, Tliy discipline,
or teaching, or correction ; and wliich is followed by Phillips, Thy
chcLstening, and by French and Skinner, Tliy affiicting hand. The
Bible version, both here and in 2 Sam. xxii., has gentleness — which
is followed by Jebb — and the margin meekness ; Hammond has care ;
Horsley and De Burgh humiliation ; Bagster humilitg ; Tholuck,
Weiss, Alexander, and Kay condescension ; Hengstenberg and De-
litzsch lowliness ; Perowne and " Four Friends " graciousness ; Good
tenderness ; Gesenius and Street kindness or benign iti/ ;K.imchi good-
ness ; and other Jewish interpreters jjrovidence, help, and goodwill.
All these readings may be traced from one or other of two roots,
Vi>^ Onov, To be meek or gentle, and HJ^ Innoh, To chasten ;
Home using both meanings, "Thy gentleness, or Thy affl,ictions."
"We must therefore admire the rendering in our Prayer-book,
which unites both these significations. How much better, therefore,
would it have been to be content with this rendering, which so well
expresses what we want ? Again, where our Old Translation gives
" Lord," and " God," one author gives Jehovah, and another favours
us with Jahve, another with Yah, and another with Jhvh, instead
of Lord ; and with Elohim, and Eloah, instead of God !
Jebb's translation appeared in 1846 ; since then no further
efforts have been made to restore the form of the original poetry,
though many able and critical translations have appeared, in which
the rendering is often more exact, and the true meaning better
exhibited. This neglect of the study of Hebrew parallelism is
INTRODUCTION. 1 7
certainly to be regretted : for if it be considered desirable to present
to us the exact rendering of the words and idiom of the original, it
might surely be considered desirable to present to us the balancing
of such words. This balancing, or as Bishop Lowth called it,
parallelism, is not without its use. Not merely does it denote that
the original is poetry, but by the repetition of the same sentiment,
like the prophet's "precept iipon precept, precept upon precept,
line upon line, line upon line," it tended to impress upon the ear
and recollection of the people to whom it was written, as it does to
all generations, the divine hymns which were written for their
instruction and comfort by the inspired psalmist.
It has been, therefore, the particular effort in the present trans-
lation to restore the parallelism, not merely by restoring the
division of the lines, but by restoring the use of the same word
when repeated in the same distich ; to distinguish the stanzas or
paragraphs which divide the poem ; and to point out the antiphon
or chorus, which gives life to it when sung, and which made the
psalm sung by the priest a psalm for the people also.
It has been alleged by some that the study of parallelism is use-
less, as it does not, they pretend, affect the meaning of the Bible :
but when we consider that all modern translators adopt parallelism,
it is unnecessary to refute such opinion. The fact is that parallel-
ism is of the greatest use in enabling us to discover the true
meaning of a word, which but for it might lead us astray. In the
eightieth Psalm, for instance, we should understand by the Avord
" branch," the Branch, and by "the man on Thy right hand," and
" the son of man," the Messiah, the Son of man. And so accordingly
the words have been taken by the Chaldee paraphrast, some of the
Babbies, E. Aben Ezra, and R. Obadiah, by the Seventy, and by
some modern commentators, as Hengstenberg, Alexander, and the
Bishop of Lincoln : but the parallelism shows us that this inter-
pretation is erroneous. Let us then, seeing how easily we may go
astray, endeavour to read the Psalms of David as they were written
by him, and we shall then find not only that the sense becomes
clearer, but that many beauties and niceties of expression exist, of
which we before had no conception. As the Apostle resolves — " /
c
18 INTRODUCTION.
}i'ill sin;/ with the spirit, and I loill sing with the understaudinif
also ; " so, in reading the Psalms of David, we are bound to do so
with that attention which the Psalmist himself enjoins —
" Sinff ye psalms I'.'itk understanding."
THE BOOK OE PSALMS.
c 2
THE BOOK OF PSALMS,
PSALM I.
[Introductory.]
Blessed is the mau
That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,
That standeth not in the way of sinners,
And that sitteth not in the seat of the scornful.
But whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in HIS law doth he exercise himself day and night.
And he shall he like a tree planted by the water-side,
That hringeth forth its fruit in due season :
His leaf also shall not wither ;
And whatsoever he doeth, it shall prosper.
As for the ungodly, it is not so with them :
But they are like the chaff which is scattered by the wind.
Therefore the ungodly shall not be able to stand in the judgment,
Neither sinners in the con^reeiation of the righteous.
. . For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous :
ipion. j,^^^ ^^^ ^^^y ^£ ^^^ ungodly shall perish.
32 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM II.
[By David. See Acts iv. 25.]
[I'lacd in this position probably to shoio that the wmU Book of Psnlmx iras
considered prophetical of the Messiah.']
W HY do the heathen so furiously rage^ together ?
And (why do) the people imagine a vain thing ?
The kings of the earth stand up,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against THE LORD,
And against His Anointed !
" Let us break their bands asunder,
" And cast away their cords from us."
He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn ;
The Lord shall have them in derision.
Then shall He speak unto them in His wrath.
And vex them in His sore displeasure.
" Yet have I set my King ,
" Upon my holy hill of Sion.
" I will declare the decree :
" The Lord hath said unto me —
" Thou art MY SON :
" This day have I, even I, begotten Thee.
" Ask of me : and I will give Thee
" The heathen for Thine inheritance,
" And the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession.
" Thou shalt bruise them with a rod of iron ;
" Thou shalt break them in pieces, like a potter's vessel."
Be wise now therefore, O ye kings :
Be instructed, 0 ye judges of the earth.
Serve the Lord in fear.
And rejoice unto Him with reverence.
Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,
And so ye perish (from) the right way.
When His wrath is kindled, yea, but a little,
Blessed are all they that put their trust in HIM.
' H'h. "iissciiiMo."
PSALM III. 23
PSALM III.
A Psalm of David :
When he fled from Absalom, his son.
[A Morning Hymn.]
IJORD, how arc they increased that trouble ine !
, . Many are they that rise against me.
OH. ;;\[any there be that say of my soul —
" There is no help for him in his God."
l!ut THOU, 0 Lord, art my defender !
THOU art my glory, and the lifter up of my head.
I called upon the Lord with my voice,
And He heard me out of His holy hill,
nbo.
I laid me down, and I slept :
I rose up again : for THE LORD sustained me.
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of the people
That have set (themselves) against me round about.
Arise, () Lord :
Save me, 0 my God !
For Thou smitest all mine enemies (upon) the cheek bone
Thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
. ^^^ Helpi belongeth unto THE LORD :
" '' '" And THY blessing is upon Thy people.
^ See first antiphon.
24 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM IV.
To llic chief Musician upon the stringed instruments.
A Psalm of David.
[An Evening Hymn.]
riEAR me when I call, 0 GOD, my righteousness !
I'loem. Thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble :
Have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer.
iiOW long, O ye sons of men,
Will ye blaspheme my glory ! i
Will ye love vanity ! Will ye seek after deceit !
But know that the Lord hath chosen the godly unto himself
When I call upon the Lord, He will hear me.
.Stand in awe, and sin not :
Commune with your own heart, and in your chamber.
And be still. n'7D
Sacrifice the sacrifice of righteousness,
And put your trust in the Lord.
There be many that say — "Who will show us any good ?"
Lord, lift up the light of THY countenance upon us !
(Then) shalt Thou put gladness in my heart,
More than when their corn and their wine are multiplied.
I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest ;
Anti2)ho'a. ^^^ -^ -^ rppj^^^r, Lord,,only, that makest me dwell in safety.
1 (The object of) "my glory." See note on Ps. xii. 2 — 4.
PSALM V, 25
PSALM V.
To the chief Musician ujwn the wind instruments.
A Psalm of David.
[A Morning Hymn.]
Ponder my words, O Lord !
Proem. Consider my meditation.
Hearken Thou to the voice of my calling, my King and my God !
For unto THEE will I make my prayer.
0 LORD !
In the morning shalt Thou hear my voice ;
In the morning will I prepare myself, and will look up.
j' For Thou art a God that hath no pleasure in wickedness ;
I There shall no evil dwell with Thee.
I There shall no foolish persons stand in Thy sight ;
vFor Thou hatest all them that work iniquity.
Thou wilt destroy them that speak falsehood ;
The Lord will abhor both the blood-thirsty and deceitful man.
But as for me :
I will come into Thine house, in the multitude of Thy mercy :
I will bow me down towards Thy holy temple, in Thy fear.
Lead me, 0 Lord, in Thy righteousness, because of mine enemies :
Make Thy way plain before my face.
For there is no faithfulness in his mouth ;
Their inward parts are very wickedness :
Their throat is an open sepulchre ;
They flatter with their tongue.
Declare their guilt, and destroy them, 0 God !
Let them perish through their own imaginations :
Cast them out in the multitude of their ungodliness ;
For they have rebelled against THEE !
But let all those that trust in Thee rejoice ;
Let them give thanks for ever :
And do Thou watch over them,
And let them that love Thy name be joyful in Thee.
For Thou, Lord, wilt give Thy blessing unto the righteous :
ntiphon. ^j^^i ^^^^Yi Thy favour wilt Thou defend him, as with a shield.
26 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM VI.
To the chief Mtuician over the stringed instriiinciits — Upon the eight-stringed lyre.
A Psalm of David.
0 LOED!
Rebuke me not in Thine anger,
And chasten me not in Thy displeasure !
Have mercy upon me, 0 Lord ;
For I am weak :
Heal me, 0 Lord ;
For my bones are vexed.
My soul also is sore troubled :
I^ut, Lord, how loni^ (wilt Thou punish me) !
Turn Thee, O Lord, and deliver my soul ;
Save me, for Thy mercy's sake :
For in death no man remembereth Thee ;
And who can give Thee thanks in the pit !
1 am weary of my groaning :
Every night wash I my bed.
And water my couch with my tears :
Mine eye is consumed for very grief.
And worn away because of all mine enemies.
r
Away from me, all ye that work iniquity !
The Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping ;
The Lord hath heard my petition ;
The Lord will receive my prayer.
A f J AH mine enemies shall be put to shame, and confounded
They shall be turned back, and put to shame suddenly.
PSALM VIL
A variable Song of David :
Which he sang unto the Lord, concerning the words of Cicsh the Benjainitr.
0 LORD, my GOD !
In THEE have 1 put my trust.
Save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me :
PSALM VII, J.
Lest he devour my soul, like a lion ;
Tearing it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
0 Lord, my GOD !
If I have done any such thing,
If there be any wickedness in my hands,
If I have rewarded evil unto him that dealt friendly with me,
(If) even I have despoiled him that without cause is mine enemy-
I Let mine enemy persecute my soul,' and take it ;
\ Let him tread my life down upon the earth ;
' Let him lay mine honour in the dust.
I Arise up, 0 Lord, in Thine anger :
Lift up Thyself, because of the rage of mine enemies ;
1^ Awake up for me in the judgment that Thou hast commanded.
And so shall the congregation of the people come about Thee :
For their sakes, therefore, lift up Thyself again.
The Lord will judge the nations :
Judge me, 0 Lord,
According as righteousness and innocency are in me.
O put an end to the wickedness of the ungodly ;
But establish Thou the righteous :
For the righteous God
Trieth the very hearts and reins.
My defence cometh of GOD,
Who saveth them that are true of heart.
God judgeth the righteous,"
And God is provoked (with the wicked) every day.
If he will not turn. He will whet His sword ;
He hath bent His bow, and made it ready :
He hath prepared for him the instruments of death, '
He hath made His arrows swift to overtake him.^
^ Eeferring to previous paragraph — " Lest lie devour my soul, like a lion."
2 The three preceding verses justify this reading, rather than that of "God
is a righteous judge," which the original might also signify ; but which wouhi
have no connexion here with the context. It is the same word used as in
V. 8, "Judge me, 0 Lord." and not the word in the preceding line, "The
Lord will judge the people," which signifies to pass sentence on them. "Rulers
are not a terror to good works, but to the evil." See also Ps. ix. ; x. 20 ;
xvii. 2 ; xxvi. 1 ; xxxv. 24 ; and xliii. 1.
* Dolakeem, " hot pursuers." See Ps. Ixxvi. Z,rishphai," (\a.\ck motion?,,"
met. swift arrows.
28
THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
r Behold, lie travaileth -sN'ith iniquity :
He hath conceived mischief, and brought forth ungodliness.
' He made a pit, and digged it :
And he is fallen himself into the ditch (which) he hath made.
His mischief shall return upon his own head,
And his violence shall come upon his own pate.
> ... 7 I will give thanks unto the Lord, according to His righteousness
' And I will sing psalms unto the name of the Lord Most High.
Proem.
PSALM VIII.
To the chief Musician upon the Gathite harp.
A Psalm of David.
0 LOED, OUR Lord !
Antiphon. How excellent is Thy name in all the world !
Thou hast set Thy glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings
Hast Thou ordained strength,
Because of Thine enemies ;
To still the enemy and the revengeful.
W HEN" I consider Thy heavens, even the works of Thy fingers,
The moon and the stars which Thou hast ordained,
What is man, that Thoii art mindful of him ;
And the son of man, that Thou regardest liim ?
Thou hast made him but little lower than Thyself ! ^
Thou hast crowned him with glory and worship !
Thou hast made him to have dominion of the works of Thy hands !
Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet !
All sheep and oxen,
Yea, and the beasts of the field ;
The fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea.
And whatsoever walketh through the paths of the sea.
0 Lord, OUR Lord !
Antiphon. jj^^y excellent is Tliy name in all the world !
1 Uch. "God."
PSALM IX. 29
PSALM TX. [and X.]
To the chief Musician upon Muth-Lahhcn.
A Psalm of David.
i^ J. WILL give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart ;
^ T will count up all Thy marvellous works.
X I will be glad and rejoice in Thee :
K I will sing psalms to TIIY name,
0 Thou Most Highest !
"2. -LN" THE turning back of mine enemies,
Tlaey fall and perish at Thy presence :
f For Thou hast maintained my right and my cause,
Thou art set in the throne, judging righteousness.
J Thou hast rebuked the heathen.
Thou hast destroyed the ungodly ;
* Thou hast put out their name, for ever and over :
n The destructions of the enemy are ended, for ever.
Their cities Thou hast destroyed :
Their memorial is perished with them.
T But the Lord shall reign for ever :
He hath prepared His throne for judgment.
1 For He will judge the world in righteousness,
He will minister judgment to the nations in uprightness.
1 The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed,
Even a refuge in time of trouble.
T And they that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee,
For Thou, Lord, hast never failed them that seek Thee.
T Sing psalms unto the Lord which dwelleth in Sion :
Show forth among the nations all His doings.
n vp on. -p^^ -^hen He maketh inquisition for blood, He remembereth
He forgetteth not the complaint of the afflicted. [them :
n Have mercy upon me, 0 Lord !
Consider the affliction which I suffer of them that hate me,
O Thou that liftest me up from the gates of death,
That I may show all Thy praises in the gates of the daughter
1 will rejoice in Thy salvation. [of Sion.
\^ The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made :
In the same net which they hid privily is their foot taken.
30 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
The Lord hath made Himself known : He hath executed judg-
The ungodly is trapped in the work of his own hauds. [ment :
^ The wicked shall be turned into hell,
And all the people that forget God.
3 For the poor shall not always be forgotten :
The patient abiding of the atllicted shall (not) perish for ever.
Arise, O Lord !
Let not man have the upper hand :
intiplion. Let the heathen be judged in Thy sight.
Put them in fear, O Lord ;
That the heathen may know themselves to be but men.
[Psahn X. commences here.] ^
7 Why standest Thou so far off, O Lord !
Why hidest Thou Thyself in the needful time of trouble !
The wicked in his pride doth persecute the afllicted :
They are taken by them in the devices which they have imagined.
For the wicked hath made boast of his own heart's desire :
He blesseth the covetous \^
He despiselh THE LORD !
In the loftiness of his nostrils he seeketh not (GOD) !
1 Psalms ix. and x. form one Psalm in the Septuagint and Vulgate, and in
some MSS. ; but most modern Translators make tlicra independent. It is
dilHcult to see how such an o])inion can be formed, when we look at tlie
:il])habetical arrangement, which is far more perfect than is generally stated ;
at the alliteration in the letters N and "I Ps. ix., and D in Ps. x. ; at the agree-
ment of the antiphon, " Arise, 0 Lord, Let not man have the upper hand."
in Ps. ix., and "Arise, 0 Lord, Lift up Thine hand," in Ps. x. ; at the godly
" seeking after God," in Ps. ix., and the ungodly ".seeking not after God," in
Ps. X. ; at the reference to the "wicked," twice repeated in Ps. ix., and si.x
times in Ps. x. ; the "afflicted" and "affliction" three times in Ps. ix., and
four times in Ps. x. ; the "oppressed" once in Ps. ix., and twice in Ps. x. ;
the "poor" in Ps. ix., and the " ti-oubled in heart" repeated three times
the " fatherless" twice, and the "innocent," and " miserable," once, in Ps. x.
2 "He doth not abhor anything that is evil;" (Ps. xxxvi. 5;) " Wheu
thou sawest a thief, thou hadst pleasure in him;" (Ps. 1. 18;) "Who not
only do the same, but have jileasure in them that do them." (Piom. i. 32.)
Contrast Ps. xv. 4 — "In whose eyes a vile person is contemned."
PSALM X. " 31
God is not in any of his thoughts :
His ways arc grievous at evert/ time.
Q Thy judgments are far above out of his sight :
All those whom he oppresseth he scoffeth at.^
* He hath said in his heart — " I shall not be moved :
" No harm shall ever happen unto me."
* His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and fraud ;
Under his tongue is ungodliness and iniquity.
He lieth in ambush in the streets,
In his secret places doth he murder the innocent,
^ His eyes are set against those who are troubled in heart :
He lieth in ambush in secret, as a lion in his lair,
He lieth in ambush to catch the afflicted,
* He catcheth the afflicted, and draweth him into his net.
He croucheth, he bends down,
That the troubled in heart may fall by the hand of his strong
* He hath said in his heart — " God hath forgotten : [ones.
"He hideth away his face : He will never see it."
p Arise, O Lord !
intiphon. Lift up Thine hand, O God :
Forget not those who are in misery.
Wherefore should the wicked despise God ? "'
(While) he saith in his heart — " Thou wilt not require it."
n Thou hast seen !
For Thou beholdest ungodliness and wrong,
To recompense it with Thy hand.
The troubled in heart committeth^ (himself) unto Thee,
For Thou art the helper^ of the fatherless.
U/ Break Thou the power of the wicked and malicious,
Search after his wickedness till Thou find none.
The Lord is King for ever and ever !
And the heathen are perished out of the land.
' " I will help the oppressed from him that scoffeth at him ; " (Ps. xii. 5 ;)
" All they that see me laii£;h me to scorn ; " (Ps. xxii. 19 ;) " Which speak
scornful things against the righteous, being filled with pride and contempt ; "
(Ps. xxxi. 10 ;) " As with a sword in my bones mine enemies reproach me ;"
(Ps. xlii. 10;) "They speak wickedly (concerning their) oppression;"
(Ps. Ixxiii. 8;) "Our enemies laugh us to scorn ; " (Ps. Ixxx. 6 ;) "Our soul is
utterly filled with the scornful derision of the wealth}', and with the contempt
of the proud." (Ps. cxxiii. 4.) See also Is. lix. 13.
■-' See letter k *i * Paronomasia. Ozav and Ozar.
32 THE BOOK OF PSALMS,
j*l f Thou liast heard the desire of the afflicted, 0 Lord !
Aaliphon. jH \ Thou preparest their heart,
r\ I Thine ear hearkeneth (thereto) —
Eim)lioncm. '^^ J^^^S*^ ^^^^ fatherless and oppressed,
That the man of tlie earth be no more exalted against tliem.
PSALM XL
To the chief Musician.
A Psalm of David.
TiST THE LORD put I my trust !
How say ye then to my soul —
" Flee (as) a bird (to) your hill :
" For lo, the ungodly bend their bow,
" And make ready their arrows upon the string,
" To shoot in ambush at those who are true of heart.
" For the foundations will be cast down :
" And what can the righteous do ? " ^
THE LORD is in His holy temple !
THE LORD ! His seat is in heaven !
His eyes behold,
His eyelids try the children of men.
The Lord trieth the righteous ; [soul abhorreth.
But the ungodly, and him that delighteth in wickedness, His
Upon the ungodly He shall rain snares.
Fire and brimstone, storm and tempest :
(This shall be) the portion of their cup.
For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness :
Anttphon. jj.g countenance beholdeth the upright of heart.
1 The Bishop of Lincoln well compares this to Ps. iv.— "There be many
that say— ' Who will show us any gooilT Luid. lilt riiur up the light of
Thy countfiianei- upon us."
PSALM XII. 33
PSALM XII.
To the chief Musician upon the eight-stringed lyre.
A Psalm of David.
Help me, O Lord !
For there is not one godly man left !
For the faithful are minished from among the children of men.
They speak of vanity" every man with his neighbour :
With a deceitful lip, and with a double heart,^ do they speak.
The Lord shall root out all deceitful lips,
And the tongue that speaketh proud ^ things.
Which have said — " With our tongue will we prevail :
" Our lips are our own : who is Lord over us ? "
" Because of the oppression of the poor,
*' Because of the deep sighing of the needy,
" I will arise," saith the Lord,
" I will help them from him that scoffeth at them."
' Heh. " with a heart and a heart."
2.3 << Pride" and "vanity" iu the Bible often have the meaning of infi-
delity and superstition, of atheism and idolatrj'. The proud of heart are
described iu Ps. x. and xiv. : the followers after vain gods in Deut. xxxii. 21 ;
1 Kings xvi. 13, 26 ; Jer. viii. 19 ; xiv. 22 ; and Jonah ii. 8. Often they are
grouped together. Compare the following : —
0 ye sons of men,
How long will ye blaspheme (the object of) my glory ?
Will ye love vanity ? Will ye seek after deceit ? (Ps. iv. 2.)
Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity,
And hath not sworn to (idols of) deceit. (Ps. xxiv. 4.)
I have not sat with the followers of vanity.
And with the deceitful will I not hold fellowship. (Ps. xxvi. 4.)
Thou hatest all them that adhere to lying vanities. (Ps. xxxi. 6.)
And hath turned not unto the proud,
Ifor to such as go after lying (gods). (Ps. xl. 4.)
34 THE BOOK OP PSALMS,
The words of the Lord
Are pure words ;
As silver refined in a furnace of fire,
Purified seven times.
Thou wilt preserve them, 0 Lord ;
Thou wilt keep them from this generation for ever ;
(In which) the ungodly walk on every side,
When (they see) violent men exalted to power.
PSALM XIIL
To the chief Musician,
A Psalm of David.
xiOW long wilt Thou forget me, 0 Lord !
For ever !
How long wilt Thou hide Thy face from me !
How long shall I seek counsel in my soul,
And be so vexed in my heart continually !
How long shall mine enemy triumph over me !
Look on me, and hear me, 0 Lord, my God !
Lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death ;
Lest mine enemy say — " I have prevailed against him ;
(Lest) they that distress me rejoice when I am troubled.
But as for me : —
My trust is in Thy mercy,
Aniiphon. My ^^^^^^ is joyful in Thy salvation :
I will sing unto the Lord ;
For He hath dealt lovingly with me.
PSALM XIV. 36
PSALM XIV.
To the chief 3fusician.
A Psalm of David.
J. HE fool hath said in his heart —
"There is no God"!
They are become corrupt,
Antiphon. They are become abominable in their doings :
There is none that doeth good !
The Lord looked down* from heaven
Upon the children of men,
To see if there Avere (any that) would understand,
That would seek after God,
They are all gone out of the way,
Antivhon "^^^J '^^'^ ^^ together become abominable :
There is none that doeth good :
There is not even one !
Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge,
Eating up my people, as they would eat bread !
They have not called upon the Lord !
There were they in great fear :
But God is in the generation of the righteous.
Ye have made a mock at the counsel ^ of the poor,
When THE LORD was his refuge !
Oh that salvation were given unto Israel out of Sion !
Antiphon. When the Lord turneth the captivity of His people —
Jacob shall rejoice,
Israel shall be riglit glad.
1 See 2 Kinf];s xviii. 19, 20. —"What confidence is this wherein thou
trustest ? Tliou suyest, but they arc hut vain words, I have counsel and
strength for the war. Now on wliom dost thou trust ? "
D 2
36
THE BOOK OP PSALMS.
PSALM XV.
A Psalm of David.
0 LORD !
Proem. Who shall dwell in THY tabernacle?
Who shall rest upon THY holy hill?
XXE who walketh uprightly,
And worketh righteousness :
He who speaketh the trutli from his heart,
And hath not slandered with his tongue :
He who hath done no evil to his neiglibour,
And hath not taken up a reproach against him :
He in whose eyes a vile person is contemned,
And who maketh much of them that fear the Lord
He who sweareth unto his neighbour,^
And disappointeth him not :
He who giveth not his money upon usury,
And who taketh no reward against the innocent.
Whoso doeth these things
Epiphonem. gj^^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^
PSALM XVI.
" Michiam" of David,
P,.^^,_ Preserve me, o Lord,
For in THEE have I put my trust.
X HAVE said unto the Lord —
" THOU art my Lord !
" My desire- is to nothing^ besides^ THEE,
'* And to the saints of tlio eaitlx.
' Heh. " He who swciiretli to liis own disadvantage,
" And clmiif^oth not. "
*^Comparc Prov. xxii. 1. ^•■^ Paronomasia.
PSALM XVII. 37
** They and the excellent (are my desire) :
" All my delight is in them."
They shall have great trouble ^
That hasten after other (gods).*
I will not pour out their drink-offerings of blood :
I will not make mention of their names within my lips
(The LORD Himself is the portion of mine inheritance and of
I Thou shalt maintain my lot. [my cup :
I The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places :
' Yea, I have a goodly heritage.
I will thank the Lord for giving me warning :
My reins also chasten me in the night season
I have set the Lord always before me :
Because He is on my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Wherefore my heart is glad, and my souP rejoiceth ;
My flesh also shall rest in hope.
For Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell :
Thou wilt not suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption.
Thou wilt show me the path of life ;
nliphon. In THY presence is the fulness of joy :
At THY right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
PSALM XVII.
A Prayer of David.
Hear the right, 0 Lord !
Consider my complaint :
Hearken unto my prayer
Which goeth not out of feigned lips.
Let my judgment come forth from Thy presence.
Let Thine eyes look upon the thing that is right
Thou hast proved my heart.
Thou hast visited it in the night season :
Thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing ;
For I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress
>•' Paronomasia: the word aLmbbcem, "idols," being understood.
II cb. " frlory," hy metonymy.
38 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
As for this world :^ — By the words of Thy lips
1^ have kept me from the ways of the destroyer.
0 hold Thou up my goings in Thy paths,
That my footsteps slip not.
I' have called upon Thee :
.... For Thou wilt hear me, 0 God !
Aniiphon. '
Incline ihme ear to me,
Hearken unto my words.
Show Thy mercy. Thou who savest them that trust (in Thee)»
From such as resist Thy right hand.
Keep me as the apple of an eye ;
Hide me under the shadow of Thy wings ;
From the ungodly that trouble me,
From the enemies of my soul who compass me about.
They are enclosed in their own fat :
Their mouth speaketh proud things.
They have compassed us in our steps,
They have set their eyes bowing down to the earth,
Like a lion that is greedy of his prey.
And like a lion's whelp, lurking in secret places.
Arise, 0 Lord !
Disappoint his expectations : cast him down :
Deliver my soul from the ungodly (by) THY sword :'
From men who are but mortals, (by) THY hand,^ 0 Lord ;
From men who are but mortals of this world ;
Who have their portion in this life,
And whose bellies Thou fillest with Thy hid (treasure).
They have children at their desire ;
And they leave their substance to their babes.
As for me :
AntiphonM shall behold Thy presence in righteousness :
I shall be satisfied when I awake, with Thy likeness.
' JTeb. "As to the works of man : — "
-•2 The / in each case is emphatic in the original : in order to urge his
request before God.
"•^ That "sword "and "hand" are not in apposition with the preceding
substantives, as in authorized version, is evident from the whoh^ context, but
especially from the first distich in the foregoing paragraph — "From such as
resist Thy right hand."
* This antiphon corresponds with the antiphon of last Psalm.
rsALM XVI II. 39
PSALM XVIIT.
To the chief Musician. — 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 : —
I WILL love ' Thee, O Lord, my strengtli !
fTho Lord (is) my Rock, iny fortress, and my deliverer ;
My Rock (is) I\1V GOD ■.- in IITM will I trust !
L(He is) my buckler, and tlio horn of my salvation ; my high tower !
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to he ^iraised ;
So shall I he safe from mine enemies.
X HE cords of death compassed me.
The floods of ungodliness '"^ made mo afraid :
Tlie cords of hell came about me,
The snares of death overtook me.
In my trouble I called upon the Lord,
I cried unto my God.
So did He hear my voice out of His holy temple,
And my cry came befoi'C Him, even into His ears.
The earth trembled,* and was troubled ;*
The foundations of the mountains shook and were removed,
Because He was wroth !
There went a smoke out of Hia nostrils,
And a consuming fire out of His raouth,
So that coals were kindled at it.
He bowed the heavens, and came down.
And there was darkness under His feet :
He rode upon the cherubim, and did fly ;
He soared upon the wings of the wind.
He made darkness as a covering^ round about His habitation :
Even dark waters, and thick clouds of the sky.
' Rokham; to love tenderly. Here only.
^ Hcb. "my ood is my rock." See v. 31, "Who is a rock except ottr
GOD ?" See also Ps. xxxi., where the Heb. is very emphatic : —
" And be Thou my strong liocK, and my castle of salvation :
For my strong rock and my castle art thou ! "
3 Hch. "Belinl." '•,4 raronomasia, see Essay ii.
* lleh. "His secret place."
40 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
At the brightness of His presence
There issued from His thick clouds
Hailstones and coals of tire.
The Lord thundered out of heaven,
And the Highest gave His thunder,
Hailstones, and coals of fire.
He sent out His arrows, and scattered them :
He cast forth lightnings, and destroyed them.
The springs of "waters were seen,
And the foundations of the world were discovered,
At THY chiding, 0 Lord,
At the blasting of the breath of Thy displeasure.
He sent from on high, He took me ;
He drew me out of many waters.
He delivered me from my strong enemy.
And from those who hated me, who were too mighty for me.
Tliey pressed upon me in the day of my trouble :
But the Lord was my upholder.
He brought me forth also, into a place of liberty :
He delivered me, because He had a favoiu" unto me.
J f 1 on "^^^^ Lord will reward me after my righteous dealing :
After the cleanness of my hands will He recompense me.
Because I have kept the ways of the Lord,
And have not wickedly forsaken my God.
For all His statutes are before me ;
And His commandments will 1 not cast from me.
I was also uncorrupt before Him ;
T eschewed mine own wickedness.
> ,. t Therefore Avill the Lord reward me after my righteous dealing;
After the cleanness of my hands in His eyesight.
With the merciful. Thou wilt show Thyself mercifid ;
"With the upright, Thou wilt show I'hyself upright :
"\^'ith the jjure. Thou wilt show thyself pure ;
And with the froward. Thou wilt show Thyself adverse.
For Thou wilt save the pcoi)le that are in adversity ;
Thou wilt bring down the high looks of the proud.
For Thou wilt make my light to burn ;
The Lord my God will make my darkness to be light.
For by Thee I shall break through the host ;
And by the help of my God I sliall scale the wall.
PSALM xviir.
41
As for GOD : His ■way is perfect :
TJie word of the Lord is tried ;
He is the defender of all them that put their trust in Him.
ion. For who is God, but THE LORD ?
Or who is a Rock, except OUR GOD ?
It is GOD that girdeth me with strength,
And maketh my way perfect.
He maketh my feet like harts' feet,
And setteth me in high pLices.
He guideth my hands in the war ;
And mine arms shall break even a bow of brass.
r Thou hast given unto mo the shield of Thy salvation :
/ And Thy right liand shall hold me up,
I And Thy loving correction shall make me great.
Thou wilt make wide my footsteps under me,
That my feet shall not slide.
I shall follow after mine enemies, and overtake them :
And I will not turn again, until I have destroyed them.
I will smite them that they shall not be able to stand ;
T>ut they shall fall under my feet.
Thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle ;
Thou wilt subdue mine enemies under me.
The necks of mine enemies hast Thou given to (my feet) :^
And I shall destroy them that hate me.
They shall cry, but there will be none to help them :
Unto the Lord shall they cry ; but He will not help them.
^ Heb. "given to me." The word "feet" occurs three Imes previously.
Compare Josh. x. 24, " Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these
kings ; and they came near and put their feet upon the necks of them."
Bfihohmian CyUinler In tlir. Author s possession.
42 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
I shall grind them (as small) as the dust before the •wind :
I shall cast them out, as the clay in the streets.
Thou wilt deliver me from the strivings of the people ;
Thou wilt make me tlie head of the heathen :
A people whom I have not known, shall serve me.
)^ As soon as they hear of me,^ they shall obey me :
The children of the stranger shall submit to me ;
The children of the stranger shall fade away ;
And they shall be afraid in their borders.
THE LORD LIVETH !
And blessed be my Rock,
And praised be the God of my salvation I
It is GOD who hath avenged me,
"Who hath subdued the nations under me.
It is HE who hath delivered me from mine enemies,
Who hath set me up above mine adversaries,
Who hath rescued me from the man of violence.
Therefore will I give thanks unto THEE, 0 Lord, among the heathen
And unto THY Kame will I sing psalms.
He giveth salvation unto His king,
And showeth mercy unto His anointed,
Unto David, and to his seed, for evermore.
PSALM XIX.
To the cldef Mimcian. — A Psahn of David.
J. HE heavens declare the glory of GOD,
And the firmament showeth HIS handiwork !
Day unto day uttereth speech.
And night unto night showeth knowledge !
There is neither speech^ nor language
"Where their voice is not heard :
^ Hcb. " At tlie hearing of the car."
2 To reail lierc, as many modern conimcr.tators do — " Thryhni-r neither spppeh
nor laugii;igp," would be a coutradietiou to what has been already statcil—
PSALM XIX. 43
Their sound is j^one out into all lands,
And their words unto the ends of the world.
In them hath lie set a tabernacle for the sun,
Which is as a bridegroom, coming out of his chamber.
And rejoiceth as a giant to run his course.
It goeth forth from the uttermost part of the heaven,
And runneth about unto the end of it again ;
And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
The law of the Lord is perfect,
Converting the soul :
The testimony of the Lord is sure,
Giving wisdom unto the simple.
The statutes of the Lord are right,
Rejoicing the heart :
The commandment of the Lord is pure,
Giving light unto the eyes :
The fear of the Lord is clean.
Enduring for ever :
The judgments of the Lord are true,
And righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold.
Yea, than much fine gold :
Sweeter also than honey.
And the droppings of the honey-comb.
Moreover by them is Thy servant taught,
And in keeping of them there is great reward.
Who can tell how oft he offendeth !
0 cleanse Thou me from my secret faults.
Keep Thy servant also from presumptuous sins,
Let them not get dominion over me :
So shall I be undefiled,
And I shall be innocent from the great offence.
Let the words of my mouth
Aniiphwi -^^^ ^^^^ meditations of my heart
Bo acceptable in Thy sight,
0 Lord, my strength, and my Eedeemer !
"Daj'unto dayuttereth speech:" (the same •^•ord iu the Hebrew:) whereas the
authorized version, referring to nations of diflerent speech and hinguage, agrees
not only with the foregoing verse, but also with what immediately follows : —
" Their sound is gone out into all lands, and their words unto the ends of the
world. "
44 THE BOOK OP PSALMS.
PSALM XX.
To the chief Musician. — A Psalm of David.
[A Prater for the King.]
i HE Lord hear thee in the day of trouble,
Tlie name of the God of Jacob defend thee :
Send thee help from the sanctuary,
And strengthen thee out of Sion :
Remember all tliy offerings,
And accept thy burnt sacrifice. ^^JJ
Grant thee thy heart's desire,
And fulfil all thy mind.
We will rejoice in thy salvation,
We will tiiumph in the name of our God.
The Lord perform all thy petitions.
Now know I that the Lord helpeth His anointed,
And will hear him from His holy heaven,
Even with the saving strength of His right hand.
Some put their trust in chariots ; and some in horses :
l>ut we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
They are brought down, and fallen :
But we are risen, and stand upright.
. ... Lord, save the king ;
Ana near us in our prayer.
PSALM XXI.
To the chief Musician. — A Psalm of David.
[The King's Answer.]
0 LORD !
In THY strength shall the king be glad :
In THY salvation shall he exceedingly rejoice.
Thou hast given him his heart's desire,^
Thou hast not denied him the request of his lips.
1 See verse 4 of preceding Psalm, line 7.
PSALM XXII. 45
For Thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness ;
Thou settest a crown of pure gold upon his head.
He asked life of Thee ;
And Thou gayest him length, of days, for ever and ever.
His glory is great in THY salvation :
Honour and majesty hast Thou laid upon him.
For Thou wilt give him everlasting felicity ;
Thou wilt make him glad witli the joy of Thy countenance.
For the king putteth his trust in the Lord ;
And in the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved.
All Thine enemies shall feel Thy hand :
Thy right hand shall find out them that hate Thee.
Thou shalt make them like a fiery furnace
In the time of Thy coming :^
The Lord shall swallow them up in His anger,
And the fire shall consume them.
Their fruit shalt Thou root out of the earth, ,
And their seed from among the children of men.
For they intended evil against Thee :
They imagined devices which they could not perform.
Therefore shalt Thou put them to flight ;2
The strings of Thy (bow) shalt Thou prepare against them.
Be Thou exalted, O Lord, in Thine own strength !
n. ij) M . ^^^jj^ ^g ^^Y[ sing, and sing psalms to Thy power.
PSALM XXIL
To the chief ihisician tipon Ajilcth^-Shahar.
TTT ^ Psalm of David.
Mi LI, ELI!
Lama sahacthani !
MY GOD, MY GOD !
Why hast Thou forsaken me !
.... so far from my help,
the words of my complaint !*
^ Heb. "presence. See Ps. ix. 3. ^ ffeb. "turn the shoulder."
» See Josk. x. 12 ; Judges xii. 12. Probably a musical instrument of
i^jalon. And art )
* Aposiopesis, denoting intense feeling. The words^^ , ^^ > bemg under*
stood.
4G THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
0 my God !
I cry in the day-time, and Then hearest not :
In the night season also, and that without ceasing.
But THOU art holy,
THOU who inhabitest the praises of Israel.
Our fathers trusted in THEE,
They trusted in THEE, and Thou didst deliver them.
They called upon THEE, and were holpen :
They put their trust in THEE, and were not confounded.
But as for me : —
I am a worm, and no man :
A reproach of men, and despised of the people.
All they tliat see me laugh me to scorn :
They shoot out the lip, they wag the head, (saying — )
" He trusted in God, that He would deliver him :
"Let Him deliver him, if He will have him."
But Thou art He that took me from the womb :
THOU wast my hope, Avhen I hanged yet upon my mother's
Unto THEE was I cast, from the womb : [breasts.
From the womb of my mother, THOU art my God.
Be not far from me :
Jntiphon. jTyj. trouble is near ; there is none to help !
Many bulls have come about me :
Mighty (bulls) of Basan compass me about.
They gape upon me with their mouths,
As it were a ravening and a roaring lion.
I am poured out like water,
And all my bones are out of joint :
My heart is like wax ;
It is melted in the midst of my bodj\
My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
My tongue cleavcth to my jaws, •
And Thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
For dogs have surrounded me.
The congregation of the wicked have enclosed me.
They pierced my liands and my feet ;
I may tell all my bones. •
As for them, they look (at me!)
They stare at me !
PSALM xxir. 4<
They part my garments among tliem,
And upon my vesture do they cast lots.
>-,j,^ But TIIOU, 0 God : be not far from me !
O my strength, haste ihee to help me !
Deliver my soul from the sword ;
My life^ from the power of the dog;
Save me from the mouth of the lion ;
And hear me from the horns of the buffaloes. ^
^ Ileb. "My only one."
2 Various atteni])ts have been made to determine what animal this was
from which David had been delivered. Because we are told that in his occu-
pation as a .shepherd in his youth, he had to encounter wild animals, which
lie calls the "lion" and the "bear," commentators have sought to discover
some formidable horned-animal whiclumight have been living in Palestine at
that time. The word in Hebrew is D*""!, or DN"1, Eaim or Eeem. In the pas-
sage before us "horns" are in the plural, but raim is also in the plural,
"Kaimeem" ; but in Ps. xcii. 10 wo have "horn" in the siugular, and realm in
the singular also. But in that passage there is an ellipsis, and we are not at all
certain whether it should be supplied with the words "the horn" or "the
horns." " Thou hast lifted my horn as {IJiut or thoae of) the reaim." We may,
however, take it for granted that it was this particular passage which led the
Seventy to translate the word by ixovoKepwrwv ; from which we, following
Jerome's Latin translation, have '■^unicorn." Now although it is not necessary
to limit our choice to animals indigenous to Palestine,, or even to take a
realistic view of these passages, by supposing that David had ever been in
danger from any such animal, yet M'e must have strong evidence adduced
before we cm\ assert that David believed in, or adopted, so fabulous an animal
as a unicorn. If we accept the " one-horned" animal of the Septuagint, our
choice will be between a unicorn and a rhinoceros. It has been remarked by a
late writer that in Arabic and Persian monuments we have representations of
an animal that looks like a imicorn. One of these monuments was bought
by the author about thirty years ago at Aleppo. It is a metal vase of
great antiquity, and bears the names of the twelve Imams who succeeded
Mahomet, under each of whom is an animal typifying the individur.l. One
of these animals appears to be eating thistles or pomegranates. Though it looks
48 TUE BOOK OF PSALMS.
I will declare Thy name unto my brethren,
In the midst of the congregation will I praise Thee,
Antiphm. r Praise the Lord, all ye that fear Him :
/ Magnify Him, all ye seed of Jacob,
L And fear Him, all ye seed of Israel :
like a unicorn, it bears the name of SJS p karhand, rhinoceros ; possibly
because the Arabs have no special name lV>r the unicorn. Curiously enough
the word rcem does occur in Arabic, . , but it is the name of the white doe.
The head and horn are certainly those of a unicorn, though the body, from its
heaviness, might oqnally be taken for that of a rhinoceros. There is, however,
no authority lor this translation by the Seventy. Not only is the passage
from which this hypothesis seems founded, equally capable, as we have seen,
of referringto two horns instead of one horn ; but in Ueut. xxxiii. 17 we have
" horns " in the plural, and rahn in the singular, " the horns of a raira," and
as this is the only positive example on the subject, we must conclude, notwith-
standing the translation of the Seventy, that the animal was two-horned. In
this last-mentioned passage, and in Is. xxxiv. 7, the raim is coupled with the
bullock ; in Ps. xxix. he is coujiled with a calf ; while in the book of Job,
ch. xxxix., he is contrasted with an ox ; thus showing an aflinity with
domestic cattle in all these passages : but the animal is wild, and possessed
of great strength, (Num. xxiii.22,) and is furnished with terrible "horns with
which he pusheth to the ends of the earth." (I)cut. xxxiii. 17.) He is an
animal that cannot, like the ox, "serve" man, or "abide in the crib," or
assist in "labour," or "bring home the seed," or "gather it into the barn."
The raim of Job, then, is the wild buffalo, the bison, or the wild ox, [urus,) an
animal which, from its resemblance to the ox, one might be tempted to think
of employing as such, but which from its wildness would fnistrate all efforts
at so doing.
We shall find this deduction confirmed by the study of the epanodos.
David, as a poet, made use of these animals and other illustrations, meta-
phorically. Behemoth, Belial, beasts of the field, and boars out of the wood,
bulls of Bashan, calves, dogs, the hippo])otamus or beast of the reeds, levia-
than, the lion, the raim ami the tanneen, sheep, swords and arrows, horn and
heel, wings and feathers, vines, cedars, and olive branches — these and others
are introduced figuratively to heighten the description. As an illustration of
these metaphors, we will take a passage in the sixty-eighth Psalm —
He will rebuke the beasts of the reeds,
With the herds of bulls,
And the calves of the nations.
Till they submit themselves with pieces of silver :
He will scatter the nations that delight in war.
Princes shall come out of Egypt,
Ethiopia shall stretch out her hands unto God.
Here we see that the "beasts of the reeds" designate Ethiopia; "bnlls"
represent the princes of Egypt; and "calves" the leaders of the nations.
The e2)anodos has thus been of use in explaining some of these metaphors.
Let us now ai)ply it to the passage before us in the twenty-second Psalm —
PSALM XXII. 49
He hatli not despised nor abhorred
The low estate of the poor :
He hath not hid his face from him ;
But when he called upon Him, He heard him.
, My praise is of THEE in the great congregation :
'^P °^- -^y vows will I perform in the sight of them that fear Hinv.
The poor shall eat, and be satisfied ;
They who seek the Lord shall praise Him :
Your heart shall live for ever. [Lord :
All the ends of the world shall remember, and turn unto the
All the kindreds of the nations also shall worship before Him.
For the kingdom is THE LORD'S,
And HE is the Governor among the nations.
All they that are in health^ are fed (by Him) and worship (Him ;)
All they that go down to the dust shall bow before Him :
And his own soul can no (man) keep alive.
Mighty (bulls) of Bashan compass me about :
As it were a ramping and a roaring lion.
For dogs have surrounded me.
They pierced my hands and my feet.
Deliver my soul from the sword,
My life from the power of the dog :
Save me from the mouth of the lion.
And hear me from the horns of the raim.
By this it is quite clear that as "piercing" corresponds with "sword,"
"dogs" with "dog," and "lion" with "lion;" so the raim corresponds
with "bulls of Bashan," or the wild buffalo of Job. The "dog" would refer
to the vilest of the people, the " lion " to those who lie in wait for blood, and
the wild buffalo to the headstrong and violent. Thus then, while we have
established that the animal here referred to is the wild buffalo, we are not
to suppose that David had ever been in danger from such an animal, or that
he prayed God to be delivered from it. The whole passage, like that in
Ps. Ixviii., is figurative : and he prays God to deliver him from his enemies,
whose blasphemous rage he likens to the barking of a dog, their cruelty to
the tearing and rending of a lion, and their violence to the fury of a wild
buffalo.
^ Heb. " All the fat upon earth." As both Jews and Pagans gave thanks
to God in eating, ( " He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, and giveth God
thanks ;") so men, by the very act of eating, admit that they live only by
God.
50 TIIK BOOK OF PSALMS.
(My) seed shall serve Iliin :
It sliall be counted unto the Lord for a generation.
They shall come, and shall declare His righteousness,
Unto a pen])le that shall be born,
That HK hath done (it)!'
PSALM XXIII.
A Fsalm of David.
i-HE Lord is my Shepherd !
Therefore can I lack nothing !
He will feed me in a green pasture,
He will lead me forth beside the waters of comfort.
He will convert my soul,
He will bring me forth in the paths of righteousness,
For His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil ;
For Timu art with me !
THY rod and THY staff— they comfort me !
Thou preparest a table before me
Against them that trouble me :
Thou hast anointed my head with oil,
And my cup shall be full.
Truly, Thy loving-kinJncss and mercy shall follow me
All the days of mv life :
Antiplwn. j^^j^ J gi^j^ij ^^^,^Y[ in the house of the Lord
For ever and ever ! -
1 See John xix. 30, " It is finished : " or " (Wliat) He hath wrought." See
Num. xxiii. 23.
2 Ileb. " fur length of days."
I'roem.
PSALM XXIV. 51
PSALM XXIV.
A Psalm of David.
X HE earth is the Lord's, and all therein is :
The world, and they that dwell therein.
For he hath founded it upon the seas,
And prepared it upon the floods.
YV HO shall ascend into the hill of the Lord 1
Or who shall rise up in His holy place 1
i He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart ;
' Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity,
L And hath not sworn to (idols of) deceit.^
He shall receive the blessing from .the Lord,
And righteousness fi-om the God of his salvation.
This is the generation of them that seek Him ;
Even of them that seek Thy face, O Jacob. ^
Lift up your heads, O ye gates,
And be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors ;
And the King of glory shall come in !
" "Wlio is this King of glory ? "
It is THE LORD, strong and mighty !
It is THE LORD, mighty in battle !
Double
I ip on. -j^j^j^ ^p y^^^ heads, O ye gates.
And be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors ;
And the King of glory shall come in !
" Who is this King of glory ? "
It is THE LORD OF HOSTS !
He is the King of glory !
1 See note to Ps. xii. 2—4. - (0 God of Jacob.)
K 2
52 THE BOOK OP PSALMS.
PSALM XXV.
A Psalm of David,
^ Unto thee, O Lord, will I lift up my soul, 0 my GOD
Jnfdphon. 13 In THEE have I put my trust !
0 let me not be confounded,
0 let not mine enemies triumph over me.
J For all they that hope in THEE, shall not be ashamed :
They shall be ashamed who transgress without cause.
"T Show me Thy ways, 0 Lord :
Teach me Thy paths.
n Lead me in Thy truth,
1 And teach me :
For THOU art the God of my salvation ;
In THEE do I hope all the day long.
T Remember Thy tender mercies, 0 Lord,
And Thy loving-kindnesses, which have been ever of old.
n The sins and offences of my youth, remember not :
But according to Thy mercy remember Thou me ;
For Thy goodness' sake, 0 Lord.
i2 Gracious and righteous is the Lord :
Therefore will He teach sinners in the way.
^ Them that are meek will He guide in judgment,
And such as are meek will He teach His way.
J All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth,
L^nto such as keep His covenant, and His testimonies.
7 For Thy name's sake, 0 Lord,
Be merciful unto my sin : for it is great !
f2 What man is he that feareth the Lord?
Him shall He teach in the way that He shall choose.
3 His soul shall dwell at ease.
And his seed shall inherit the land.
D The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him
And He will show them His covenant.
p Mine eyes are ever looking unto the Lord :
For He shall pluck my feet out of the net.
^ Turn Thee unto me, and have mercy upon me :
For I am desolate, and in misery.
PSALM XXVI. 53
)S The sorrows of my heart are enlarged,
0 bring Thou me out of my troubles.
* Look upon^ my adversity and misery,
And forgive me all my sin.
1 Behold mine enemies, how many they are :
And they bear a tyrannous hate against me.
Hvhon ^ ^ ^®^P ™y ^°^^' ^^^ deliver me :
Let me not be confounded, for I have put my trust in THEE.
n Let integrity and uprightness preserve me :
For my hope hath been in THEE.
riiphou Deliver Israel, 0 God,
Iphonem. Out of all his troubles.
PSALM XXVL
A Psalm of David,
Bi
E THOU my Judge, 0 Lord, ^5
. , . , For I have walked innocently :
My trust hath been also in the Lord ;
1 will not swerve.^
Examine me, 0 Lord, and prove me :
Try out my reins and my heart.
For Thy loving-kindness is ever before mine eyes.
And I will walk in Thy truth.
I have not sat with the followers of vanity,
And with the deceitful will I not hold fellowship :
I have hated the congregation of the wicked.
And with the ungodly will 1 not sit.
1 Good suggests that HN") "Look upon," or "Beliold," has been substituted
for T\\> Take aivay, or Ecmove, which would give the deficient letter p.
- Heh. "I will not slide." This is the literal translation, and it agrees
with the context,
' See note on Ps. xii. 2 — 4.
54 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
I will wash my hands in innocency,
And so will I go to Thine altar, 0 Lord
That I may show tlie voice of thanksgiving,
And tliat I may tell of all Thy wondrous works.
Lord, I have loved the habitation of Thy house,
And the place where Thine honour dwelleth.
0 shut not up my soul with sinners.
Nor my life with the blood-thirsty :
In whose hands is wickedness.
And their right hand is full of gifts.
As for me :
1 will walk innocently :
Antiphon. 0 deliver me, and be merciful unto me.
My foot standeth right :
I will praise the Lord in the congregation.
PSALM XXVII.
A Psalm oj David.
J. HE LORD is my light and my salvation
Whom then shall I fear ?
THE LORD is the strength of my life !
Of whom then shall I be afraid 1
When the wicked came upon me,
To eat up my flesh ;
Even mine enemies and my foes,
They stumbled and fell.
Though a host encamp against me.
Yet shall not my heart be afraid ;
Though war should rise against me.
Yet will I put my trust in llim.
PSALM XXVII. 65
One (thing) have I asked of the Lord,
TJiafc will I desire : —
Even that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life :
To behold the fair beauty of the Lord,
And to visit His temple.
For He will hide me in His tabernacle
In the day of trouble :
He will hide me in the secret places of His pavilion ;
He will set me on a rock.
And now will He lift up mine head
Above mine enemies round about me.
I will sacrifice in His tabernacle sacrifices with shouting :
I will sing ; I will sing psalms unto the Lord.
Hearken unto my voice, 0 Lord, when I cry unto Thee :
Have mercy upon me, and hear mo !
To Thee (saying) — " Seek ye my face,"
My heart answereth — Thy face, Lord, will I seek.
0 hide not Thou Thy face from me,
0 cast not Thou Thy servant away in displeasure.
Thou hast been my succour : leave me not,
Neither forsake me, 0 God of my salvation !
When my father and my mother forsake me,
The Lord taketh mo wp.
Teach me Thy way, 0 Lord,
And lead me in the right way.
Because of mine enemies.
Deliver me not over into the will of mine adversaries.
For false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe
Unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord [violence.
In the land of the living — (I should utterly have fainted.)
Put thou thy trust in the Lord :
. Be strong (in the Lord,) and He will strengthen thy heart
Put thou thy trust in the Lord.
56 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM XXVIIL
A Psalm oj David.
Unto thee, O Lord, will I cry, 0 my Eock !
Be not silent unto me :
Lest, (if) THOU be silent unto me,
I become like them that go down into the pit.
Hear the voice of my humble petitions
When I cry unto Thee ;
When I lift up my hands
Towards the mercy-seat of Thy holy temple.
0 pluck me not away with the ungodly,
Nor with the workers of iniquity ;
Who speak friendly to their neighbours,
But imagine mischief in their hearts.
Give them according to their deeds ;
According to the Avickedness of their own inventions
According to the work of their hands give them ;
Pay them that they have deserved.
For (as) they regard not in their mind
The works of the Lord,
Or the operation of His hand ;
He will break them down, and not build them up.
Praised be the Lord !
For he hath heard the voice of my humble petitions.
The Lord is my strength, and my shield :
Autiphwi. -j^jy YiQuxi hath trusted in Him, and I am helped :
Therefore my heart danceth for joy,
And in my song will I praise Him.
The Lord is my strength ;
And He is the saving strength of His anointed.
8ave Thy people.
And give Thy blessing unto Thine inheritance
Feed them,^ and carry them,
For ever !
1 As a shepherd.
PSALM XXIX. 57
PSALM XXIX.
A Psalm of David.
Give unto TPIE lord, O ye mighty,!
Pronii ^^^® voaio THE LORD glory and worslaip :
Give unto THE LORD the glory due unto His name ;
^Worship THE LORD in the beauty of holiness.
.1 HE voice of THE LORD is upon the waters,
The God of glory commandeth the thunder,
THE LORD is upon many waters.
The voice of THE LORD is powerful,
Antiphon. The voice of THE LORD is full of majesty,
The voice of THE LORD breaketh the cedar trees.
THE LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon,
He maketh them also to skip like a calf,
Lebanon also, and Sirion,^ lite a young buffalo.
The voice of THE LORD cleaveth the flames of fire,
inliphon. The voice of THE LORD shaketh^the wilderness;
THE LORD shaketh® the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of THE LORD maketh the hinds to shake,
He layeth bare the trees of the forest ;
In His temple doth everything speak of His glory.
THE LORD sitteth upon the water-flood,
THE LORD sitteth a King for ever !
)i rpwii. ^,jj^ LORD will give strength unto His people :
THE LORD will give His people the blessing of peace.
[It will be seen from the following arrangement that the fore-
going Psalm forms an epanodos ; and it is remarkable that it is
precisely similar in form to that of the sixty-seventh Psalm.]
^ Hcb. " sons of God," i.e. the holy angels.
'^ In the original this line begins with the same letter.
■^ Mount Hermou, i.e. Anti-Lebanon. See Deut. iii. 8, 9.
* Realm. ^- *• ^ Heb. "to be in labour."
58 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
[ATiother Arrangement. ]
Give unto the lord, O ye mighty,
Give unto THE LORD glory and worship :
Give unto THE LORD the glory due unto His name ;
'Worship THE LORD in the beauty of holiness.
The voice of THE LORD is upon the waters,
The God of glory coniniandeth the thunder,
THE LORD is upon many waters.
The voice of THE LOltD is powerful,
The voice of THE LORD is full of majesty.
The voice of THE LORD breaketh the cedar trees.
THE LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon,
He maketh them also to skip like a calf,
Lebanon also, and Sirion, like a young buffalo.
The voice of THE LORD cleaveth the flames of fire.
The voice of THE LORD shaketh the wilderness,
THE LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kade.-^h.
The voice of THE LORD maketh the hinds to shake,
He layeth bare the trees of the forest ;
In His temple doth every man speak of His glory.
THE LORD sitteth upon the water-flood,
THE LORD sitteth a King for ever !
THE LORD will give strength unto His people :
THE LORD will give His people the blessing of peace.
PSALM XXX.
A Psalm or Svng, at (he dedication of the house of David.
I WILL magnify THEE, 0 Lord !
Proem. For Thou hast set me up,
And hast not made my ioes to triumph over me.
* See jiote in preceding page.
PSALM XXXI. 59
0 LORD, MY GOD !
1 cried unto Thee : and Thou hast healed me.
Thou, Lord, hast brought my soul out of hell,
Thou hast kept my life from them that go down to the pit.
Sing psalms unto the Lord, 0 ye saints of His,
And give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
. . , For His wrath endurcth but the twinkling of an eye,
And in His pleasure is life :
Heaviness may endure for a night,
But joy Cometh in the morning.
As for me : — In my prosperity I said —
" I shall never be removed :
" Thou, Lord, of Thy goodness hast made my hill so strong."
Thou didst turn Thy face from me ;
And I was troubled.
Unto THEE, 0 LORD, did I cry,
And unto THE LORD did I make my supplication —
" What profit is there in my blood,
" When I go down to the pit 1
" Shall the dust give thanks to Thee ?
" Shall it declare Thy truth 1
" Hear, 0 Lord, and have mercy upon me :
" Lord, be THOU my helper."
Thou didst turn my heaviness into joy :
Thou hast put off my sackcloth,
And hast girded me with gladness.
ntiphm. Therefore shall my soul sing psalms unto Thee,
Without ceasing :
0 LORD, MY GOD!
I will give thanks unto Thee, for ever !
PSALM XXXL
To the chief 3hisician. — A Psahn of David.
In THEE, 0 Lord, have I put my trust !
niiphon. Let me never be put to shame :
Deliver me in Thy righteousness.
60 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
Bow down Thine ear to me,
Make haste to deliver me :
And be Thou my STRONG ROCK,
And my castle of salvation ■}
For THOU art my strong Kock, and my castle :
And because of Thy name, Thou wilt guide me and lead me.
Draw me out of the net which they have laid privily for me,
For THOU art my strength.
Into Thy hands I commend my spirit.
For THOU hast redeemed me.
0 Lord, Thou God of truth,
Thou hatest all them that adhere to lying idols.^
But as for me :— I have trusted in THE LORD,
' "''''P^'-'^^' I will be glad, and rejoice in Thy mercy.
For Thou hast considered my trouble,
Thou hast known my soul in adversities.
Thou hast not given me over into the hand of the enemy ;
Thou hast set my feet in a large place.
Have mercy upon me, 0 Lord,
For I am in trouble :
And mine eye is consumed for very heaviness,
Yea, my soul and my body.
For my life is waxen old with heaviness.
And my years with mourning.
My strength faileth me because of mine iniquity ;
And my bones are consumed.
1 became a reproach among all mine enemies,
But especially among my neighbours :
And they of mine acquaintance were afraid of me.
And they that did see me witliout lied from me.
I am clean forgotten, as a dead man out of mind ;
I am become like a broken vessel.
For I have heard the slander of the multitude ;
Fear was on every side :
While they conspired together against me,
And purposed to take away my life.
1 Heb. "house of fortresses to save me."
2 Ueb. "lying vanities." See note to I's. xii. 2 — 4.
PSALM xxxr. 61
But as for me :
Uiphon. My hope hath been in THEE, 0 Lord:
I have said— "THOU art my God."
My times are in THY hand : deliver me therefore
From the hands of mine enemies, and from my persecutors.
Show Thy servant the light of Thy countenance :
Save me ibr Thy mercy's sake.
Let me not be put to shame, 0 Lord,
. For I have called upon Thee :
^ ' Let the wicked be put to shame,
And be put to silence in the grave.
Let the lying lips be put to silence,
Which speak scornful things against the righteous :
(Being filled) with pride and contempt.
0 how plentiful is Thy goodness,
Which Thou hast kept for those that fear Thee,
Which Thou hast prepared for those that put their trust in
Before the sons of men ! [Thee,
Thou shalt hide them in the hiding-place of Thy presence.
From the combinings of men :
Thou shalt keep them secretly in Thy tabernacle,
From the strife of tongues.
Blessed be the Lord !
For He hath showed me marvellous great kindness
In a city of strength.
But as for me : — I said in my haste —
" I am cut off from the sight of Thine eyes."
Nevertheless Thou heardest the voice of my prayer.
When I cried unto Thee.
0 love the Lord, all ye His saints :
For the Lord preserveth them that are faithful,
iphonevi. And plenteously rewardeth the proud doer.
Be strong, and He shall strengthen your heart,
All ye who put your trust in the Lord.
62 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM XXXII.
A Psalm of David, giving instruction.
JdLESSED is he whose unrighteousness is forgiven,
And whose sin is covered.
Proem. Blessed is the man
Unto whom the Lord will not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no guile.
-L OR while I held my tongue, my bones consumed away
Through my complaining all the day long :
For Thy hand was heavy upon mc day and night ;
And my moisture was turned into the drought of summer.
I acknowledged my sin unto Thee,
And mine unrighteousness did I not hide.
I said — " I will confess my sins unto the Lord :"
And Thou forgavest the wickedness of my sin !
PhD
For this shall every godly man pray unto Thee
In the time when (Thou) mayest be found :
And in the time of the great water-floods
They shall not come nigh him.
r Thou art a place to hide me in,
Antiphon. '. Thou shalt preserve me from trouble,
[ Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.
I will guide thee, and teach thee in the way thou shalt go;
1 will instruct thee with mine eye.
Be ye not like to horse and mule without understanding,
Whose mouths must be held with bit and bridle, to draw them
Great plagues shall be for the ungodly : [unto thee.
But mercy shall embrace him who trusteth in the Lord.
. , Be glad, and rejoice in the Lord, 0 ye righteous :
PSALM xxxiir. 63
PSALM XXXIII.
DHOUT for joy unto the Lord, 0 ye rigliteous !
For praise is comely to the true of heart.^
'phonal Give thanks unto the Lord with the harp,
•oe/m. Sing psalms unto Him with the ten(-stringed) psaltery.
Sing unto Him a new song,
Strike the chords skilfully, with shouting."
x! OR the word of the Lord is true,
And all His works are faithful.
(He) loveth righteousness and judgment :
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
By the word of the Lord were the heavens made.
And all the hosts of them by the breath of His mouth.
(He) gathereth the waters of the sea together, as a heap ;
(He) layeth up the deep, as in a treasure-house.
Let all the earth fear the Lord :
Stand in awe of him, all ye that dwell in the world.
For He spake — And it was done !
He commanded — And it stood fast !
The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought;
He maketh the devices of the people to be of none effect.
The counsel of the Lord shall endure for ever :
The devices of HIS heart from generation to generation.
Blessed is the nation whose God is THE LORD :
And the people whom He hath chosen to be His inheritance.
The Lord looketh down from heaven ;
He beholdeth all the children of men :
From the habitation of His dwelling
He considereth all tliem that dwell on the earth.
He fashioneth all the hearts of them ;
He understandeth all their works.
^ The opening of this Psalm takes np the conclusion of the last.
* See Ps. xxvii. 6, "sacrifices with shouting."
64 THE BOOK OF P8ALM3.
There is no king that can he saved by the multitude of a host
Neitlier is any mighty man delivered by much strength.
A horse is counted but a vain thing for safety :
Neither shall it deliver by its great strength.
Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear Hi'
Upon them tliat put their trust in His mercy :
To deliver their soul from death,
And to feed them in the time of dearth.
Our soul waiteth upon the Lord :
For HE is our help and our shield.
. . , For our heart shall rejoice in Him,
Because we liave hoped in His holy name.
Let Thy merciful kindness, O Lord, be upon us :
Like as we do put our trust in THEE !
PSALM XXXIV.
Proem.
A Psalm of David :
When he changed his behaviour before Jbimelcch ; v.ho drove him avxiy, and
he departed.
^ V WILL give thanks unto the Lord at all times :
His praise shall ever be in my mouth.
3 My soul shall glory in the Lord :
The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
J O praise the Lord with me,
And let us magnify His name together.
T T SOUGHT the Lord, and He heard me :
Avixpho,. ^^^ Q^^ pf ^^ ^^ trouble He delivered me.
n They had an eye unto Him, and were lightened :
"1 And their faces were not ashamed.
A V hon ^ -"^^^^ P^*^^ TA^u cried, and the Lord heard Him :
And out of all his trouble He delivered him.
n The angel of the Lord encampeth around them that fear Him,
And He delivereth them.
J^ 0 taste and see how gracious the Lord is :
Blessed is the man tl)at trusteth in Him.
PSALM XXXIV. 05
"^ 0 fear the Lord, ye that are Ilis saints:
For they tliat fear Ilini lack nothing.
2 The lions do lack and suffer hunger :
But they who seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.
7 Come, ye children, and hearken unto me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
f2 What man is he that lusteth to live,
And would fain see good days 1
2 Keep thy tongue from evil,
And thy lips that they speak no guile ;
D Eschew evil, and do good ;
Seek peace, and ensue it.
^ The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous,
And His ears are open unto their prayers :
s^ But the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
To root out the remembrance of them from the earth.
, V They cried, and the Lord heard them ;
And out of all their trouble He delivered them.
p The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart,
And He will save such as be of an humble spirit.
phov.
1 Great are the troubles of the righteous ;
But the Lord delivereth him out of all.
J^ (He) keepeth all his bones,
So that not one of them is broken.
Jn But misfortune shall slay the ungodly ;
And they that hate the righteous shall be found guilty.
intiphon. ^j^g Lord delivereth the souls of His servants ;
hiphmicm. "^"^ ^^ ^^^J ^^^* *^^^^ ^° ^^ ^^^^^ ^°^ ^^ found guilty.
The words "The Lord" occur sixteen times in this Psalm, and the
pronoun referring to the Lord also sixteen times.
Err. The word " Him " in second antiphon should be altered to " him.
66 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM XXXV.
A Psalm of David.
StEIVE thou, 0 Lord, with them that strive with mc :
Fight THOU against them that fight against me.
Lay hand upon the shield and buckler,
And stand up to help me.
Stretch out the spear,
And stop the way against them that persecute me :
Say unto my soul —
" I AM THY SALVATION."
Let them be put to shame and dishonour,
That seek after my soul :
n ip ion. j^^^ them be turned back, and brought to confusion,
That devise my hurt.
Let them be as the chaff before the wind,
And the Angel of the Lord scattering (them) :
Let their way be dark and slippery,
And the Angel of the Lord pursuing them.
For without cause have they hid their net for me in a pit :
Without cause have they digged for my soul.
I Let destruction come upon him unawares ;
I Let his net which he hath hid, catch himself ;
I And let him fall into his own destruction.
And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord,
It shall rejoice in His salvation.
All my bones shall say —
" 0 Lord, who is like unto Thee !
" Who deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him:
" Yea, the poor and needy from him that spoileth him."
False witnesses did rise up :
They laid to my charge things that I knew not.
They rewarded me evil for good.
Even to the bereaving of my soul.
rSALM XXXV. bt
As for me : —
When they were sick, I put on sackcloth,
I humbled my soul with fasting ;
And my prayer returned to mine own bosom.
1 behavecl myself as towards my friend or my brother :
I went heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.
But in mine adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered together !
The abjects gathered themselves against me :
And though I regarded not,'
They tore at me, and refrained not.
With unscrupulous parasites "
They gnashed upon me with their teeth.
O Lord, how long wilt Tliou look upon this !
0 deliver my soul from their destructions,
My life ^ from the power of the lions.
Second I will give thanks unto Thee in the great congregation,
\1ti2thon. I will praise Thee among much people.
Let them not rejoice over me that are mine enemies unjustly :
Let them not wink with their eyes that hate me without a cause.
^ Compare —
I was as a deaf man, tliat heareth not,
And as one that is dumb, that doth not open his mouth :
I was as a man that heareth not,
And in whose mouth are no reproofs. (Ps. xxxviii. 13, 14.)
I will keep my month with a hridle,
While the ungodly is in my sight.
I held my tongue, and spake nothing :
I kept silence, even from my right. (Ps. xxxix. 1,2.)
- Hoh. "mockers at feasts^," — "Trencher-friends," vidcf. "plate-lickers "
and " lick-spittles." There is a paronomasia in the original, jiy^ *jy"?-
Compare —
Yea, even mine own familiar friend
Whom I trusted,
Who did also eat of my bread,
Hath laid great wait for me. (Ps. xli. 9.)
They arc summer-friends, who bask ifa the sunshine of pvosper% ; but who
are the lirst to turn upon their benefactors in the hour of adversity. There is
a good play upon words in the French language which distinguishes Vami ffe
cour from Vami du ^-auir.
3 Heb. " My only one."
f2
0^ THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
For their communing is not of poace :
But against the quiet in the land they devise deceitful things.
They open the mouth upon me : they say —
" Aha, aha ! our eyes have seen it ! "
This THOU hast seen, 0 Lord ! ^ Be not silent :
Go not far from me, 0 Lord !
Awake, and stand up to judge my quarrel :
(Avenge Thou) my cause, my God, and my Lord.
Judge me, 0 Lord my God, according to Thy righteousness,
And let them not rejoice over me.
Let them not say in their hearts — " Aha ! so would we have it."-
Let them not say — "We have devoured him."
Let them be put to shame and confusion together,
ji'lrst That rejoice at my stroke : ^
Aii/iphon. Let them be clothed with shame and dishonour,
That magnify themselves against me.
Let them be glad and rejoice
."ircond That delight in my righteousness :
A.diphoiK Let them say always — " O magnify the Lord ! "
Tliat delight in the prosperity of His servant.
And as for my tongue : —
lypiphonem. It shall meditate on THY righteousness.
And of THY praise, all the day long.
' See Ps. X. While he saitli in his lieart, " Thou wilt uot require it."
Thou iiAST seen !
- Heh. "Aha, our soul."
•'' Tills word, nVH) Rook, "that which is evil, or had," is evidently anti-
thetical to " righteousness " in the second antiphon ; and therefore would
signif}' chastisement resulting from supposed sin (compare above — "Aha,
aha ! our ej'es have seen it ! "). These two antiphons are remarkable for the
similarity of their structure, and the contrast of their prayer : the force of
which is heightened by employing the same words, "rejoice" and "magnify."
*^* While in this Psalm David's enemies rejoice at his trouble ; lie himself
rejoices in God, and prays that the righteous may rejoice with him : and while
asserting his own innocence and "righteousness,*' he is mindful to ascribe it
to God, in meditating on his righteousness.
PSALM XXXVI G9
PSALM XXXVI.
To the chief Musician.
A Pnalm of David, the servant of the Lord.
m
Y heart showeth me the wickedness of the ungodly,
That there is no fear of God before his eyes.
For he flattereth himself (till he does not believe that) in HIS
His sin "will be found to be hateful. [eyes
The words of his mouth are unrighteous, and full of deceit :
He hath left off to behave himself wisely, and to do good.
He imagineth mischief upon his bed.
He hath set himself in no good way,
He dotli not abhor anything that is evil.
Thy mercy, 0 Lord, (reacheth) unto the heavens.
And Thy faithfulness unto the clouds !
Thy righteousness (standeth) like the strong mountains ; '
Thy judgments (are) like the great deep !
Thou preservest man and beast, O Lord !
How excellent is Thy mercy, O God ! [wings.
The children of men shall trust under the shadow of Thy
They shall be satisfied with the plenteousness of Thy house,
And Thou shalt make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures.
For with THEE is the well of life :
And in THY light shall we see light.
0 continue Thy loving kindness unto them that know Thee -.
And Thy righteousness unto them that are true of heart.
0 let not the foot of pride come against me,
And let not the hand of the ungodly cast me down.
There are they fallen, all that work wickedness :
They are cast down, and shall not be able to stand.
1 Hch. " mountains of God."
70 THE BOOK OF rSALMS.
Antiphon.
PSALM xxxvir.
A Psalm of David.
)^ E EET not thyself because of tlie ungodly ;
Be not thou envious because of evil doers.
For they shall soon be cut down, like the grass,
And they shall wither, like the green herb.
3 Put thou thy trust in the Lord, and continue faithful :
Dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
Delight thou in the Lord,
And He shall give thee thy heart's desire.
J Commit thy way" unto the Lord,
And trust in Him, and He will bring it to pass.
He will bring forth thy righteousness as the light,
And thy just dealing as the noon-day.
*T Hold thee quietly in the Lord,
And abide patiently upon Him.
, Fret not thyself against him whose way doth prospei ,
' ' Against the man that doeth after evil counsels.
n Leave off from wrath, and let go displeasure :
Fret not thyself, else shalt thou be moved to do evil.
Wicked doers shall be rooted out :
But they that wait on the Lord, — they shall inherit the land
*) Yet a little while, and the ungodly shall be clean gone :
Thou shalt look after his place, and he shall be away.
' '^ ""■ But the meek-spirited shall possess the earth,
And shall be refreshed in the multitude of peace.
T The ungodly seeketh counsel against the just.
And gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
The Lord will laugh him to scorn.
For He hath seen that his day is coming.
' (Delitzsch.) Ilcb. "do good."
- llch. "Roll thy way." See Ps. xxii. 8.
PSALM XXXVII. 71
n [The ungodly have drawn out tho sword,
And have bent their bow ;
To cast down the poor and needy,
\ To slay such as are of a right conversation :
Their sword shall go through their own heart,
^And their bow shall be broken.
l^ A small thing that the righteous hath
Is better than great riches of the ungodly :
For the arms of the ungodly shall be broken,
But the Lord allowetli the righteous.
■^ The Lord knoweth the days of the godly.
And their inheritance shall endure for ever :
They shall not be confounded, in the time of evil,
And in the days of dearth, they shall have enough.
2 As for the ungodly, they shall perish :
And as for the enemies of the Lord, —
/ n ip ton. 'j'hey shall consume as the fat of lambs,
They shall consume, even as the smoke.
^7 The ungodly borroweth, and payeth not again :
But the righteous is merciful and liberal.
Such as are blessed of God shall possess the land :
And they that are cursed of Him shall be rooted out.
f2 The Lord ordereth a good man's going,
And maketh his way acceptable to Himself.
Though he fall, he shall not be cast away,
For the Lord upholdeth him with His hand.
2 I have been young, and now am old :
Yet saw I never the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging
(The righteous) is ever merciful, and lendeth ; [bread.
And his seed is blessed.
D Flee from evil, and do good,
And dwell for evermore :
For the Lord loveth the thing that is right ;
He forsaketh not His that be godly.
^ They are preserved for ever : ^
But the seed of the ungodly shall be rooted out.
Antiphon. r^^^ righteous shall inherit the land,
And shall dwell therein for ever.
1 This line — " For ever they are preserved," would begin with tlie letter J?
were it not for the conjunction ?, " For," in front of it : and possibly this
may have been thought sufficiently near for the alphabetical arrangement :
72 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
ii The mouth of the righteous is exercised in wisdom,
And his tongue will be talking of judgment :
The law of his God is in his heart,
And his goings shall not slide.
V The ungodly watcheth the righteous,
And seeketh occasion to slay him :
The Lord will not leave him in his hand,
iSTor condemn him when he is judged.
p Hope thou in the Lord,
And keep His way ;
And He shall promote thee to possess the land :
When the ungodly shall perish, thou shalt see it.
■) I myself have seen the ungodly in great power,
And flourishing like a green bay-tree :
But he passed away ; and lo, he was gone :
I sought him ; but his place could nowhere be found.
^ Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright ;
For the end of that man is peace.
But transgressors shall perish together :
The end of the ungodly is, they shall be rooted out.
jn But the salvation of the righteous cometh of the Lord :
He is their strength in the time of trouble.
And the Lord will stand by them, and deliver them :
He will deliver them from the ungodly, and will save them ;
Epiphonem. Because they put their trust in HIM.
Antiphon.
and this idea is the more probable, as in this very Psalm the last verse, " The
salvation of the righteous cometli of the Lord," beginning with T\, has the
conjunction -1, "And" or "But," in front of it. Besides, several of the
alphabetical Psalms exhibit still greater license. The Seventy, however,
inserted a line — "The unrighteous shall be punished," so as to bring in this
letter ; which interpolation we have followed in our Prayer-book translation.
Should the Seventy have found authority for their translation, which is im-
l)robable, we should have to divide the lines thus : —
D Flee from evil.
And do good,
And dwell for evermore :
For the Lord loveth the thing that is right,
He forsaketh not His that be godly,
But they are ])reserved for ever,
y The; unrighteous shall be punished :
And the seed of the ungodly shall be rooted out.
Hut as each of the other letters of the alphabet, with one exception, has only a
•piatrain allotted to it, this interpolation is unjustitied, and improbable.
PSALM XXXVIII. 73
PSALM XXXVIII.
A Psalvi of David.
To bring to rcmambrance.
X UT me not to rebuke, 0 Lord, in Thine anger,
Neither chasten me in Thy displeasure :
For Thine arrows stick fast in me,
And Thy hand presseth me sore.
There is no soundness in my flesh, because of Thy displeasure ;
There is no rest in my bones, because of my sin :
For my wickednesses are gone over my head ;
Aa a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me (to bear.)
My wounds stink, and are corrupt,
Because of my foolishness.
I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly ;
I go mourning all the day long.
For my loins are filled with a sore disease,
And there is no soundness in my flesh.
I am feeble, and sore smitten ;
I have roared for the very disquietness of my heart.
. Lord, Thou knowest all my desire,
*^ o"- ^j^(j jjjy groaning is not hid from Thee.
My heart panteth, my strength hath failed me,
And the light of mine eyes is gone from me.
My lovers and my neighbours stood aloof from my trouble,
And my kinsmen stood afar ofi".
They laid snares for me that sought after my life.
And they that sought to do me evil —
Talked of wickedness.
And imagined deceit all the day long.
But as for me : —
I was as a deaf man, that heareth not ;
And as one that is dumb, that doth not open his mouth :
I was as a man that heareth not.
And in whose mouth are no reproofs.
But in THEE, 0 Lord, have I put my trust :
■ip on. ij^jj^Q^ ^^jlj. aiis^y^i.^ 0 Lord my God.
74 THK nOOK OF PSALMS.
I'or I said — (Hear mc !) lost they rejoice over me ;
Lest, •when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves
But as for me — I am ready to halt ; [against me.
And my heaviness is ever in my sight.
But I will confess my wickedness,
I will be sorry for my sin.
But mine enemies live, and are mighty :
And they that hate me wrongfully are many in number.
They also that reward evil for good are against me ;
Because I follow the thing that good is.
jn X Forsake me not, 0 Lord !
, n i^ My God ! Be not far from me !
^ n tp 0 . Haste Thee to help me,
Jl J^ 0 Lord, my salvation !
PSALM XXXIX.
To the chief Musician — To JcdiUhun.
A Psalm of David.
I SAID—
" I will take heed unto my ways,
" That I offend not with my tongue :
" I will keep my mouth Avith a bridle,
" While the ungodly is in my sight."
Proem. I held my tongue, and spake nothing ;
I kept silence, even from (my) right :^
But it was pain and grief to me,
My heart burned within me.
While I was thus musing, the fire kindled.
And at the last I spake with my tongue : —
jjQRD, let me know mine end,
And the number of my days,
That I may know what it is,
And when I shall be called hence !
^ Ueh. "from "ood."
ohon.
PSALM XL. 75
Duhold, Thou hast made my days as it were a span long !
And mine age is even as nothing in Thy sight !
Verily, every man^ living is altogether vanity ! H/D
Verily, man^ walketh in a vain shadow !
Verily, he disquieteth himself with vanity I
He heapeth up (riches) : and knoweth not who shall gather them !
And now, Lord, what is my hope ?
Truly my hope is even in THEK.
Deliver me from all mine offences.
Make me not a rebuke unto the foolish.
I held my tongue, and opened not my mouth :
For it was THY doing.
Take Thy plague away from me :
I am consumed by the means of Thy heavy hand.
Thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sin, [by) the moth !
Thou makest his beauty to consume away, like the (garment eaten
Ijhon. Verily, every man is vanity !
niD
fHear my prayer, 0 Lord !
' Give hear unto my cry :
[ Hold not Thy peace at my tears !
For I am a stranger with. Thee,
And a sojourner, as all my fathers were !
0 spare me a little, that I may recover my strength.
Before I go hence, and be no more seen !
PSALM XL.
To the chief Alusician. — A Psalm sf David.
I WAITED patiently for the Lord,
And He inclined unto me, and heard my calling.
He brought me also out of the horrible pit,
Out of the mire and clay,
^ Ecb, Every son of ^c?aOT. ^ Even men of distinction. — " Ecsh."
76 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
And He hath set my feet upon the rock ;
He hath ordered my goings.
And He hath put a new song in my mouth,
Even a thanksgiving unto our God.
Many shall see' it and fear,^
And shall put their trust in the Lord, (and say — )
" Blessed is the man
" That hath set his hope in THE LOUD ;
" And hath not turned unto the proud, [who regard not God,]
" Nor to such as go after lying (gods.)" -
Great are the things that Thou hast done, 0 Lord my God !
Even Thy wondrous Avorks, and Thy thoughts which are to us-
Who can recount them 1 [ward !
(If )^ I should declare them, and speak of them,
They would be more * than I can number.^
Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not,
But mine ears hast Thou opened :
Burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin hast Thou not required ;
Then said I — " Lo, I come,"
In the roll of the Book it is written of me —
" I delight to do Thy will, 0 my God :
*' Yea, Thy law is within my heart."
1 have declared (Thy) righteousness in the great congregation
Lo, I will not refrain my lips, 0 Lord, Thou knowest.
I have not hid Thy righteousness within my heart ;
I have declared Thy faithfulness, and Thy salvation :
I have not concealed Thy loving mercy and truth
From the great congregation.
yt ti turn ^^^^^^"^ ^ot Thou Thy mercy from me, 0 Lord !
•^ ' Let Thy loving kindness and Thy truth alway preserve me.
For evils are come upon me without number ! "
INIy sins have taken hold on me, and I am not able to look up '
They are more '' in number than the hairs of my head !
Ajid my heart hath failed me !
1 • ^ Paronomasia, INI* and 1N"1*\ * See note on Ps. xii. 2 — 4.
' The conjunction is implied also in Ps. cxxxix. 18.
^•^•'' In the first paragraph God's mercies are 'wore" than ^^ can be
nui hercd ;" in the last his c\ils and liis sins (and the collocation of the two
toge:l.er seem to imply that the one are caused by the other) are "more"
than "cflwi he numbered."
PSALM XLI. 77
0 Lord, let it bo Thy pleasure to deliver mo,
Make haste to help me, 0 Lord !
Let them be asliamcd and confounded together,
That seek after my soul to destroy it :
Let them bo driven backward, and put to confusion,
That wish to do me evil.
Let them be desolate, and rewarded with shame.
That say unto me — " Aha, Aha ! "
Let them be joyful and glad in Thee, all they
That seek after Thee.
Lot them say alway — "The Lord be praised ! "
That love Thy salvation.
As for me : —
1 am poor and needy :
But the Lord careth for me.
Thou art my helper and Eedeemer !
Tarry not, 0 MY GOD !
PSALM XLI.
To the chief Musician. — A Psalm of David.
JjLESSED be he that considereth the poor :
The Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble,
The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive ;
And he shall be blessed upon earth,
And he shall not be delivered unto the will of his enemies.
The Lord will support him when he lieth sick upon his bed :
Thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.
As for me, I said —
tiphon. 0 Lord, be merciful unto me :
Heal my soul ; for I have sinned against Thee
^line enemies speak evil of me —
" When will he die, and his name perish 1 "
And if he come to see (me).
He speaketh deceitfully :
His heart gathereth iniquity within itself ;
And he goeth out, and publisheth it.
78
THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
All mine enemies whisper together against me,
Against me do they imagine evil —
" Some heavy crime presseth on him : ^
" And now that he lieth, he will rise up no more."
Yea, even mine own familiar friend,
Whom I trusted,
Who did also eat of my hread,'
Hath lifted up his heel against me !
But be Thou merciful unto me, 0 Lord !
Aiitiji/im. p^^.gg rj.j^^^ jj^g ^p again, and I shall requite them.
By this I know that Thou acceptest me,
That mine enemy doth not triumph against me.
As for me : —
Thou wilt uphold me in my uprightness :
Thou wilt set me before Thy face, for ever.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
Antiphw. From everlasting to everlasting.
Amen, and Amen.
1 (French and Skinner.) Hch. "A matter of Belial presseth on him."
- Compare Matt. xxvi. 23 : "He that dippeth his liand with Me in the dish :
and Eeclus.' xx. 6—" Tliey that eat my bread .speak evil of me."
Turkish Dinner-talh\ Trmj, ami Dish. — From Damascus.
{In the Author's Collection. )
rsALM xm.
79
PSALM XLII [and XLIII].
To the chief Musician. — For the sons of Korah.
(Psalms) of instruction.
As the hart longeth after the water-brooks,
So longeth my soul after THEE, 0 God !
My soul is athirst for GOD, for the living God
When shall I come to appear before God 1
My tears were my meat, day and night,
While they said unto me, all the day long —
" Where is thy God ? "
This did I remember ; ^
I poured out my heart within me :
For I had gone with the multitude,
I had been Avith them in the house of God ;
With the voice of joy and thanksgiving.
With such as keep holy day.-
Why art thou so cast down, 0 my soul 1
And why art thou so disquieted within me %
' Trust thou in GOD : for I shall yet give Him thanks
For the help of His countenance.
0 my God, my soul is cast down :
Therefore will I remember ^ THEE,
1 ^ In the former case he renienibers his troubles ; in the Latter, he re-
meml)ers God.
- Such a processiou seems represented to us in an Assyrian sculpture, now
in the British Museum.
Assyrian Mtmcians, — From Layard's "Discoveries in Nineveh and Babylon."
80 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
From the land of Jordan, and the Hermons ;
From the mountain of Mizar.
Deep calleth unto deep, at the noise of Thy water-spouts ;
All Thy waves and Thy storms are gone over me.
But in the day-time did the Lord command His loving kindneSB,
And in the night was my song of HIM,
And my prayer unto the God of my life.
I said unto God, my Rock —
Why hast Thou forgotten me !
'^ ■ Why go 1 so heavily,
While the enemy oppresseth me !
As with a sword in my hones, my enemies reproach me,
While they say unto me, all the day long —
" Where is now thy God 1 "
Why art thou so cast down, 0 my soul !
And why art thou so disquieted within me !
■ """ 'J^'^'"- Trust thou in GOD. For I shall yet give Him thanks,
Wlio is the help of my countenance, and MY GOD !
[Psalm XLIII. ootnrnences here. ]
Judge me, O God !
And plead my cause against an ungodly people,
0 deliver me from the deceitful and wicked man.
For Thou art GOD my strength :
, , . , , Why hast Thou cast me from Thee !
^ Why go 1 so heavily.
While the enemy oppresseth me !
0 send out Thy light and Thy truth ;
Let them lead me ;
Let them bring me to Thy holy hill.
And to Thy tabernacle :
That so I may go unto the altar of God,
Even unto the God of my joy and gladness :
And upon the harp will I give thanks unto Thee,
0 GOD, MY God !
' See second antiplion of former Psalm.
PSALM XLIV. 81
Why art thou so cast down, 0 my soul !
And why art thou so disquieted within me !
^ " ■ Trust thou in GOD. For I shall yet give Him thanks,
Who is the help of ray countenance, and MY GOD !
*»* The antiphons of Psalms xlii. aud xliii. are examples of the variations
which will be constantly found in the antiphons. Compare "My tears were
my meat," &c., and " As with a sword," &c.. ; " I will say unto God, my l!ock,"
and " For Thou art God, my strength ; " " Why hast Thou forgotten mc ? "
and "Why hast Thou cast me from Tliee ? " " Why go I so heavily?" and
" Why walk I so heavily'/" "help of His countenance," and "help of my
countenance. "
PSALM XLIV.
To the chief Musician. — For the sons of Korah.
(A Psalm) of instruction,
VY E have heard with our ears, 0 God,
Our fathers have told us —
The works which Thou didst in their days,
Even in the days of old : —
(How) Thou didst drive out the heathen with Thy hand,
And plantedst them in :
■ (How) Thou didst destroy the nations,
And madest them to stretch out ^ (through the land).
Eor they gat not the land in possession by their own sword,
Neither was it their own arm that helped them ;
But THY right hand, and THINE arm,
And the light of THY countenance ; for THOU didst favour them.
Thou art my King, 0 God !
Send help unto Jacob.
Through THEE will we overthrow our enemies, [against us.
Through THY name will we tread them under that rise up
1 See Ps. Ixxx. 11 :— "She stretched forth her branches unto the sea.
And her boughs unto the river."
.\u»l Jer. xvii. 8 ;-— " For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters :
And that slrclchelJi out her roots by the rivers."
G
82 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
For I will not trust in my bow,
It is not my sword that shall help me ;
But it is THOU that hast saved us from our enemies,
And that hast put them to confusion that hated us.
We make our boast of God all day long.
And will praise THY name for ever.
But now Thou hast cast us off", and puttcst us to confusion.
And goest not forth with our armies !
Thou makest us to turn our backs upon our enemies,
So that they which hate us spoil our goods :
Thou makest us to be eaten up like sheep.
And Thou hast scattered us among the heathen :
Thou sellest Thy people for nought,
And Thou takest no money for them :
Thou makest us to be rebuked of our neighbours,
To be a scorn and derision of them that are round about us
Thou makest us to be a by-word among the heathen,
A shaking of the head among the nations.
My confusion is daily before me,
And the shame of my face hath covered me :
By reason of the slanderer and blasphemer,
By reason of the enemy and revengeful.
All this has come upon us : —
Yet have we not forgotten Thee ;
Yet have we not been unfaithful to Thy covenant :
Our heart is not turned back ;
Our steps have not declined from Thy way :
Though Thou hast smitten us in the place of dragons.
And hast covered us with the shadow of death.
If we have forgotten the name of our God,
And holden up our hands to any strange God,
Would not God search it out ?
For He knoweth the very secrets of the heart !
For Thy sake are we killed all the day long :
We are accounted as sheep appointed to be slain.
Awake, 0 Lord ! Why sleepest Thou !
.47Uiphon. ^^.g^^ ^^^ ^^g^ ^^^ ^^. ^Qj. g^g^ ,
ohon
PSALM XLV. 83
Why hidest Thou Thy face,
Why forgettest Thou our misery and trouble !
For our soul is bowed down to the dust,
Our belly cleaveth to the ground !
Arise, and help us,
And deliver us for Thy mercy's sake !
*^* The second paragraph is a replica of the first.
PSALM XLV.
To the chief Musician. — Upon the six-stringed instruments.
For the sons of Korah.
{A Psalm) of instruction, and Song for "■The Beloved,"'^ (i.e. Jedediah,
or Solomon.)"^
J\XY heart is inditing of a good matter,
roem. I speak of things touching the king.
My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
1 It is remarkable that David applied this name or epithet to himself, seven
years before Jedediah was born (see Ps. Ix. 5, and the occasion when that
Psalm was written,) and that we find the name again used in Ps. cxxvii. 2, a
Psalm having in its inscription, " For Solomon."
2 That this Psalm was written primarily in regard to Solomon seems evident
from a comparison of it with Ps. Ixxii. In both these Psalms the title of
' ' king " is mentioned ; in both his kingdom is said to be that of righteous-
ness ; in both this kingdom is said to be established for ever and ever ; in both
the king's enemies are made to be subject unto him ; in both presents are
brought to him ; and in both the royal psalmist concludes with an attribute
of praise to Ood, praying that His name may endure for ever and ever. Tlie
Psalm appears to have been written at the same time as Ps. Ixxii., when,
after pouring out "ap.salm of thanksgiving for God's powerful deliverance
and manifold blessings" to him during all his life, (2 Sam. xxii.,) the aged
monarch, feeling life drawing short, naturally looked forward to his son's
succeeding him. This was not long before his death, and when Solomon was
still under age. The father pictured to himself the prosperity of his son's
reign, his distinguishing attributes, his marrying the daughter of the king of
.some neighbouring country : — entering into all the particulars thereof just in
the same manner as the mother of Si.sera did relative to the supposed par-
Q 2
84 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
1 HOU art fairer than the children of men :
Full of grace arc thy lips :
Therefore hath God blessed thee for ever !
Gird thy sword upon thy thigh,
0 thou mighty one,
With thy glory, and thy majesty ;
And in thy majesty prosper thou.
Ride on, because of thy truth, and meekness, and righteousness ;
And thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
Thy arrows are sharp, and the people shall fall under thee ;
(They shall pierce) the hearts of those who are enemies to the king.
Thy throne, O GOD, is for ever and ever ! ^
A sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom.
Thou hast loved righteousness,
And Thou hast hated iniquity :
Therefore hath GOD anointed THEE ; even Thy God,
With the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.
All thy garments smell of myrrh, aloes, and cassia.
Out of the ivory palaces, whose instruments have gladdened thee.
King's daughters were among thine honourable women :
Upon thy right hand did stand the Queen, in gold of Ophir.
Hearken, O daughter, and consider ; incline thine ear ;
Forget also thine own people, and thy father's house :
So shall the king have pleasure in thy beauty,
For he is thy lord, and worship thou him.
And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift:
The rich ones of the nations shall intreat thy favour.
The king's daughter is all glorious within :
Her clothing is of embroidery of gold ;
In raiment of needlework shall she be brought unto the king.
The virgins that follow her.
Even her companions, shall be brought unto thee :
tieiilars of her son's victory. But while t\iii father thus looked forward to
his son's prosperity, the propJiM sees in the future the glorious establishment
of Messiah's kingdom, and abrujjtly changes his Psalm accordingly : hut even
in tliose parts which he addresses to his son he unconsciously uses language
befitting rather the character of that Messiah who was promised to proceed
out of liis loins.
1 This paragraph is addressed to the Messiah. See Heb. i. 8, 9.
PSALM XLVI. 86
They shall he hrought with joy and gladness,
They shall he hrought into the palace of the king.
Instead of thy fathers, thou shalt have children.
Whom thou shalt make princes in all the earth.
I will rememher THY name ^
From generation to generation :
■^ ' Therefore shall the people give thanks unto THEE,
For ever and ever.
Iphon,
PSALM XLVI.
To the chief Musician. — For the sons of Kornh.
A Song upon the Alamoth^ harp.
ijrOD is our hope and strength :
A very present help in trouble !
Therefore will we not fear —
Though the earth be moved,
Though the mountains be cast into the midst of the sea :
Though the waters thereof rage and swell,
Though the mountains shake at the tempest of the same. h'^D
The rivers of the flood thereof shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the most High.
God is in the midst of her.
Therefore shall she not be moved.
GOD shall help her,
When the morn appeareth.
The heathen raged ;
And the kingdoms were moved : —
He uttered His voice;
And the earth dissolved.
' As the conchiding antiphon of Psalm Ixxii. is not addressed to Solomon,
but to God ; so it would ajipear that this antiplion is addressed to God, tlie
subject of" it being identical.
'^ See 1 Chron. vi. 60.
86 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
J ^^-^j The Lord of hosts is with us :
■ The God of Jacob is our refuge !
O come hither and behold the works of the Lord :
What destructions He hath brought upon the earth !
I He maketh wars to cease in all the world,
( He breaketh the bow, and knappeth the spear asunder,
t He burneth the chariots in the fire.
" Be still then, and know that I AM GOD !
" I will be exalted among the heathen,
" I will be exalted in the earth."
J f , The Lord of hosts is with us :
■ The God of Jacob is our refuge.
PSALM XLVII.
To the chief Musician. — For live sons of Korah.
A Pscdw.
\J CLAP your hands together all ye peoples !
Shout unto GOD with a song of rejoicing ! ^
JatiphoH. -p^j. ^,jjg LORD is high, and to be feared :
He is the GREAT KING upon all the earth !
He will subdue the peoples under us,
And the nations under our feet.
He will choose out a heritage for us.
Even the excellency of Jacob whom he loved.
God is gone up with a shout,
The lord with the sound of the trumpet.
, Sing psalms unto OUR GOD, sing psalms :
' Sing psalms unto OUR KING, sing psalms.
For GOD is the KING of all the earth :
Sing ye psalms with understanding.
1 Hch. " With the sound of a soDg of rejoicing.'
PSALM XLVIII.
87
God reigneth over the heathen :
GOD sitteth upon His holy seat.
The princes of the peoples are gathered in,
(And become) the people of the God of Abraham
For the powers of the earth are GOD'S !
He is greatly exalted !
PSALM XLVIII.
Proem.
Antiphon.
A Song and Psalm. — For the sons of Korah.
Great (is) the lord i
And highly to be praised !
In the city of our God,
(In) the mountain of His holiness.
Beautiful for elevation,
The joy of the whole earth,
(Is) the mountain of Sion !
5>S^"-
^V
Mount Sion. — From the south.
By David Roberts.
88 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
(On) the nortli side
(Is) the city of the GREAT KING ! ^
God as a sure refuge
Is known in her palaces.
For lo, the kings were gathered ;
They passed by together.
They saw it — They marvelled :
They feared — They hasted away.
Trembling came there upon them,
And pangs, as upon one in travail.
Thou wilt break the ships of the sea
Through the east wind.
Like as we have heard, so liave we seen,
In the city of the Lord of Hosts ;
In the city of our God :
God will uphold the same for ever !
nbo
We wait for Thy loving-kindness, 0 God,
In the midst of Thy temple.
According to Thy name, 0 God,
So is Thy praise iznto the world's end :
Thy right hand is full of righteousness.
Let the Mount Sion rejoice,
Aiitiphon. Let the daughters of Judah be glad,
Because of Thy judgments !
Walk about Sion ; go round about her ;
And tell the towers thereof."
Mark well her bulwarks ; behold her palaces ;
That ye may tell them that come after.
For this God is OUR GOD, for ever and ever :
■ He will be our guide, even unto death.
' For interpretation of this passage see Essay iii.
- Sion had sixty towers, and the lower city forty additional. (Josephus,
Bell. 5, 4, §3.)
liphon
PSALM XLIX. 89
PSALM XLIX.
To the chief Afitsician. — For the sori^ of Korah.
A Psalm.
JtiEAE ye this, all ye peoples ;
Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world :
Children of the rich, children of the poor,
High and low, one with another.^
My mouth shall speak of wisdom.
And my heart shall muse of understanding :
I will incline mine ear to parable,
I will show my dark speech upon the harp.
WhEREFOEE should I fear in the days of evil,
When the wicked compass my heels round about ?^
(Shall 1 be afraid of) those who trust in their goods.
And who boast in the multitude of their riches ?
No man can redeem his brother,
Or make atonement unto God for him —
For the redemption of their souls is precious ;
So that he must let that alone for ever —
Yea, though he live long,
And see not the grave.
But he will see it : (for even) wise men die ;
They perish together with the ignorant and foolish :
And leave their riches for others.
Their inward thought is that their houses shall be for ever,
And their dwelling-places from generation to generation ;
Calling the lands after their own names.
Man,^ (who prides himself*) in his honour, will not abide:
He is like unto the cattle : there is no difference.
This is their foolishness :
And of those who after them shall speak in like manner.® H'^D
They are appointed to the grave, like sheep ;
Death gnaweth upon them :
1 Heh. "Sons of ^ dam" (an ordinary man); "Sons ofEcsh" (a man of
distinction) : " Rich and poor together."
^ Meb. " The wicked (or wickedness) of my lieels encompasseth me. ' That
this refers to the wicked is evident from the context.
3 Heb. '^ Adam." See note above.
* See concluding antiphon. ^ ff/b. "Are pleased with tlieir mouth. "
90 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
The righteous shall have dominion over them :
In a little time shall their form consume away :
The grave shall be their habitation !
But God will redeem my soul from the hand of death,
When it shall receive me.
n'7D
Be not thou afraid when a great man' is made rich,
When the glory of his liouse is increased :
For he shall carry nothing away with him when he dieth,
Neither shall his glory follow him.
Though while he lived he counted himself a happy man —
And (though) men praise thee when thou raisest thyself to
He shall go unto the generation of his fathers, [distinction" —
And shall never see light.
Man,' (who prides himself) in his honour and hath no under-
■p on. j^ j^^^ ^^^^ ^j^^ cattle ; there is no difference. [standing,
PSALM L.
A Psalm. — For Asaph.
Proem
God, the almighty, JEHOVAH, hath spoken :
And called the world,
From the rising up of the sun.
Unto the going down of the same.
Out of Sion, the perfection of beauty,
GOD hath shined !
Our God will come.
And will not keep silence :
There will go before Him a consuming fire,
And a mighty tempest will be stirred up round about Him.
He will call the heavens from above,
And the earth, that He may judge His people.
' Gather My saints together unto me :
' Those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice."
And the heavens shall declare HIS righteousness,
For God is JUDGE Himself. n'7D
^ Heb. '^ Efsli." See note in preceding page.
' Heb. " When thou benefitest thyself."
' Heb. "Adam." See nota iu preceding page.
PSALM L. 91
XXEAE, 0 my people, and I will speak : —
" 0 Israel, I will testify against thee :
" For I am GOD, even THY God.
" Not for thy sacrifices will I reprove thee,
" Nor for thy burnt offerings (which are) ever before Me :
" I will take no bullock out of thy house,
" Nor he-goat out of thy folds ;
'' For all the beasts of the forests are Mine,
" And the flocks upon a thousand hills.
" I know all the fowls upon the mountains,
" And the wild beasts of the field are in My sight.
" If I were hungry, I would not tell thee :
" For the whole earth is Mine, and all that is therein.
" Shall I eat the flesh of bulls !
" Shall I drink the blood of goats !
" Sacrifice unto God thanksgiving,
" And pay thy vows unto the Most Highest :
,071 em- u ^jj^ gall upon Me in the time of trouble ;
" So will I hear thee, and thou shalt praise Me."
But unto the ungodly said God : —
" Why dost thou preach My laws,
" And take My covenant in thy mouth 1
" Seeing thou hatest to be reformed,
" And hast cast My words behind thee.
" When thou sawest a thief, thou consentedst unto him,
" And hast been partaker with the adulterer.
" With thy mouth thou hast spoken wickedness ;
" And with thy tongue thou hast set forth deceit.
" Thou satest, and spakest against thy brother ;
" Thou hast slandered thine own mother's son.
" These things hast thou done, and I held My tongue ;
" And thou thoughtest that I am even such an one as thyself:
" But I will reprove thee, and array (them) before thine eyes.
" 0 consider this, I exhort you, ye that forget God ;
" Lest I pluck you away, and there be none to deliver you."
, _ " Whoso sacrificeth thanksgiving, he honoureth Me : [of God."
' " And whoso walketh uprightly, to him wiU I show the salvation
A ntiphou.
92 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM LI.
To the chief Musician.
A Psalm of David :
When Nathan the prophet came unto hivi, after Jie had gone in to Bmthiheba.
XjLAVE mercy upon mc, 0 God !
According to Thy great goodness,
According to the multitude of Thy mercies
Do away my transgressions.
Wash me throughly from mine iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin :
For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
Against THEE, THEE only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Thy sight ;
That Thou mightest be justified when Thou speakest.
And be clear, when Thou dost judge.
, ,. , Behold, in iniquity was I brought forth,
And in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, Thou requirest truth in the inward parts,
Thou wilt make me to understand wisdom secretly
Thou wilt purge me with hyssop, and 1 shall be clean
Thou wilt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Thou wilt make me hear of joy and gladness,
And the bones which Thou hast broken shall rejoice.
. , Turn Thy face from my sins,
■ And blot out all mine iniquities.
Make me a clean heart, O God ;
And renew a right spirit within me :
Cast me not away from Thy presence.
And take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation,
And establish me with Thy free Spirit.
Then will I teach Thy ways unto the wicked.
And sinners shall be converted unto Thee,
PSALM LII. 93
Save me from blood- guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation,
'■ And my tongue shall sing of Thy righteousness.
Thou wilt open my lips, 0 Lord :
And my mouth shall show forth Thy praise.
For Thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it Thee :
But Thou deiightest not in burnt offerings.
The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit :
A broken and contrite heart, 0 God, wilt Thou not despise.
0 be favourable and gracious unto Sion :
Build Thou the walls of Jerusalem.
. , Then shalt Thou be pleased
With the sacrifices of righteousness ;
With the burnt-offerings and whole burnt-offerings :
Then sliall they offer young bullocks upon Thine altar.
PSALM LII.
To the chief Musician,
(A Psalm) of wistruction, of David
When Doeg the Edomite cams and told SniiJ, and said unto him — ■" David
come to the house of Abimelech."
W HY boastest thou thyself in evil, thou mighty man 1
The goodness of God endureth continually.
Thy tongue imagineth wickedness,
And with lies thou cuttest like a sharp razor.
Thou hast loved evil more than good,
And lying rather than to speak righteousness : n^O
Thou hast loved all words that may do hurt,
0 tongue of deceit.
Therefore will God destroy thee ;
He will take thee away for ever :
And will pluck thee out of thy dwelling,
And will root thee out of the land of the living.
94 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
The righteous shall see this, and fear,
And shall laugh him (to scorn) : —
" Lo, this is the man
" That took not GOD for his strength ;
" But trusted unto the multitude of his riches,
" And strengthened himself in his wickedness."
As for me : —
I am like a green olive tree in the house of my God :
I will trust in the tender mercy of God, for ever and evea .
I wiU always give thanks unto Thee
, , . , For that Thou hast done :
And 1 will hope m Ihy name,
For Thy saints like it well.
PSALM LIU.
To the chief Musician upon the instruments of melody.
A Psalm of instruction, of David.
[A replica of Psalm XTV.]
± HE fool hath said in his heart —
"There is no God."
They are become corrupt,
Antiphon. They are become abominable in their wickedness :
There is none that doeth good !
God looked down from heaven
Upon the children of men ;
To see if there were any that would understand,
That would seek after God,
But they arc all gone out of the way ;
, .. J They are all together become abominable :
y nip I . fj^gpg jg jione that doeth good.
There is not even one !
iphon.
PSALM LIV. 95
Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge ?
That they eat up ray people, as they would eat bread ;
They have not called upon GOD !
There were they in great fear,
Even where no fear was :
For God hath scattered the bones of him that besieged thee ;
Thou hast put them to confusion ; for God hath despised them.
Oh that salvation were given unto Israel out of Sion !
When God turneth the captivity of His people,
Jacob shall rejoice ;
Israel shall be right glad.
PSALM LIV.
To the chief Musician upon the stringed instruments.
{A Psalm) of instruction, of David :
IVJten the Ziphites came and said to Saul, ' ' Doth not David hide himself
with us ? "
k5AVE me, 0 God, for Thy name's sake,
And avenge me in Thy strength.
Hear my prayer, 0 God :
Hearken unto the words of my mouth :
For strangers are risen up against me,
And oppressors seek after my soul.
They set not GOD before their eyes !
Behold, GOD is my helper,
The LORD is with them that uphold my soul.
He will reward evil unto mine enemies :
Destroy Thou them in Thy truth.
An ottering of a free heart will I give Thee,
I will praise Thy name, 0 Lord ;
For it is good.
. / For He hath delivered me out of all my trouble :
W "w. ^^^ mine eye hath seen its desire upon mine enemies.
96 THE COOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM LV.
To the chief Musician upon the stringed instruments.
(A Psalm) of instruction, of David.
ilEAR my prayer, 0 God,
And hide not Thyself from my petition.
Take heed unto me, and hear me ;
How I mourn in my prayer, and am vexed ;
Because of the voice of the enemy,
Because of the oppression of the wicked :
For they cast iniquity upon me,
And in anger do they hate me.
My heart is disquieted within me.
And the fear of death is fallen upon me :
Tearfulness and trembling are come upon me,
And a horrible dread hath overwhelmed me.
And I said —
" Oh that I had wings like a dove ;
" For then would I flee away and be at rest :
" Lo, then would I get me away far off,
" I would remain in the wilderness : ^j'Q
'i " I would make haste to escape,
" From the stormy wind and tempest."
/C Destroy them, 0 Lord, and divide their tongues :
For there is unrighteousness and strife in the city.
l\ Day and night they go about the walls thereof ;
Antiphon. ]^jjs(.hief also and sorrow are in the midst of it :
Wickedness is in the midst of it ;
Deceit and guile go not out of their streets.
For it was not an enemy that reproached me.
For then I could have borne it :
Js^or was it mine adversary that magnified himself against me.
For then I would have hid myself from him :
PSALM LV. 97
'^ But it was even thou, my companion,
My guide, and mine own familiar friend !
"We took sweet counsel of each other,
And walked together to the house of God.
Let death come hastily upon them,
. Let them go down quick unto the grave ;
' ^^' ''"' For wickedness is in their dwellings,
And in the midst of them.
As for mo : —
I will call upon GOD,
And THE LOED will save me.
At evening, and morning, and at noon-day will I pray ;
I will cry aloud, and He will hear my voice. [against me :
He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle which was
■ For there were many round about me.
God will hear me, and reward them :
Even HE that abideth of old !
For they change not (for the better).
Neither do they fear God !
^ ,' He laid his hand upon such as be at peace with him ;
He profaned his covenant.
His mouth was smoother than butter,
Yet war was in his heart :
His words were softer than oil,
Yet were they very swords.
Y O cast thy burden upon the Lord,
And HE vvill nourish thee :
Neither will He suffer the righteous to be disturbed for ever.
Thou, 0 Lord, wilt bring (the wicked) into the pit of destruction :
The bloody and deceitful shall not live out half their days.
'»<'^*""' But as for me :-
My trust shall be in THEE.
98 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM LVI.
To the chief Musician ujion the ■plaintive instrument.
" Michtam " of David :
When the Philistines took him in Gath.
E merciful unto me, 0 God !
For man goetli about to devour me ;
He is daily fighting, and troubling me :
Mine enemies strive daily to devour me ;
For there be many that fight proudly against me.
(Nevertheless,) when I am afraid,
I will put my trust in THEE.
I will praise God (because of) His word,
Antiph/m. I have put my trust in God :
I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
All the day long do they pervert my words :
All that they imagine is to do me evil.
They assemble, they hide, they mark my steps,
While they lay wait for my soul.
Destroy them, because of their iniquity :
Cast them down in Thine anger, 0 God !
Thou knowest my wanderings,
Thou takest account of my tears :
(All this is) noted in Thy book.
Whensoever I call upon Thee,
Then shall mine enemies be put to flight :
This I know : for GOD is with me !
I will praise God, because of His word,
I will praise the Lord, because of His word :
Antiphon. t u 4. i t • n i
^ 1 have put my trust m God :
I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
Unto Thee, 0 God, will I pay ray vows,
Unto Thee will I give thanks.
For (as) Thou hast (ever) delivered my soul from death,
(So wilt Thou) not (now fail to deliver) my feet from falling,
That I may walk before God
In the liyht of the living.
PSALM LVII. - 00
PSALM LVir.
To the chief Musician on " al-taschil/i."
" Michtmn" of David:
JVhen he fled from Saul in the care.
JjE merciful unto me, 0 GoJ ! Be merciful unto me !
For my soul trustuth in Thee !
And under the shadow of Thy wings will I trust,
Until this wicked enmity shall pass away.
I will call unto the Most High God,
Even unto GOD who will accomplish for me. rT^p
lie will send from heaven. He will save me,
When he reproaches that pants after me.
God will send forth Ilis mercy, and His truth,
(Though) my soul be among lions ;
And (though) I lie among them that are set on fire,
Even the children of men ;
Whose teeth are spears and arrows,
And whose tongue is a sharp sword.
Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens,
itiphnr. ^^^ ^j^y gi^^y ^^Q^g ^^ ^j^g ^^^^^ J
They have laid a net for my feet.
And have pressed down my soul :
They have digged a pit before me ;
And they are fallen into the midst of it themselves.
My heart is fixed, 0 God ! my heart is fixed :
I will sing : I will sing psalms.
Awake, my soul !
Awake, psaltery and harp !
1 I myself will awake right early,
I will give thanks unto Thee, 0 Lord, among the peoples ;
I will sing psalms unto Thee among the nations.
For Thy mercy reacheth unto the heavens,
And Thy truth unto the clouds.
Be Thou exalted, 0 God, above the heavens,
^' ^'" And Thy glory above all the earth !
n 2
[
100 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM LVIIT.
To the chief Musician on " al-taschith."
" Michtam " of David :
J )0 ye speak in righteousness,
1)0 ye judge tlie thing that is right, O ye sons of men ?
Nay, your heart imagineth wickedness upon the earth,
And your hands deal in violence.
The ungodly are estranged from the womb,
They go astray as soon as they are bom, speaking lies.
They are as venomous as the venom of a serpent,
They are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ears ;
"Which refuseth to hear the voice of the charmer,
Charm he never so wisely.
Break their teeth in their mouths, 0 God ;
Smite the jaw-bones of the young lions, 0 Lord :
Let them melt away like the waters,
Let them pass away :
And when one but strings the arrows,^
Let them be cut in pieces.
As a snail which melteth.
Let them consume away :
As the untimely birth of a woman,
Let them not see the sun.
Or ever the thorns ^ make the pot to boil,
So, fed by Thy wrath.
Let them be driven away as with a whirlwind.
The righteous shall rejoice, when he seeth the vengeance :
He shall wash his footsteps in the blood of the ungodly.
And thus shall it be said : —
"Verily, there is a reward for the righteous :
Antiphov. ,cygj.jiy^ tj^jj^e ig a God that judgeth the earth."
' See Ps. Ixiv. 3. Heh. " bends the arrows," being a syncope of the full ex-
pression in Ps. xi. 2. " For lo, the ungodly bend the bow, and make ready
their arrows upon th-e stringy Comjiare Ps. Ixiv. 8 — ■
" They shall flee away when anyone bnt looks at them."
2 See Ex. xxii. 6 ; Ps. cxviii. 12 ; Eccl. vii. 6; Is. xixiii. 12; Nahuni, i. 10.
PSALM LIX. 101
PSALM LIX.
To the chief Musician on '^ al4aschilh."
' ' Michtam " of David :
When Saul sent, and they watched the hoicse to kill him.
-UELIVER me from mine enemies, 0 my God !
Defend me from them that rise up against me.
Deliver me from the wicked doers,
And save me from the blood-thirsty m en.
For lo, they lie waiting for my soul ;
The mighty men are gathered against me ;
Not for my transgression,
And not for any sin of mine, 0 Lord.
They run and prepare themselves, without my fault :
Arise Thou therefore to help me, and behold.
But Thou, 0 Lord God of hosts,
The God of Israel !
Awake to visit aU the heathen ;
And be not merciful to the workers of iniquity. D^D
They assemble in the evening,
They make a noise like a dog, and go about the city.
Behold, they snarl with their mouths.
And swords are on their lips, (saying) — " Who hears 1 "
But Thou, O Lord, wilt have them in derision :
Thou wilt laugh all the heathen to scorn.
I will trust in THY strength ;
For GOD is my refuge :
The God who showeth mercy unto me^ will preserve me.
God will let me see (my desire) upon mine enemies :
Slay them not, lest my people forget it,
But scatter them in Thy might,
And put them down, 0 Lord our defence.
Oh, the sin of their mouth !
Oh, the words of their lips ! v
But they shall be taken in their pride.
And for the cursing and lying which they utter.
Consume them in Thy wrath,
Consume them that they may perish :
1 Heb. "The God of my mercy."
102 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
And they shall know that it is GOD that ruleth in Jacob,
And unto the ends of the world.
But they will assemble again in the evening,
They will make a noise like a dog, and go about the city.
They will run here and there for meat,
They will murmur if not satisfied.
As for me : —
I will sing of Thy power,
I wUl praise Thy mercy betimes in the morning :
For Thou hast been a defence to me,
And a refuge in the day of my trouble.
. Unto TIIEE, 0 my strength, will I sing psalms :
MiUphon. y^^ THOU, 0 God, art my refuge, and the God who showeth
[mercy unto me. ^
PSALM LX.
7'o the chief Musician upon the six-stringed instrument.
(In remembrance of ?) the Testimony.^ — " Michtam" of David: to teach.
When he strove with Syria of the two rivers, and icith Syria of Zolah, u-hcii
Joab returned, and smote of Edo^n in the Valley of Salt twelve thmisand.
O GOD, Thou hast cast us off. Thou hast scattered us abroad :
Thou hast also been displeased ! 0 turn Thee unto us again.
Thou hast caused the land to tremble : Thou hast broken it :
Heal the breaches thereof : for it shaketh.
' Thou hast showed Thy people heavy things :
Thou hast given us to drink of the wine of trembling.
(But) Thou hast given a standard^ to such as fear Thee,
That they may stand up ^ because of the truth. r^'lD
Therefore shall Thy beloved be delivered :
Save with Thy right hand, and hear me.
^ In each case the Heb. is — " the God of my mercy."
* See I's. xix. 7 ; Lxxviii. 5 ; Ixxxi. 6, and cxxii. 4, Bib. Vers. Hammond
supposes the six-stringed iustrunient was played before the "Ark of the
Testimony." See 1 Chron. xvi. 37 — 42.
^•3 Paronomasia, see Essay ii. Ueb. "To he displayed because of tho
truth. "
PSALM LX.
103
God hath spoken in His holiness —
" I will rejoice : I will divide Schechem,
" I will mete out the valley of Succoth,
" Gilead is mine ; Mana?seh is mine ;
" Ephraim also is the strength of my head ;
" Judah is my lawgiver ;
" Moab is my hand-basin ;^
" Over Eilom will T cast out ni}^ shoe ;
" Over Philistia will I triumph."
Who will lead me into the strong city 1
Who will bring mc into Edom 1
Wilt not Thou, 0 God, who has cast us off?
Wilt not Thou, O God, go out with our hosts 1
0 be TIIOIT our help against the en^my :
For vain is the help of man !
. Through GOD we shall do great acts :
^^ ' For it is HE that will tread down our enemies.
1 The office of hand-basin-hokler is of great antiquity in the East. In
(iiie lianl he holds the t,aM, or basin, with a napkin over the arm, and in the
other the ebrik, or ewer. Elisha performed this office for Elijah. See
'2 Kings iii. 11. The Shah of Persia was constantly attended by his Ebrikdar
(hiring his late travels in Europe.
Ebrik and Tast, in the author's collection.
lOi THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM LXI.
To the chief Musician upon the stringed instruments.
A Psalm of David.
Hear my crying, O God !
„ Give ear unto mv prayer :
J TOO}}/ */ x €/
From the ends of the earth will I call upon Thee,
When my heart is in heaviness.
-L HOU hast set me upon a rock which is higher than I :
For Thou hast been my refuge,
And a strong tower for me against the enemy.
I shaU dwell in Thy tabernacle for ever ;
I shall trust under the covering of Thy wings. H/D
For Thou, 0 God, hast heard my vows :
Thou hast given me an inheritance among those that fear Thy
Days upon days wilt Thou add unto the king : [name.
And his years shall endure from generation to generation.
He shall dwell before God, for ever :
Mercy and truth wilt Thou cause to guard him.
... Thus will I sing psalms to Thy name for ever,
' And pay unto Thee my vows, day by day.
PSALM LXIL
To the chief Musician. — To Jeduthun.—A Psalm of David.
Only upon god wait ' thou, my soul :
For of HIM cometh thy salvation.
Aniiphon. Q^j^ jjg .g ^y j^^^j^^ ^^^ j^y salvation :
He is my defence, so that I shall not greatly fall.
' Ihh. " Be silent." We must not only trust in God in time of trouble,
but we must do so "without murmurings " and repinings. Phil. ii. 14.
See Ps. Ixv. 1.
PSALM LXII. 105
llow long will ye conspire a;iainst a man : '
(How long) will ye all (seek to) destroy him ?
(A man who is already) as a tottering wall,
As a broken fence ! ^
Only to thrust him down from his dignity do they devise,
Their delight is in lies :
They bless with their mouth,
But they curse inwardly.
Only upon GOD wait thou, my soul :
For of HIM cometh thy salvation.
Only HE is my Rock, and my salvation :
He is my defence, so that I shall not fall.
In GOD is my salvation and my glory : ,'
The Rock of my might, and my refuge, is GOD !
0 put your trust in Him alway, ye people :
Pour out your hearts before Him ;
For God is our hope.
Only vanity are the children of common men ! '^
A lie are the children of great men !
To be weighed in the balance.
They are all together lighter than vanity itself !
0 trust not in wrong and robbery,
Give not yourselves unto vanity :
If riches increase.
Set not your heart upon them.
God spake once,
And twice I have also heard the same —
That power (belongeth) unto God ;
And that to Thee, 0 Lord, (belongeth) mercy :
For Thou rewardest to every man
According to his work.
1 " Eesh," here signifying — an innocent, good man.
^ See Ps. cix. 16. " But persecuted the man who was poor and afflicte<%
" And broken-hearted, (searching) to kill him."
3 "Adaon," man of tlie earth. ) m tt i • • j.i • i • v
4 u ^^^f^ ', } The Hebrew is m the singular in each case.
106 THE COOK OF PSALM?.
PSALM LXIII.
A Psalm of David :
JVJien he was in the wilderness of Judah.
.0 GOD, Thou art MY God !
Early will I seek Thee.
My soul thirsteth for Thee,
My flesh also longeth after Thee ;
In a barren and dry land
Where no water is 1
To see Thy power, and Thy glory.
So as I have seen Thee in the sanctuary.
For Thy loving-kindness is better than the life itself:
My lips shall praise Thee,
Thus will I magnify Thee as long as I live :
I will lift up my hands in Thy name.
Thou wilt satisfy my soul, as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips,
When 1 remember Thee upon my bed,
When I think of Thee in the night watches.
Because Thou hast been my helper.
Therefore under the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice.
My soul hangeth upon Thee :
Thy right hand hath upholden me.
But as for them that seek the hurt of my soul.
They shall go under the earth :
They shall fall upon the edge of the sword,
They shall be a portion for jackals.
But the king shall rejoice in GOD :
Jntiphon. All they also that swear by IIIM shall be commended ;
But the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.
PSALM LXIV. 107
PSALM LXIV.
To the chief Musician. — A Psalm of David.
H-EAK my voice, 0 God, ia my prayer ;
Preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
Hide me from the secret (designs) of the wicked.
And from the gathering together of the workers of iniquity :
Who have whet their tongues like a sword,
And have strung ^ their arrows, even bitter words.
That they may privily shoot at him that is perfect,
Suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
r They encourage themselves in deeds of evil ;
/ They commune among themselves how they may lay snares ;
I They say—" Who will see it 1 "
They search how they may do mischief;
They have made search :
They search each one, both the inward parts,
And the depths of the heart.
]]ut God will shoot at them with a swift arrow,
xVnd suddenly shall they be wounded.
They shall fall, being convicted by their own tongues ;
They shall flee awaj' when anyone but looks at them.^
And all men shall fear.
And they shall show forth God's deeds :
For they will perceive that it is HIS work.
The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord, and trust in HIM ;
Utphon. ^^^ ^^ ^j^gy ^-^^^ ^^,^ ^^^g ^£ heart shall be glad.
^ ffeb. " inclined their arrows. " See Ps. Iviii. 8, and xi. 2.
* Compare Ps. iviii. 6 —
And when one but strings the arrows,
Let tlieui be rooted out.
*^* The second paragraph is God's answer to the wicked, whose words and
actions are described in the first : punishing them with their own weapons
and their own tongues.
108 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM LXV.
To the chief Mimcian. — A Psalm and Song of David.
OILENCE (and) praise (are offered) to Thee, 0 God, in Sion ! i
And unto Thee shall the vow be performed.
O Thou that hearest prayer,
Unto Thee shall all flesh come.
Iniquities prevail against me :
But our transgressions Thou wilt purge away.
Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest, and receivest unto
He shall dwell in Thy courts ; [Thee :
He shall be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house,
Even of Thy holy temple.
Thou wilt show us wonderful things in Thy righteousness,
0 God of our salvation :
(Thou that art) the hope of all the ends of the earth,
And of them that remain in the broad sea.
Who in His strength setteth fast the mountains,
And is girded about with power :
Who stilleth the raging of the sea,
The raging of its waves, and the fury of the nations.
The uttermost lands shall fear Thee because of Thy judgments,
The lands of the far east and west" dost Thou make rejoice.
Thou visitest the earth, and blessest it exceedingly ;
Thou enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water ;
(Which) Thou hast prepared (for) its corn ;
For so Thou hast prepared it.
1 "Silence" and "Praise." These two words are antithetical: and the
antithesis seems marked by the absence of the co]mlative. As St. Paul
reasons relative to the observance of appointed days, that whether men ate, or
ate not, in either case they "gave God tlianks ;" (Kom. xiv. 6 ;) and as Mary's
"silent" devotion was more than equally commended by our Lord, with
Martha's more active ser^'ice : so hero the Psalmist declares that God is
praised in Sion by the joyful shouting of some ; those in prosperity ; and by
the submissive, confiding, unrepining faith of others : those in adversity or
aflliition. Sec Ps. Ixii. 1. This is the rendering of Hammond, Gesenius, and
Phillips. The I'salmist declares that that man is "blessed" who is "satisfied"
with the consolations of religion ; and tliat to such a man God will show
"wonderful things in His righteousness;" He who is the "God of their
salvation, and the hope of all the ends of the earth," and "who stilleth the
raging of the sea, the raging of its waves, and the fury of the nations."
- Hcb. "the outgoings of the morning and evening."
PSALM LXVI. 109
Thou waterest its furrows,
Thou breakest up its ridges :
Thou makest it soft with the drops of rain,
Thou blessest the increase of it.
Thou crownest the year with Thy goodness,
And Thy clouds drop fatness.
They shall drop upon the pastures of the wilderness,
And the hills shall rejoice on every side.
The meadows shall he clothed with flocks,
And the valleys shall stand thick with corn.
They shall shout for joy :
Yea, they shall sing.
PSALM LXVI.
To the chief Musician. — A Psalm or Song.
Shout unto God, all the earth !
Sing psalms unto the glory of His name :
Make His praise to he glorious.
Say unto God — How wonderful are Thy works !
Thine enemies shall submit themselves through the greatness
All the earth shall worship Thee. [of Thy power ;
They shall sing psalms unto Thee,
They shall sing psalms to Thy name.
0 COME hither, and behold the works of God :
How wonderful are His doings towards the children of men !
He turned the sea into dry land,
So that they went through the water on foot :
There did we rejoice in HIM.
He ruleth with His power for ever :
His eyes behold the nations :
Let not the rebellious exalt themselves.
110
THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
0 praise our God, ye nations,
- n p n. ^^^ make the voice of His praise to be heard.
Who holdeth our soul in life,
And siiffereth not our feet to slip.
For Thou, 0 God, hast proved us,
Thou also hast tried us, like as silver is tried.
Thou broughtest us into the snare,
Thou laidest trouble upon our loins.
Thou sufTeredst men to ride over our heads,
We went through fire and water,
And Thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.
1 will go into Thy house with burnt-offerings ;
I will pay Thee my vows.
Which I promised with my lips.
And spake with my mouth, when I was in trouble.
I will offer unto Thee burnt-sacrifices of fatlings,
With the incense of rams :
I will offer bullocks,
With he-goats.
Oh, come hither, and hearken, all ye that fear God,
And I will tell you what He hath done for my soul.
I called unto Him with my mouth,
And gave Him praises with my tongue.
If I incline i;nto wickedness with my heart,
The Lord will not hear me :
But God hath heard me.
He hath considered the voice of my prayer.
. Praised be God who hath not cast out my prayer,
« W 071. -j^^j, turned His mercy from me.
*^* In the third paragraph the Psalmist invites his hearers to consider God's
goodness to his people : in the last he bids them listen to what God has done
to himself.
PSALM LXVII. Ill
PSALM LXVII.
To the chief Musician upon the stringed instruments.
A Psalm or Song.
, .. 1 vtOD be merciful unto us, and bless us,
And cause II is face to shine upon us. ^^
That Thy way may be known upon earth,
Thy salvation among all nations.
Let the peoples praise Thee, 0 God :
n ip on. j^^^ ^Yi ^Yie peoples praise Thee !
0 let the nations rejoice and be glad :
For Thou wilt judge the peoples righteously ;
Thou wilt govern the nations upon earth. r\*?V
. . , Let the peoples priise Thee, 0 God :
ip on. j^^^ ^Q ^y^^ peoples praise Thee !
Then shall the earth bring forth her increasp,
And God, even our own God, will give us His blesiing.
GOD will bless us,
{Another Arrangement,^ see Ps. xxix.)
God be merciful unto us, and bless us,
That Thy way may be known upon eartb,
Thy salvation among all nations.
. , . , Let the peoples praise Thee, O God :
Anhphon. r t n A i • ti t
Let all the peoples praise ihee !
0 let the nations rejoice, and be glad :
For Thou wilt judge the peoples righteously,
The nations upon earth wilt Thou govern.
. . . Let the peoples praise Thee, 0 God,
Let all the peoples praise Thee !
Then shall the earth bring forth her increase.
And God, even our own God, will give us His blessingc
, . , God will bless us :
And all the ends of the world shall fear Him.
Discovered^by Jebb, Li*. Trans.
112 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM LXVIII.
To the chief Musician.
A Psalm or Song of David.
" JLiET God arise, and let His enemies be scattered ;
" Let them also that hate Him flee before Him." ^
As the driving away of smoke,
So do Thou drive them away :
As the melting of wax before the fire,
So let the ungodly perish before the presence of God.
But let the righteous be glad, let them rejoice before God,
Let them also be merry and joyful.
Sing unto God : sing psalms to His name.
Anfiphon. Make way for Him that rideth in the wilderness in his name
And rejoice before Him. [JAH,*
He is a Father of the fatherless, and a Judge of the widows ;
Even GOD in His holy habitation.
God maketh a home for the solitary,
He bringeth the prisoners out of captivity :
But maketh the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
0 God, when Thou wentest forth before the people,
When Thou wentest through the wilderness, ")7D
1 The words used by Moses each time that the ark set forward. (Num. x. 36. )
2 This is the modern interpretation, and is supported by Jerome, Chandlei'.
Lowth, Horsloy, Meyrick, and most German writers. Our Bible and Prayer-
book translations arc supported by the Jewish commentators, the Chaldee,
Grotius, Mendelssohn, Fiii-st, Hammond, Jobb, and Good. Where there is such
duality of signification we must look at the context, which there is uo doubt
refers to the children of Israel passing through the wilderness.
PSALM LXVIII.
113
The earili sliook, and tlio heavens dropped, at the presence of God ;
Even Sinai,^ at the presence of God, who is the God of Israel.
Thou, 0 God, sentest a gracious rain upon Thine inheritance,
And refreshedst it when it was weary.
Thy congregation shall dwell therein :
Thou, 0 God, hast of Thy goodness prepared for the poor.
The Lord gave the word :
Great was the company of those who published it.
Kings with their hosts" did llee, did flee ;
And they of the household divided the spoil :^
Though they had lien'^ among the pots,''
(They were laden with spoil, as) the wings of a dove ;
That is covered with silver.
And her feathers with bright gold.
1 View of Mount Sinai. — From a Photograph.
.Ji:
;-:.^^- .-_- ''■'^^^
2 An ironical antithesis to " The Lord God of Hosts." (Bottcher.)
3 See Num. xxxi. 27, and 1 Sam. xxx. 24 — 31. ■* Remained at home.
^ The word has also the meaning of " sheep-folds, "or " cattle-pens ;" but our
authorized translation seems best to agree with the previous line. The author,
on one occasion, when travelling in these countries, had engaged a new
servant, and desired him to accompany him to the top of a mountain range
to measure some antiquities. But the man refused, saying that he had never
been accustomed to such work: that he had always remained at home "with
the pots :" i. e. with the canteen and cooking utensils. These three verses
have occasioned the gi'eatest embarrassment to commentators, and have given
rise to the wildest theories.
114 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
When the kings were scattered there by the Almighty,
(The spoils were plentiful as) the snow on Salmon.
The hill of God (is as) the hill of Bashan :
(Even) a high hill, (as) the hill of Bashan.
Why hop ye so, ye high hills 1
(This is) the hill in which it pleaseth God to dwell ;
Yea, the Lord will abide in it for ever.
The chariots of God are twenty thousand,
Even thousands of thousands ;
And the Lord is among them,
(As in) the holy place of Sinai.
Thou art gone up on high,
Thou hast led captivity captive.
Thou hast received gifts for men,
Even for the rebellious ;
That the Lord God might dwell (among them).
Praised be the Lord who daily loadeth us (with benefits ^)
Antiphmi. -g^g^ ^^^ Q^ ^^ ^^^^ salvation.
God is the God of our salvation :
THE LORD is the Lord by whom we escape death.
God will wound the head of His enemies ;
The hairy scalp of such as walk in wickedness.
The Lord said — " I will bring (my people) from Bashan,
" I will bring (my people) through the depths of the sea ;
" So that thy foot shall tread in the blood of thine enemies,
" And that the tongue of thy dogs (shall lick up) the same."
They have seen Thy goings, 0 God :
The goings of my GOD and KING in His holy place : —
The singers go before, the minstrels follow after ;
In the midst are the damsels playing on the timbrels : —
" Bless ye God in the congregations ;
^■intiphon.,^^^^^ THE LORD, ye that are of the fountain of Israel."
("There is little Benjamin, their ruler,
( The princes of Judah, their council,
I The princes of Zebulon, and the princes of Xaphtali.
Thy God hatli sent forth strength for thee :
Strengthen the thing, 0 God, that Thou hast wrought in us.
For Thy temple's sake at Jerusalem,
Shall kings bring presents unto Thee.
PSALM LXIX. 115
He will rebuke the beasts of the roeds,'^
With the herds of bulls,
And the calves of the nations,
Till they submit themselves with pieces of silver.
He will scatter the nations that delight in war :
Princes shall come out of Egypt,
Ethiopia shall stretch out her hands unto God.
Sing unto the Lord, all ye kingdoms of the earth,
■P '■'"*'• Sing psalms unto the Lord. HvD
To Him who sitteth in the heaven of heavens of old.
Lo, He doth send out His voice ; yea, a voice of power.
Ascribe ye power unto God !
Antiphon. His majesty (is disj^layed) over Israel,
And His power in the heavens.
0 GOD, wonderful art Thou in Thy holy places :
Even the God of Israel !
He will give power and strength unto His people :
Bleesed be God !
PSALM LXIX.
To the cJiief Musician iqwii the six-stringed instruments.
A Psalm of David.
Save me, O God !
For the waters are come in, even unto my soul.
'"" I am sunk in the deep mire, where no ground is ;
I am come into deep waters, so that the floods run over me.
I am weary of crying, my throat is dry,
!My sight faileth me in waiting for my God.
1 Tlie hippopotamus or crocodile, as denoting Egypt and Ethiopia, nien-
tionod immediately afterwards. " Bulls " are the mighty ones or princes, also
mentioned afterwards ; and " calves " would signify the minor leaders or heads
of the people.
I 2
116 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
They ave more than the hairs of my head,
That liato mo -withoiit a cause :
They are mighty that would cut me off,
Being mine enemies imjustly :
(For) that Avhieh I took not away
I restored to them.
0 God, Thou knowest my foolishness,
And my sins are not hidden from Thee.
Let not those he ashamed on my account
Who trust in Thee, 0 Lord (thou) Lord of hosts :
Let not those be confounded on my account
"Who wait on Thee, 0 God of Israel.
For I have suffered reproach for Thy sake,
Shame hath covered my face :
1 am become a stranger unto my brethren,
And an alien unto my motlier's children :
For the zeal of Thy house hath eaten me up,
And the reproaches of them that reproached Thee fell on me.
I wept (and chastened) myself with fasting,
And that was turned to my reproach :
I put on sackcloth also,
And they jested upon me.
They tliat sit in the gate speak against me,
And the drunkards make songs upon me.
But as for me :—
I make my prayer unto Thee, 0 Lord,
In an acceptable time.
Hear me, 0 God, in the multitude of Thy mercy,
Even in the truth of Thy salvation.
Deliver me from the mire, that I sink not ;
Deliver me from them that hate me, and from the deep waters.
Antiphon. Let not the water- flood drown me.
Let not the deep swallow me up,
And let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.
Hear me, 0 God, for Thy loving-kindness is comfortable ;
Turn Thee unto me, according to the multitude of Thy mercies
And hide not Thy face from Thy servant, for I am in trouble ;
0 haste Thee, and hear me.
Draw nigh unto my soul, and save it :
Deliver me, because of mine enemies.
PSALM LXIX. 117
Thou hast known my reproach, my shame, and my dishonour ;
Mine adversaries are all in Thy sight.
('J'hy) reproach hath broken my heart,
I am full of heaviness :
I looked (for some) to have pity on me, but there was no man ;
And for comforters, but I found none.
They gave mo gall to eat,
And when 1 was thirsty they gave me vinegar to drink.
Let their table be unto them as a trap ;
And (let things) of peace (become) a snare :
Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not ;
And make their loins continually to shake :
Let Thine indignation be poured out upon them ;
And let Thy wrathful displeasure take hold of them :
Let their habitation be desolate ;
And let their tents be without inhabitant :
For they persecute them, whom Thou hast smitten ;
And they add to the sorrows of those whom Thou hast wounded.
Let them fall from one wickedness to another,
And let them not come into Thy righteousness :
Let them be blotted out of the book of life.
And let them not be written among the righteous.
But as for me : —
I am poor, and in heaviness.
But Thy salvation, 0 God, shall lift me up.
I will praise the name of God with a song,
I will magnify it with thanksgiving.
This also shall please the Lord,
Better than a bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
The humble shall consider this, and be glad ;
Seek ye after God, and your soul shall live :
For the Lord heareth the poor.
And despiseth not His afflicted ones,
... Let heaven and earth praise Him ;
n ip ion. rJ^^^ gg^^ ^^^ ^Yi that moveth therein !
For God will save Sion, and build the cities of Judah,
That (men) may dwell there, and have it in possession.
The posterity also of His servants shall inherit it,
And they that love His name shall dwell therein.
118 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM LXX.
To tht chief Musician. — A Psalm of David. To bring to remembrance.
[A replica of jJart of Psalm XL.I
0 God, to deliver me :
n ip mi. jj^g|.g Thee, 0 Lord, to my help !
Let them he ashamed
And confounded (together) i
That seek after my soul :
Let them he driven backward
And put to confusion,
That wish to do nie evil.
Let them be desolate
And rewarded with shame,
That say — " Aha, aha ! "
Let them be joyful
And glad in Thee, all they
That seek after Thee :
And let them say alway —
" Let God be praised,"
That love Thy salvation.
As for me : —
I am poor and needy :
Antiphon. Haste Thee unto me, 0 God !
Thou art my helper, and my deliverer !
Tarry not, 0 Lord !
PSALM LXXL
iX THEE, 0 Lord, have I put my trust :
. Let me never be put to confusion :
"'■''' * Deliver me in Thy righteousness, and free me ;
Incline Thine ear unto me, and save me.
1 See Ps. xl.
PSALM LXir. 119
Be Thou my aMding Eock,
Whereunto I may always resort :
Thou hast promised to help me,
For THOU art my Rock, and my castle.
Deliver me, O God, out of the hand of the ungodly,
Out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man :
For THOU, 0 Lord my Lord,^ art the thing that I long for,
(THOU art) my hope, even from my youth :
Through THEK have I been holden up from the birth ;
Thou art HE that took me out of my mother's womb ;
My praise shall be always of THEE.
I am become as it were a monster unto many.
But my sure trust is in THEE.
O let my mouth be tilled with THY praise,
All the day long with THY honour.
Cast me not av/ay in the time of age,
Forsake me not when my strength faiieth.
For mine enemies speak against me,
And they that lay v/ait for my soul consult together, saying —
" God hath forsaken him :
" Pursue after him, and take him :
" For there is none to deliver him."
O GOD, go' not far from me :
0 MY GOD, haste Thee to help me i
Let them be confounded and perish
That are against my soul :
Let them be covered with shame and dishonour
That wish to do me evil
As for me : —
1 will patiently abide alway,
I will praise Thee more and more.
My mouth shall speak of Thy righteousness ;
All the day long of Thy salvation :
Antiphon. For I know no end thereof.
I will go forth in the strength of the Lord Jehovah ;
I will make mention of Thy righteousness ; even Thine only.
O God, Thou hast taught me from my youth up ;
From my youth^ have I declared Thy wondrous works.
^ Eeb. " Lord Jehovali." ^ Ileb. "And until uow."
120 TlIK BOOK OF PSALMS.
Forsake me not then, 0 God,
In mine old age, when I am grey-headed.
Until I have showed Thy strength unto this generation,
And (Thy power) unto all them that are yet for to come.
, . , Thy righteousness, 0 God, is very high ;
And great things are they that Thou hast done !
0 God ! wlio is like unto Thee !
Wlio hast showed me such great troubles and adversities,
And yet Thou didst turn and refresh me.
Thou didst turn, and bring me up from the depths of the earth ;
Tliou hast brought me to great honour.
Thou hast comforted me on every side.
Therefore will I praise Thee upon an instrument of music.
Because of Thy faithfulness, 0 my God :
1 will sing psalms unto Thee upon the harp,
0 thou Holy One of Israel.
My lips shall shout for joy unto Thee;
!My soul, which Thou hast redeemed, shall sing psalms.
All the day long also shall my tongue
. Talk of Thy righteousness :
^ mp on. Yq,. t}^gy g^pg confounded, for they are brought uuto shame,
That seek to do me evil.
PSALM LXXir.
For Solomon.
VtIVE Thy judgments, 0 God, unto the king.
And Thy righteousness unto the king's son.
Let hinj rule Thy people with righteousness.
And Thy poor with judgment :
Let the mountains bring peace uuto Thy people,
And the hills righteousness :
Let him judge the poor of the people ;
Let him defend the children of the needy ;
Let him break in jneces the oppressor.
Let them fear THEE as long as the sun endureth,
As long as the moon shall last.
From generation to generation :
PSALM LXXII. 121
Let him come down like rain upon the mown grass,
Even as the showers which water the earth.
Let the righteous flourish in his days ;
And abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth :
Let his dominion also be from the one sea to the other ;
And from the river to the ends of the earth :
Let them that dwell in the wilderness kneel before him ;
Let his enemies lick the dust :
Let the kings of Tiiarsis and of the isles bring presents ;
Let the kings of Arabia and Saba bring gifts :
Let all kings fall down before him ;
Let all nations do him service.
For he will deliver the needy when he crieth,
The poor also, and him that hath no helper :
lie will be favourable to the poor and needy ;
And he will preserve the souls of the needy :
He will deliver their souls from falsehood and wrong
And dear shall their blood be in his sight.
May he live ! and let them give unto him
Of the gold of Arabia :
Let them pray ever for him,
Daily may they praise him.
Let there be abundance of corn upon the earth,
Up to the top of the mountains :
Let its fruit shake like Lebanon,
Let it abound in the city, like grass upon the earth.
Let his name endure for ever !
Let his name be continued as long as the sun !
Let all men be blessed through him :
Let all the heathen call him blessed !
Blessed be the LORD GOD, even the God of Israel,
Which only doeth w^ondrous things :
And blessed be the name of His majesty for ever.
And let all the earth be filled with His majesty.
Amen, and Amen.
The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended. ^
^ That this line and the doxology form part of this particular Psalm,
written shortly l)efore David's death, see Ps. xlv. and Essay i. Running titles,
" Solomon " and " Do.xologies."
122 THB BOOK OF P8ALMS.
PSALM LXXIir.
A Pmhn for Asaph.
J,,EULY God is loving unto Israel,
Even unto such as are of a clean heart :
But as for me —
My feet were almost gone,
My treadings had well-nigh slipped.
Vov I was envious of the wicked,
AVhen I saw the ungodly in such prosperity.
Tor they are in no peril of death,
But are lusty and strong.
They come in no misfortune like (other) folk,
Neither are they plagued like (other) men.
' And this is the cause that they are so holden of pride,
And clothed with cruelty.
Their eyes swell with fatness,
Their hearts' desire floweth over.
They are corrupt, they speak wickedly (concerning their)
They speak loftily. [oppression,^
Their mouth stretcheth up into heaven,
And their tongue runneth through the world.
Therefore fall the people imto them,
And waters of ahundance shall be found by them."
And they say — " How doth God know 1
" Is there knowledge in the Most High ? "
Lo, these are the ungodly ;
These prosper in the world, and increase in riches.
Surely, in vain have I cleansed my heart.
And have washed my hands in innocency ;
Have I been punished all the day.
And been chastened every morning !
If I should speak thus,
I should offend the generation of Thy children.
l)ut when I endeavoured to understand this,
It was too hard for me :
* Compare Ps. x. 6, "all tliose whom he oppresseth he scoffuth a1." See
also Ps. lix. 12 ; and Is. lix. 13.
" Jeblf, (j[iiotiiig Suptuagiut ami three MSS.
PSALM LXXIV. 123
Until I went into the sanctuary of God,
Then understood I the end of these men.
Surely, in slippery places dost Thou set them,
Tiiou dost cast them down to destruction.
How are they all brought into desolation, as in a moment !
They are brought to destruction, and consumed with terrors.
As a dream when one awaketh, so, 0 Lord,
On Thine arising shalt Thou despise their image.
Yet my heart was grieved,
And it went even through my reins :
So foolish was I, and ignorant,
Even as the beasts before Thee.
As for me : — I am always in Thy sight.
For Thou hast lioldeu me by my right hand.
Thou wilt guide me with Thy counsel,
And after that Thou wilt receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven (but THEE) 1
And there is none upon earth that I desire, beside THEE.
My flesh and my heart faileth :
But GOD is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
For lo, they that forsake Thee shall perish :
Thou wilt destroy all them that go after other gods.^
But as for me : —
. . It is good for me to draw me near to God,
11^ 1011. rj^ ^^^^ ^^^ trust in the Lord my Lord,'
And to set forth all Thy doings.
PSALM LXXIV.
A Psalm of instruction. — To Asaph.
Anti ^hon "W*HY, 0 God, hast Thou cast us off for ever !
"' '^' ''''■ (Why) is Thy wrath so hot against the sheep of Thy pasture !
0 think upon Thy congregation which Thou hast purchased,
Which Thou hast redeemed of old ;
^ Reb. " commit fornication against Thee." * Hch. " Lord Jehovah/'
124 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
The rod of Thine inlieritance,
The mount Sion wherein Thou hast dwelt !
Lift up Thy feet unto the perpetual desolations, [sanctuary.
(And see) all that the enemy hath done wickedly in Thy
Thine adversaries roar in the midst of Thy congregation ;
They set up their ensigns as signs.^
They appear as though they were lifting up on high
Their axes on the thick forests :
But lo ! all the carved work thereof
Do they break down with axes and hammers.
They have devoted to the fire Thy holy place :
They have defiled to the ground the dwelling-place of Thy name!
They have said in their hearts — " Let us destroy them altogether."
They have burnt up all the houses of God in the land.
We see not our ensigns ; there is not one prophet more :
No, not one is there among us that can show us — how long?
. . How long, O God, shall the adversary reproach ?
71 tp ion. Q^^Yi the enemy blaspheme Thy name for ever 1
Why withholdest Thou Thy hand, even Thy right hand ]
( Why withdra west Thou it not) fi'om Thy bosom to consume (them) ?
But God is my King of old,
Working salvation in the midst of the earth.
Thou dividedst the sea through Thy power,
Thou breakedst the heads of the dragons in the waters :
Thou smotest the heads of Leviathan,
Thou gavest him to be food to the people in the wilderness :
Thou broughtest out fountains and waters (from the hard rock,)
Thou driedst up mighty rivers.
The day is Thine, and the night is Thine,
Thou hast prepared the light and the sun :
Thou hast set all the borders of the earth,
Thou hast made summer and winter.
Eemember, 0 Lord, (how) the enemy hath reproached,
Antiphon. j^^^ i^^^^, ^j^^ foolish people have blasphemed Thy name.
Give not over to (their) congregation the soul of Thy turtledove,.
Forget not the congregation of the poor for ever.
Look upon the covenant ^
For all the earth is full of darkness, and cruel Jiabitaf^ons.
* Paronomasia. See Essay 11.
rSALM LXXV. 125
0 let not the oppressed go away ashamed :
Let the poor and needy give thanks unto Thy name.
Arise, 0 God, maintain Thine own cause :
Remember how the foolish man blasphemeth Thee daily.
Forget not the voice of thine enemies :
The tumult of them that hate Thee increaseth more and more.
PSALM LXXV.
To the chief Musician.
"AUaschith." — A Psalm or Song for Asaph.
intiphon. VV E give thanks unto TTIEE, 0 God, we give thanks :
For that Thy name is nigh Thy wondrous works declare.
When I appoint the set time,'^
I, (even I,-) shall judge according unto right.
The earth and all its inhabitants are dissolved,
I, (even I,-) set up the pillars thereof.^
I will say unto the fools — Deal not so foolishly ;
And unto the ungodly — -Lift not up your horn :
Lift not up your horn on high ;
Speak not with a neck of arrogancy :
For lifting-up is not from the east or west.
Nor yet from the wilderness.'*
For GOD is the judge : this man He putteth down,
And this man He lifteth up.
1 Sec the word so used in Ps. cii. 13.
2' * The / is eiiiphalic in each case.
' Compare — "For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's :
"And He hath set the world upon them." (1 Sam. ii. 8.)
See also Job. ix. 6.
* The desert lay to the south.
126 THE BOOK OP PSALMS.
For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is
It is full of mixture ; and lie poureth out of the same, [thick :
Surely, all the ungodly of the earth shall drink thereof,
And they shall wring out the dregs thereof.
As for me : —
Anliphon. I will talk of the God of Jacob,
I will sing psalms unto Him for ever !
All the horns of the ungodly also will I break :
But the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.
PSALM LXXVI.
To the chief Musician upon the stringed instruments.
A Psalm or Sony for Asa])h.
(jrOD is known in Judah,
His name is great in Israel :
At Salem is His tabernacle,
And His dwelling-place in Sion.
There brake He the swaft arrows^ of the bow.
The shield, the sword, and the battle.
Thou art more glorious and excellent
Than the high mountains.
The proud are robbed ; they have slept their sleep :
And the hands of all the men of might have found nothing.
At THY rebuke, 0 God of Jacob,
Both the chariot and horse are fallen. -
THOU, even THOU, art to be feared :
And who may stand in Thy sight when Thou art angry !
Thou didst cause Thy judgments to be heard from heaven ;
The earth trembled, and was still ;
1 " Quick motions." See Ps. vii. 13, "swift pursuers."
- Hcb. " fast asleei). "
PSALM LXXVII. 127
When God arose to judgment,
And to save all the meek upon earth.
Surely, the -wrath of man shall turn to Thy praise,
And the overflowings of wrath shall turn to Thy honour.i
Promise unto the Lord your God, and keep it ;
Bring presents, (all ye that approach Him,) in His fear.
He will refrain the spirit of princes ;
He Tvill strike fear into the kings of the earth.
PSALM LXXVIL
To the chief Musician. — To Jcduthun.
A Psalm for Asajih.
VV ITH my voice I cried unto God :
With my voice unto God : and He gave ear to me.
In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord ;
My hand was stretched out in prayer all night :
My soul refused comfort.
I remembered God (and His former mercies) ; and I was troubled :
n tp on. J meditated (upon the past) ; and my spirit was overwhelmed.
nho
Thou withheldest sleep from mine eyes ;
I was so troubled that I could not speak :
I considered the days of old,
And the years that are past.
1 Ilcb. " Tlic remainder of wraths slialt Thou gird on (Thee.)" i.e. shalt
Thou use for Tliine adorning. Compare Ps. xlvi. 3, 4 : —
Though tlie waters thereof rage and swell,
Though the mountains shake at the temjjest of the same,
The rivers of the flood thereof shall make glad the city of God ;
and Ps. Ixxxiv. 6, Who going through the vale of miseiy, use it as a well,
And tlie pools are filled with water.
It is thus, that hy praising God for His cliastisements and corrections, God's
" saints " are enabled to " rejoice in their beds," and to them — " the Valley
of Trouble" becomes a "Gate of Hope;" (Hos. ii. 15;) the wilderness
becomes a stantling water, and water-springs arise out of the dry ground.
_" Heaviness may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.".
128 THE BOOK OF rSALMS.
... , T remembered my song in tlio night :
I meditated in my heart, and my spirit searched within me.
" Will the Lord cast off for ever t
" And Avill lie be no more entreated?
" Is His mercy clean gone for ever ?
" Is His promise come utterly to an end for evermore ?
" Hath God forgotten to be gracious 1
" Hath He shut up His loving-kindness in displeasure ? "
But I said — This is my infirmity ! [High :
(I will call to miud)^ the years of the risht hand of the Most
Antiphon. i will remember the works of the Lord, and Thy wonders of old
I will think also of all Thy works : [time.
I will meditate upon Thy doings.
Thy way, 0 God, is in the sanctuary :
Who is so great a God as our God !
Thou art the God that doeth wonders ;
Thou hast declared Thy power among the people.
Thou hast mightily delivered Thy peof)le,
Antiphon. -^^^^ ^^^^ g^j^g ^^ j,^^^^ ^^^^^ Joseph. ^^"Q
The waters saw Thee, 0 God !
The waters saw Thee, and were afraid :
The depths also were troubled.
Tlio clouds poured out water,
The air thundered,
And Thine arrows were discharged.
Tlie noise of Thy thunder (was heard) round about,
The lightnings shone upon the ground,
The earth was troubled, and shook withal.
Thy way is in the sea, and Thy paths in the great waters,
And Tliy footsteps are not known.
Thoix leddest Thy people, like sheep,
n ip ion. -jj^ ^1^^ hands of Moses and Aaron.
^ In the first and second parajifraphs ho "remembered" the past only to
lament the present : now lie remembers the past only to give confidence to
the future. Compare I's. xlii.
*»* The epanodos at end of this Psalm can also bo arranged as triplets. Seo
Essay ii.
PSALM LXXVIII. 129
PSALM LXXVIII.
{A Psahn of) instruction. — For Asaph.
ijrIVE ear to my law, 0 my people :
Incline your ear unto the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable,
I will speak of God's dealings of the past ; ^
,^^^ Which wo have heard and seen,
And which our fathers have told us ;
That we should not hide them from our children,
Nor from the generations to come ;
]^>ut should show forth the praises of the Lord,
His might, and the wonderful works which He hath wrought.
XXE gave a covenant unto Jacob,
And established a law unto Israel ;
Which He commanded our forefathers
To make known unto their children ;
That their posterity might know it, *
And the children which were yet unborn ;
Who should grow up, and declare it unto their children —
Tliat they should put their trust in God ;
And that tliey should not forget the works of God,
And that they should keep His commandments ;
And that they sbould not be as their forefathers,
A faithless and stubborn generation ;
A generation that set not their heart aright,
And whose spirit was not stedfast unto God.
The children of Ephraim,^ though armed, and carrying bows.
Turned themselves back in the day of battle !
They kept not the covenant of God,
And they would not walk in His law ;
But they forgat what He had done,
And the marvellous works that He had showed for them.
1 Heb. " I will declare liard sentences of old."
2 i.e. Israel. The children of Israel, though adopted by God as a chosen
people, as His people, and protected by Him, turned away after false gods, ui
tlie time of temptation !
K
130
THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
]\rarvellous works did lie in the sight of our forefathers,
In the land of Egypt, even in the field of Zoan.
He divided the sea, and let them go through,
He made the waters to stand as a wall ;
In the day-time also He led them with a cloud,
And all the night through with a light of lire ;
He clave the hard rocks in the wilderness.
And He gave them drink thereof, as out of the great depth ;
He brought forth streams out of the hard rock.
He made the water to run down like a river.
Yet for all this they sinned more against Him,
And provoked the Most Highest in the wilderness ;
And they tem^jted God in their heart.
By requiring meat for their lust ;
And they spoke against God, saying —
" Can God prepare a table in the wilderness 1
" He smote the rock indeed, that the waters gushed out,
" And the stream flowed withal :
" But can He give bread also,
" Or provide flesh for His people ? "
The Lord heard this, and was wroth :
So the fire was kindled in Jacob,
And anger Avent out against Israel :
Because they believed not God,
And put not their trust in His help.
So He commanded the clouds from above,
And He opened the doors of heaven ;
And He rained down manna also upon them for to eat,
And He gave them food from heaven.
So man did eat angels' food ;
For He sent them meat enough :
He caused the east wind of heaven to blow,
And by His power He brought in the south wind ;
He poured flesh upon them as thick as dust,
And feathered fowl, like as the sand of the sea :
He let it fall among their tents,
Even round about their habitations.
So they did cat, and were well filled ;
He gave them their own desire,
They were not disappointed of their desire.
But while the meat was yet in their mouths,
The heavy wrath of God came upon them.
PSALM LXXVIII.
And slew the wealthiest of them,
Yea, and smote down the chosen men that were in Israel.
But for all this they sinned yet more,
And believed not His wondrous works.
So He consumed their days in vanity,
And their years in trouble.
When He slew them, they sought Him,
And turned them early, and enquired after God :
And they remembered that GOD was their strength,
And that THE MOST HIGH GOD was their redeemer.
Eut they did but flatter Him with their mouth.
And dissembled with Him in their tongue :
For their heart was not right with Him,
Neither continued they stedfast in His covenant.
But HE was so merciful,
That He put away their misdeeds, and destroyed them not
Yea, many a time turned He His wrath away.
And would not suffer His whole displeasure to arise :
For He remembered that they were but flesh,
And as it were a wind, that goeth, and cometh not again.
How often did they provoke Him in the wilderness.
And grieve Him in the desert !
They turned back, and tempted God,
And limited the Holy One of Israel !
They remembered not His hand,
!N'or the day when He delivered them from their distress :
How He had wrought His miracles in Egypt,
And His wonders in the field of Zoan :
He turned their rivers into blood,
And their waters that they could not drink :
He sent swarms of flies to devour them,
And frogs to destroy them :
He gave their fruit unto the grasshopper,
And their labour unto the locust :
He destroyed their vines with hailstones.
And their mulberry trees with the frost :
He smote their cattle also with hailstones,
And their flocks with hot thunderbolts :
(He cast upon them the furiousness of His wrath,
Anger, displeasure, and trouble ;
And sent evil angels (among them) :
K 2
131
132 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
r He made a way to His indignation,
', And spared not their soul from death,
I But gave their life over to the pestilence :
And He smote all the first-born in Egypt,
The chief of their strength in the dwellings of Ham.
But as for His own people, He led them forth like sheep.
And He guided them in the desert like a flock :
He brought them out safely, that they should not fear.
But He overwhelmed their enemies in the sea :
And He brought tliem within the borders of His sanctuary.
Even to His mountain which He purcliased with His right hand :
And He cast out the heathen before them, [heritage,
And He caused their land to be divided among them for a
And He made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
But they tempted and provoked the Most High God,
And kept not His testimonies :
But turned back, and fell away like their forefathers,
Starting aside like a broken bow.
For they grieved Him with their hill altars.
And they provoked Him to jealousy with their images.
God heard this, and was wroth ;
And He took sore displeasure at Israel :
So that He forsook the tabernacle in Shiloh,
Even the tent which He had pitched among men ;
And He delivered His strength into captivity.
And His glory into the enemy's hands :
He gave His people also to the sword.
And He was wroth with His inheritance :
The fire consumed their young men,
And their maidens were not given in marriage : ^
Their priests were slain with the sword.
And their widows made no lamentations.
Then the Lord awaked, as one out of sleep.
And as a giant refreshed with wine ;
He smote His enemies from behind,
And put them to a perpetual shame :
He refused the tabernacle of Joseph,
And chose not the tribe of Ephraim ;
1 Ilcb. " were not praLsed. "
P8ALM LXXIX. 133
Eat He choso the tribe of Judah,
And the hill of Sion which He loved :
And there Ho built His temple on high ;
He founded it, as the earth, for ever.
j And He chose David His servant.
And He took him away from the sheep-folds,
t As he was following the ewes He took him ;
That he might feed Jacob, His people,
And Israel, His inheritance.
And he fed them with a faithful and true heart,
And guided them prudently with all his power.
PSALM LXXIX.
A Psalm. — For Asaph.
0 GOD!
{The heathen are come into Thine inheritance !
They have deiiled Thy holy temple !
They have laid Jerusalem in heaps !
T'he dead bodies of Thy servants have they given to be meat
Unto the fowls of the air :
And the flesh of Thy saints
Unto the beasts of the earth.
Their blood have they poured out ^ like water on every side of
And there was no man to bury them ! [Jerusalem ;
We are become a reproach to our neighbours,
'■ A very scorn and derision unto them that are round about us !
How long, 0 Lord !
Wilt Thou be angry with us for ever !
Shall Thy jealousy burn like fire !
Pour out'- Thine indignation upon the heathen
That know Thee not ;
And upon the kingdoms
That call not upon Thy name :
For they have devoured Jacob,
And laid waste his dwelling-place.
^ * Compare together with Note 1 of next page.
I'M THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
( ) remember not our old sins,
But have mercy upon us, and that soon ;
For we are come to great misery.
Help us, 0 God of our salvation,
For the glory of Thy name !
Purge us, and deliver us from our sins,
For Thy name's sake !
Wherefore do the heathen say —
" Whore is now their God ] "
Let Him be openly showed to the heathen in our sight,
By the avenging of Thy servants' blood which is poured out.
Let the sorrowful sighing of the prisoners come before Thee :
In the greatness of Thy power preserve Thou those that are
[appointed to die.
And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom,
" " ''" '"'■ For the reproach wherewith they have reproached Thee, 0 Lord.
So we that are Thy people,
Second And the sheep of Thy pasture ;
Antlphov. Will give Thee thanks, for ever ;
And will show forth Thy praise, from generation to generation.
PSALM LXXX.
To the chief Musician upon the six-stringed instruments.
(In remembrance of?) the Testimx/ny,-
A Psalm for Asaph.
Hear, ( ) thou shepherd of Israel !
Thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep,
Thou that dwellest between the cherubim, shine forth !
Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh,'
Stir up Tliy strength, and come and save us !
Turn us again, O God !
Anii/ihon. gj^Q^y ^j^g ^g]j^ ^f jjjy countenance, and we shall be saved.
• See Notes 1 and 2 of preceding page.
- Sec Ps. Ix. tit. » See Num. ii. 18, 20, 22.
PSALM r,xxx.
135
ihon.
How long, 0 Lord God of hosts !
Wilt Thou bo angry with Thy people that prayeth ! '
Thou hast made them eat of the bread of tears :
Thou hast made them drink of tears in great measure.
Thou hast made us a very strife to our neighbours,
And our enemies laugh us to scorn.
Turn us again, 0 God of hosts !
Show the light of Thy countenance, and we shall be saved.
Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt ;
Thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it :
Thou preparedst the land, and didst root it well ;
Thou didst cause it to fill the land :
The hills ^ were covered with the shadow of it,
And the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedar trees : -^
She stretched forth her branches unto the sea,*
And her boughs unto the river.^
Tlvne oj the most, aiieient Cedars in Mount Lebanon.
From a Sketch by the Author, lS-13.
The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree,
And shall spread abroad like a cedar in Lebanon.
' See Ps. Ixxix. line 14.
-• ••'• •*■ = South, North, West, East. (Delitzsch, rcferricg to D( ut. \i. 24.
136 TUE BOOK OF PSALMS.
Why hast Thou then broken down her hedge,
So that all they that go by pluck off (her grapes
The wild boar out of the wood doth root it up,
And the wild beasts of the field devour it !
Turn, we pray Thee, 0 God of hosts !
Look down from heaven : beliold and visit this vine
And protect that which Thy right hand liath planted,
And the branch" which Thou hast made strong for Thyself.
It is burnt Avith fire, and cut down :
' "••'^"" • (Thy people) perish at the rebuke of Thy countenance I
Let Thy hand be upon the man of Thy right hand,^
And upon the son of man ■* whom Thou hast made strong for
And so will we not go back ^ from Thee : [Thyself.
Quicken us, and we will call upon Thy name.
A lit i pit on'.
Turn us again, O I^ord God of hosts !
Show the light of Thy counlenance, and we shall be saved.
' There is a majuscule here in the original — nyOJ "ItJ'X HJ^I
^ Paronomasia. The Psalmist has used three words before to signify a
brancli — onoph, kotscer, and younaik ; (vv. 10, 11 ;) but instead of again using
one of these he chooses the word hain, which signifies both a branch and a
son, and the word is intended to have this double signification in this pas-
sage : — branch as relating to the " vine," and son as relating to the children
of Israel. The line therefore signifies, "And the children which Thou hast
established for Thyself"
* See four lines above. The children of Israel whom God led out of Egypt.
* As the word "man " refers to the word "man" in the preceding line, so
the "son of inan" must signify the posterity of those whom God led out of
Egypt— "the children which Thou hast established for Thyself : " which is
exactly similar to what we have found four lines above.
'' The word soog, "to slide back," or "go back," seems to have been chosen
as a. parmioinasia with shoov, to "turn' or return, in order to complete the
rprcnodos, and so give more importance to the concluding antiphon, which
might otherwise have been taken for the concluding member of the epanodos.
PSALM LXXXI. 137
PSALM LXXXI.
To the chief Musician upon tJic (fathite liary.
A Psalm. — For Asaph.
OING ye joyfully unto God our strength !
Shout aloud unto the God of Jacob !
'lake the psalm, bring hither the tabret,
The pleasant harp, with the lute.
Blow ye the trumpet in the new moon,
At the time appointed, and upon our solemn feast-day.
For this was made a statute for Israel,
And a law of the God of Jacob :
This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony,
When he went out of the laud of Egypt,
And had heard a strange language.
" I eased his shoulder from the burden,
" And his hands were delivered from (making) the pots :
" Thou calledst upon Me in trouble,
" And I delivered thee ;
" I heard thee in the secret place of thunder,
" I proved thee also at the waters of Meribah."
'' Hear, 0 My people !
" And I will testify to thee, 0 Israel !
" If thou wilt hearken unto Me —
" There shall no strange God be in thee,
" Neither shalt thou worship any other God.
" I, even I, am THE LORD THY GOD,
" Who brought thee out of the land of Egypt :
" Open thy mouth wide,
" And I will fill it."
" But My people would not hear My voice,
" And Israel would not obey Me.
" So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lusts,
" And let them follow their own imaginations."
138 THE BOOK OF PSALMS,
" O that My people would have hearkened unto Me,
'' For if Israel had walked in My ways,
" I should soon have put down tlieir enemies, '
" And turned My hand against their adversaries.
" The haters of the Lord should have been made to submit them-
" But their time should have endured for ever. [selves :
" I would have fed them also with the finest wheat flour :
" And with honey out of the stony rock would I have satisfied thee."
PSALM LXXXIL
Proem.
A Psalm. — For Asaph.
ijrOD standeth in the midst of His congregation : ^
He is a JUDGE among those that execute judgment.'-
" How long will ye judge unjustly,
" (How long) will ye accept the persons of the ungodly ? "
" Judge the poor and fatherless :
" Kender justice to the afflicted and needy.
" Deliver the outcast and poor,
" Save them from the hand of the ungodly."
" They will not know ; nor will they understand ;
" They will walk in darkness :
" All the foundations of the earth are out of course I "
I have said : —
" Ye are gods,-'
" And ye are all the children of the Most Highest :
" But ye shall die like men,*
" And fall like one of the princes."
Arise, 0 God, and judge THOU the earth :
/ )( ip lov. Yq^ Thou shalt take all nations to Thine inheritance.
' Ileh. " in the congregation of God."
' Ileh. " in the midst of the gods."
' See Note 2. ■* Like other men, like men of dust, "Adam.''
PSALM LXXXIir. 139
PSALM LXXXIII.
A Song or Psalm. — For Asaph.
\j GOD, be not sQent :
Keep not still silence : refrain not thyself, 0 God !
For lo, thine enemies make a murmuring,
inUphon. ^^^^ ^-^^^ ^^^^ j^^^g rj^j^gg j^^^g j-£^.g^ ^p ^j^g-j. j^g^^ .
They have devised craftily against Thy people,
And they have taken counsel against Thy secret ones.
They have said —
" Come, and we will cast them off as a nation,
" So that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance."
For they have consulted together with one consent,
And are confederate against Thee :
The tabernacles of the Edomites and the Ishmaelites,
The Moabites and the Hagarenes :
Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek,
The Philistines, and they that dwell in Tyre :
Ashur also is joined to them ;
They have holpen the children of Lot.
But do Thou to them as unto the Midianites,
As unto Sisera, and as unto Jabin at the brook Kishou :
Who perished at Endor,
Who became as dung for the earth.
Make their princes as Oreb and Zeeb,
Yea, all their princes as Zebah and Zalmunna ;
Who said — " Let us take to ourselves
The houses of God in possession,"
0 my God, make them as a wheel.
And as the stubble before the wind ;
As the fire that consumeth a wood,
And as the flame that enkindleth the mountains :
Pursue them even so with Thy tempest.
And make them afraid with Thy storm :
Make theii' faces ashamed,
That they may seek after Thy name, 0 Lord :
140 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
Let them be confounded and troubled for ever,
■ And let them be put to shame and perish.
, ^. , And they shall know that THOU, whose name alone is JEHOVAH,
Art the ^lost Highest over all the earth.
PSALM LXXXIV.
I'o the chief Miosician upon the Oathite harp.
A Psalm. — For the sons of Korah.
XlOW beloved are Thy tabernacles, 0 Lord of hosts !
My soul hath a desire and longing for the courts of the Lord !
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God !
As the sparrow doth find her a house,
And tlie swallow a nest,' where they may lay thtii young,
(So longeth my soul after^ Thine altars^ 0 Lord of hosts,
My KIN(J and my GOD!
Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house :
.• /( ipion. 'j^ijjgy ^y[][ }3g alway praising Thee.
Blessed is the man whose strength is in THEE,
In whose heart are (Thy) ways :
"Who, going through the vale of misery, use it as a well,
And the pools are filled with water.
They shall advance from strength to strength,
They shall appear before God in Sion.
O LORD GOD OF HOSTS !
Hear my prayer :
Hearken, O God of Jacob ! H/D
Behold, O God our defender !
And look upon the face of Thine anointed.
For one day in Thy courts
Is better than a thousand :
I had rather lie (outside) the threshold of the house of my God,
Than to dwell in the tents of ungodliness.
^ There is a majuS'Ule here in the original : — n? ]p "imv
PSALM LXXXV. 141
For the Lord God is a sun and shield ;
The Lord will give grace and glory :
Neither -will He withhold good
From them that walk in uprightness.
0 LORD OF HOSTS !
Blessed is the man that trusteth in THEE.
PSALM LXXXV.
To the chief Musician.
A Psalm. — For Ihc sons of Korah.
.L HOU hast been gracious, 0 Lord, unto Thy land ;
Thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob :
Thou hast forgiven the offence of Thy people ;
Thou hast covered all their sin : n'7D
Thou hast taken away all Thy displeasure ;
Thou hast turned Thyself from Thy wrathful indignation.
Turn us then, 0 God our Saviour,
And let Thine anger cease from us.
Wilt Thou be angry with us, for ever !
Wilt Thou stretch out Thy wrath, from generation to genera-
Wilt Thou not turn again, and quicken us, [tion !
That Thy people may rejoice in Thee !
Show us Thy mercy, 0 Lord,
And grant us Thy salvation.
I will hearken to what the Lord God shall speak :
For He will speak peace unto His people, and to His saints,
That they turn not again to folly.
For His salvation is nigh them that fear Him,
That glory may dwell in our land.
Mercy and truth are met (together) ;
Eighteousness and peace have kissed (each other):
142
THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
Truth shall spring up out of the earth/
And righteousness hath looked down from heaven.
Yea, the Lord will give loving-kindness,
And our land shall give her increase.
Righteousness shall go before Him,
And He will direct our goings in His way.'^
PSALM LXXXVL
A Prayer of David.
jC50W down Thine ear, 0 Lord, and hear me ;
For I am poor, and in misery !
Preserve Thou my soul ;
For I am hoi}' :
Save Thou Thy servant, 0 my God !
Who putteth his trust in Thee.
Be merciful unto me, 0 Lord ;
For unto Thee will I call, all the day long :
Comfort the soul of Thy servant ;
For unto Thee, 0 Lord, do I lift up my soul.
For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive,
Antiphon. ^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^jj ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ r^^^QQ,
* This is one of the passages of the Bible selected by the Cabalists as ex-
hibiting some occult meaning, or mystic significance. On arranging the
letters in a square, they found that tliey presented the same words whether
read perpendicularly or horizontally.
n
» K
Tf
IN 0
no
1
Ti n
(Phillips.— Ps. in Ebb. i. 185.)
2 This is not the exact translation ; but it appears to give the sense, and
accords with the earth's response to heaven throughout the paragraph.
PSALM LXXXVII. 14.")
Give car, Lord, unto my prayer,
And ponder the voice of my humble desires.
In the time of my trouble 1 Avill call upon Thee,
For Thou hearest me.
There is none among the gods like unto Thee, O Lord !
There are no (works) like Thy works !
All nations whom Tliou hast made
Shall come and worship before THEE, 0 Lord !
And shall glorify Thy name.
For Thou art great, and doest wondrous things,
Tliou art God ; THOU only.
Teach me Thy way, 0 Lord ; and I will walk in Thy truth :
() knit my heart unto Thee, that I may fear Thy name.
1 will thank Thee, 0 Lord my God, with all my heart,
And I will praise Thy name for evermore.
. . , For great is Thy mercy toward me.
And Thou hast delivered my soul from the nethermost hell.
0 (iOi) !
The proud are risen agaiust me,
And the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul.
And have not set THEE before their eyes.
But Thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion and mercy.
Long-suffering, plenteous in goodness and truth.
0 turn Thee then unto me, and have mercy upon me :
Give Thy strength unto 'fhy servant,
And help the son of Thine handmaid.
Show me some token for good,
That they who hate me may see it, and be ashamed :
For Thou, Lord, hast holpen me,
.nip 10)1. ^j;j,j comforted me.
PSALM LXXXVII.
A Psalm or Song. — Foi- the sons of Korali.
Hi
_ER foundation is upon the holy hills ;
The Lord loveth the gates of Sion
More than all the dwellinfjs of Jacob.
144 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
Glorious things are spoken of thee,
Thou city of God !
1 v.'ill mention Eahab and Babylon as of them that know me :
Beliold also Philistia, and Tyre, and Ethiopia : ^
Such a man was born there.
But of Sion it shall be reported —
■' This man, and that man, were l)orn in her : "
And HE the Most High will stablish her.
The Lord will reckon them, wlien he writeth up the people—
" This man was born in her."
nbu
The singers also, and players on instruments (shall sing — )
■ " All my fountains" are in thee."
PSALM LXXXVIII.
A Psalm or Song. — For the' sons of Korah.
To the chief Musician upon the wind instruments.
For antiphonal response.
A Psalm of instruction. For Hem an tlw Ezrahitr.
... \J LOUD God of my salvation !
" ''"""■ In the day-time have I cried, and in the night, before Thee
Let my prayer come before Thee,
Incline Thine ear unto my calling :
For my soul is full of trouble,
And my life draweth nigh unto the grave.
I am counted as one of them that go down into the pit,
I have been even as a man that hath no strength.
1 See Is. xlv. 14; Ix. ?> ; Ixvi. 23 ; Zeoli. viii. 22.
2 See Introd. p. 9, and Ps. Ixviii,, third autiphon.
PSALM LXXXVIII. 145
Free (to go) among the dead,
Like the slain who lie in the grave ;
Wlio are out of Thy remembrance,
And are cut off from Thy hand.
Thou luist laid me in the lowest pit,
In a place of darkness, and in the deep.
Thine indignation lieth hard upon me,
And thou hast vexed me with all Thy storms. H/D
Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me,
Thou hast made me to be abhorred of them.
1 am held fast (in prison) ; I cannot get forth :
Mine eye faileth by reason of my afiliction.
I have called daily, 0 Lord, unto Thee :
I have stretched forth my hands unto Thee.
Shall the dead see Thy wonders !
Shall the dead rise up again, and praise Thee ! n7D
Shall Thy mercy be showed in the grave.
Thy faithfulness in destruction !
Shall Thy wondrous works be known in the dark.
And Thy righteousness in the land where all things are
[forgotten !
As for me : —
ji. LJ'nto Thee have I cried, 0 Lord :
And early shall my prayer come before Thee.
Why, 0 Lord, castest Thou ofi" my soul !
Why hidest Thou Thy face from me !
I am afflicted, and ready to die, from my youth up :
I have borne Thy terrors with a troubled mind.
Thy wrathful displeasure goeth over me :
Thy terrors have undone me.
They have surrounded me daily like water, /
They have enclosed me on every side.
My lovers and friends hast Thou put away from me,
And hid mine acquaintance out of my sight.
*«* This Psalm affords an instance of a double replica ; each part bcgiunin;:
with the antiphon.
146 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM LXXXIX.
A Psalm of instruction. — For Ethan the Ezrahiie.
1 WILL sing of the mercy of the Lord, for ever :
. . , With my mouth will I make knowii Thy truth, from generation
' ' ' For I have said — Mercy shall he set up, for ever, [to generation.
Thy truth shalt Thou estahlish in tlie heavens.
" I have made a covenant with My chosen,
" I liave sworn unto David ]\Iy servant —
" Thy seed will I establish, for ever,
" And will set up thy throne, fr^m generation to generation."
0 Lord, the heavens shall declare Thy wondrous works,
And Thy truth in the congregation of the saints :
For who in the heavens shall be compared unto the Lord !
And who among the gods shall be likened unto the Lord !
God is to be feared greatly in the congregation of the saints,
And to be had in reverence of all that are round about Him.
O Lord God of hosts ! who is like unto Thee !
Thy truth, most mighty LOUD, is on every side.
Thou rulest the raging of the sea.
Thou stillest the waves thereof when they arise.
Thou hast subdued Egypt, and destroyed it :
Thou hast scattered Thine enemies abroad with Thy mighty arm.
The heavens are Thine : the earth also is Thine :
Thou hast founded the world, and all that therein is.
Thou hast made the north and the south :
Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in Thy name.
Thou hast a mighty arm :
Strong is Thy hand, and high is Thy right hand.
A f ) Jiiijhteousness and equity are the habitation of Thy seat :
Mercy and truth shall go before Thy face.
Blessed is the people, who know the shouting :'
They shall walk, 0 Lord, in the light of Thy countenance :
1 See Introdv/ition.
PSALM LXXXIX. 147
In Thy name shall they rejoice all the day,
And in Thy righteousness shall they be exalted.
For THOU art the glory of their strength,
And in Thy loving-kindness shall our horn be exalted.
For THE LOUD is our defence :
The Holy One of Israel is our King !
Thou spakest sometime in vision to Thy servant, and saidst: —
" I have laid help upon one that is mighty,
" I have exalted one chosen out of the people :
" I have found David My servant ;
" With My holy oil have I anointed him :
" My hand shall stablish him,
" Yea, Mine arm shall strengthen him :
" The enemy shall not be able to do him violence,
" The son of wickedness shall not hurt him :
" I will smite down his foes before his face,
" And I will plague them that hate him :
" My truth also, and My mercy shall be with him,
" And in My name shall his horn be exalted :
" I will set his hand on the sea,
" And his right hand on the rivers : ^
" He shall say unto Me — 'Thou art my Father,
" ' My God, and the Eock of my salvation : '
" And I will make him My first-born,
" Higher than the kings of the earth :
" My mercy will I keep for him for evermore,
" And My covenant shall stand fast with him :
" His seed also will I make to endure for ever,
" And his throne as the days of heaven.
" If '^ his children forsake My law,
" And walk not in My judgments,
"If they break My statutes,
" And keep not My commandments,
" I will visit their offences with the rod,
" And their skin with scourges :
" But My mercy 3 will I not take from him,
" Nor suffer My truth 3 to fail :
" My covenant will I not break,
" And that which has gone out of My lips will I not change ;
1 West anil East. ^ There is no break here, as in P. B. version. It is no
a denimciatioii of pnnislinunit, but a promise of forgiveness. See Ps. xcix. 8
^ ' ^ iSee Antiphons and above.
l2
148
THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
" Once have I sworn by My holiness —
" Shall I lie unto David !—
" ' His seed shall endure for ever,
" ' And his throne as the sun before Me :
" ' It shall stand fast for evermore as the moon,
" ' And as the constant witness in heaven.' "
But Thou hast cast off, and rejected,
Thou hast been wroth with Thine anointed :
Thou hast made void the covenant of Thy servant,
Thou hast cast his crown to the ground :
Thou hast broken down all his hedges,
Thou hast overthrown his strong-holds :
All they that go by spoil him ;
He is become a reproach to his neighbours :
Thou hast set up the right hand of his enemies,
Thou hast made glad all his adversaries :
Yea, Thou hast turned the edge of his sword,
And hast not given him victory in the battle :
Thou hast put out his glory.
Thou hast cast his throne to the ground :
Thou hast cut short the days of his youth,
Thou hast covered him with dishonour.
How long, 0 Lord !
Wilt Thou hide Thyself for ever !
Shall Thy wrath burn like fire I
0 remember how short my time is :
Wherefore hast Thou made all men for nought !
What man is there that liveth, and shall not taste death !
And can he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave !
Antiphon.
Antiphon.
Lord, wliere are Thy old mercies.
Which Thou swarest to David in Thy truth !
Remember, 0 Lord, the reproach that Thy servants have,
And how I do bear in my bosom (the reproach of) many people :
Wherewith Thine enemies, 0 Lord, have reproached,
AVherewith they have reproached the footsteps of Thine
[anointed !
Blessed be the Lord for evermore.
Amen, and Amen.
PSALM XC, 149
PSALM XC.
A Prayer of Moses, the man of God
JLORD, Thou hast been our dwelliog-place
From generation to generation.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
Or ever the cartli and the world were made,
Even from everlasting to everlasting,
Thou art GOD !
Thou turnest man to destruction :
Again Thou sayest — Keturn, ye children of men.
For a thousand years ^
Are in Thy sight but as a day !
As yesterday when it is passed,
And as a watch in the night !
Thou scatterest them j — they are as a dream- when the morning
They are as the grass which changeth ;■* [cometh :
In the morning it is green, and groweth up ;•*
In the evening it is cut down and dried up.
For we consume away in Thine anger,
And are afraid at Thy wrathful indignation.
Thou hast set our sins before Thee,
Our secret (sins) in the light of Thy countenance.
For when Thou art angry, all our days are gone,
""' AVe bring our years to an end, even as a tale that is told.
The days of our age are threescore years and ten;
And though men be so strong that they come to fourscore years,
Yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow,
So soon passeth it away, and we are gone !
But who (alas) regardeth the power of Thine anger 1
For as (one neglects) Thy fear, so is Thy displeasure.
'■2 "Years" and "dream." — There is a, paronomasia between these two
words.
3 See Ps. Ixxiii. 20 — "As a dream when one waketh."
■* * Paronomasia.
loO THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
, . , vSo teach us to number our days,
nvpum. rj'j^j^|. ^g jjjj^y apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Turn Thee again, 0 Lord ! How long 1
And be gracious unto Thy servants :
O satisfy us with Thy mercy, and that soon ;
So shall we be glad and rejoice all the days of our life.
Comfort us again now, after the time that Thou hast plagued us,
And for the years wherein we have suffered adversity :
Let Thy servants see Thy work, and their children Thy glory ;
And let the beauty of our Lord God be upon us :
Prosper Thou the work of our hands upon us ;
Prosper Thou even the work of our hands.
Piiicm.
PSALM XCL
Whoso dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High,
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
1 WILL say unto the Lord —
(Thou art) my refuge, and my strong-hold,
My GOD ! In Him will I trust.
For He will deliver thee from the snare of the fowler,
And from the noisome pestilence :
He will defend thee under His wings.
And thou shalt ho, safe under His feathers ;
His faithfulness shall be thy shield and buckler.
Thou shalt not be afraid for any terror by night, .
ASTor for the arrow that flieth by day :
For the pestilence that walketh in darkness,
Nor for the sickness that destroyeth in the noonday.
A thousand shall fall beside thee.
And ten thousand at thy right hand :
But it shall not come nigh thee.
Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold,
And see the reward of the ungodly.
PSALM XCII. L'jI
Because thou hast made THE LORD thy refuge,
Even the MOST HlCxH thy habitation;
There shall no evil happen unto thee,
Xeither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
l''or He will give His angels charge over thee,
To keep thee in all thy ways.
They shall bear thee in their hands,
That thou hurt not thy foot against a stone.
Thou shalt tread on the lion and adder,
The young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under thy feet.
'' Because ho hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver
" I. will set him up, because he hath known My name. [him :
C" He shall call upon Me : and even I will hear him :
" I will be witli him in trouble :
t" I will deliver him, and bring him to honour.
" With long life will I satisfy him,
" And I will show him My salvation."
*»* This Psalm exhibits a double replica. At first the Psalmist speaks for
himself in the name of the congregation ; in the next paragraj)!! he speaks to
them as a prophet ; and in the last the Almighty Himself contirms the
utterance.
PSALM XCII.
A Psalm or Song for the Sabbath day.
JLt is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord,
And to sing psalms unto Thy name, O Most Highest !
To tell of Thy loving-kindness early in the morning,
And of Thy truth in the night-season ;
Upon (an instrument of) ten (strings), and upon the lute.
Upon the higgaion,' and upon the harp.
For Thou, Lord, hast made me glad through Thy works,
And I will rejoice in giving praise for the operation of Thy hands.
J See Ps. ix.
152
THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
v./ LORD, how glorious are Thy works !
Thy thoughts are very deep !
An unwise man doth not well consider this :
And a fool doth not understand it.
When the ungodly are green as the grass,
And when all the workers of wickedness do flourish,
Then shall tliey be destroyed for ever:
]>ut THOU, Lord, art the Most Highest for evermore !
For lo, Thine enemies, 0 Lord,
For lo, Thine enemies shall perish :
And all the workers of iniquity shall be destroyed.
But Thou hast exalted my horn like (those of) the bufiPalo :
I am anointed with fresh oil.
Mine eye shall behold (the overthrow of) mine enemies :
And mine ear shall hear (the crying of) the wicked who rise up
[against me.
The righteous shall flourish like a palm-tree,
They shall spread abroad like a cedar in Lebanon.
Such as are planted in the house of the Lord,
Shall flourish in the courts of (the house of) our God.
They also shall bring forth more fruit in old age,
They shall be fat and well-liking.
/;,;,„,, ,,„^ That they may show how true the Lord my Eock is:
And that there is no unrighteoiisness in Him.
Dromos of Palm-trees end Si')niixi':, at Koniiic.
From a Sketch by Hie Author.
PSALM XCIV. 153
PSALM XCIII.
1 HE Lord is KING ! He is clothed with majesty :
The Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith He hath girded
The world is establislied, that it cannot be moved ; [Himself.
Thy throne was established of old :
THOU art from everlasting !
r The floods have lifted, O Lord,
< The Hoods have lifted their voice,
L'J'he floods lift up their waves !
More mighty than the voice of many waters,
More mighty than the waves of the sea,
Is Jehovah in the highest !
honem. '^^Y testimonies are very sure :
Holiness becometh Thine house, 0 Lord, for evermore !
PSALM XCIV.
\) GOD, to whom vengeance belongeth,
0 Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth, show Thyself!
Arise, thou Judge of the world.
Reward the proud after their deserving.
How long, 0 Lord, shall the ungodly —
How long shall the ungodly triumph 1 [they speak scornfully 1
(How long) shall they pour forth (their malice 1 How long) shall
(How long) shall the workers of iniquity boast themselves ?
They smite down. Thy people, 0 Lord,
And trouble Thine heritage.
Tliey murder the widow and the stranger,
And put the fatherless to death.
And yet they say — " The Lord doth not see,
The God of Jacob doth not rci^ard it !"
154 THE BOOK OF PSALMP.
Understand, yc brutish among the people ;
And ye fools, when will ye be wise 1
He that planted the ear — shall He not hear !
He that formed the eye — shall He not see !
He that chastiseth the heathen — shall He not correct !
He that teacheth man knowledge— (It is) THE LORD!
Who knoweth the thoughts of man,
That they are vanity.
Blessed is the man whom Thou instructest, 0 Lord,
And teachest liim in Thy law.
That Thou mayest give him patience in the time of adversity,
Until the pit be digged up for the ungodly.
For the Lord will not fail His people,
Neither will He forsake His inheritance :
For judgment shall be converted into righteousness,
And all they that are true of heart shall rejoice.^
Who will rise up for me against the wicked 1
Who will take my part against the evil doers 1
If the Lord had not helped me,
It had scarcely failed but my soul had dwelt in silence.
But when I said — " My foot hath slipped,"
Thy mercy, 0 Lord, held me up.
In the multitude of my thoughts within me.
Thy comforts have refreshed my soul.
Can the throne of wickedness have fellowship with Thee,
Which imagineth mischief as a law !
They gather them together against the soul of the righteous,
And they condemn the innocent blood.
But THE LORD is my defence :
And MY GOD is the Rock of my refuge.
He will turn upon them their own iniquity,
JnH Jwn. He will destroy them in their wickedness,
The Lord our God will destroy them.
1 Heb. "shall (follow) after it."
P8ALM XCV. 155
PSALM XCV.
O COME, let us sing unto the Lord :
Let us shout aloud unto the Eock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving,
Let us shout aloud unto llim with Psalms.
For the Lord is a GREAT GOD,
And a great King above all gods !
He ! In whose hand are all the corners of the earth ;
And the strength of the hills is His also.
HE ! For the sea is His, and He made it :
And His hands prepared the dry land.
0 come, let us worship, and fall down :
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For HE is our GOD :
And we are the people of His pasture,
And the sheep of His hand.
To-day, if ye will hear His voice,
Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation,
As in the day of temptation in the wilderness ;
When your fathers tempted Me,
When they proved Me, and saw My works.
Forty years long
Was I grieved with this generation : and said —
" It is a people that do err in their hearts ;
'■ And they have not known My ways."
Of whom I sware in My wrath.
That they should not enter into ]\Iy rest.
The third aud fourth paragraphs form a replica of the first and second.
150
THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
Antiphon.
PSALM XCVI.
[By David.— See 1 Chron. XVI.]
k5ING unto the Lord a new song,
Sing unto the Lord, all the whole earth :
Sing unto the Lord, and praise His name,
Show forth His salvation from day to day.
Declare His honour unto the heathen,
His wonders unto all people :
For the Lord is great, and cannot worthily be praised ;
He is more to be feared than all gods.
As for all the gods of the heathen, they are but idols :
But it is the Lord that made the heavens.
Glory and worship are before Him :
Power and honour are in His sanctuary.
Give unto the Lord, 0 ye kindreds of the people.
Give unto the Lord worship and power :
Give unto the Lord the honour due unto His name,
Bring offerings, and come into Llis courts.
0 worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness :
Let the whole earth stand in awe of Him.
Tell it out among the heathen —
"THE LORD IS KING!"
He hath established the earth that it cannot be moved :
Ho will judge the nations righteously.
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad ;
> ,. , Let the sea make a noise, and all that is therein :
Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it :
Then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord.
For HE OOiMETH !
Epiph(mem. -^^^ ^^ cometh to judge the earth !
He will judge the world with righteousness.
And the nations with His truth.
Antiphon.
PSALM XCVII. 157
PSALM XCVII.
The Lord is King !
iphon. Let the earth rejoice :
Let the multitude of the isles be glad thereof !
Clouds and darkness are round about Him,
Righteousness and judgment are the foundation of His throne.
There sliall go a fire ])o,fore Him,
And shall burn up His enemies on every side.
His lightnings gave shine unto the world.
The earth saw it, and was afraid :
The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord,
At the presence of the Lord of the whole eartli :
The heavens have declared His righteousness,
And all the nations have seen His glory.
(.'onfounded be all they that worship carved images,
That delight in idols :
Worship HIM, all ye gods !
Sion heard of it, and rejoiced,
iphA)n. And the daughters of Judah were glad,
Because of Thy judgments, 0 Lord !
For Thou, Lord, art higher than all that are in the earth ;
Thou art exalted far above all gods !
0 ye that love the Lord,
See that ye hate the thing which is evil :
He will preserve the souls of His saints.
He will deliver them from the hand of the ungodly.
Light is sprung up for the righteous,
And joyful gladness for such as are true-hearted.
ivhon, ^^6Joic6 in the Lord, ye righteous ;
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.
158 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM XCVITI.
A Psalm.
0
SING unto the Lord a new song ;
For He liaih done marvellous things :
Jntiphon. "With His own right hand, and with His holy arn^,
Hath He gotten Himself the victory.^
The Lord hath declared His salvation :
In the sight of the heathen
He hath revealed His righteousness.
He hath remembered His mercy and truth
Towards the house of Israel :
All the ends of the Avorld have seen the salvation of our God.
Shout aloud unto the Lord, all ye lands !
Break forth, sing joyfully and sing psalms :
Sing psalms unto the Lord upon the harp,
With harp, and with the melody of psalm :
With trumpets also, and with the melody of cornet,
Shout aloud unto the Lord the King !
Anti})ho7i.
Let the sea make a noise, and all that therein is,
The world, and they that dwell therein :
inHphmi ^^^ *^^ ^^^^^ ^^^P ^^^®^^ hands,
Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord :
For He is come to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
And the nations with equity.
' JJeb. " He hath saved for him (witli) His right hand, and (with) the arm
of His holiness."
PSALM XCIX. 159
PSALM XCIX.
[Ascribed to David by the Scptuagint, Vulgate, Sijriac, Arabic, and Ethiojnc
versions. ]
rp
iHE LORD IS king!
Let the nations tremble :
He sittetli between the cherubim ;
Let the earth be moved.
The Lord is great in Sion,
And high above all nations.
They shall give thanks unto Thy name,
ttpltun. Which is great and wonderful :
For it is holy !
The King's power loveth judgment :
Thou hast prepared equity :
Judgment and righteousness
Hast Thou wrought in Jacob.
0 magnify the Lord our God,
tiphatt. And fall down before His footstool :
FOR HE IS HOLY !
Moses and Aaron among His priests,
And Samuel among such as call upon His name :
They called upon the Lord,
And He heard them.
He spake unto them out of the cloudy pillar :
For they kept His testimonies, and the law that He gave them.
Thou heardest them, 0 Lord our God ;
Thou forgavest them, 0 God :
Though Thou punishedst their evil deeds.
O magnify the Lord our God,
tiphon. And worship Him upon His holy hill ;
FOR THE LORD OUR GOD IS HOLY !
160 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM C.
A Psalm of praise.
|!5H0UT aloud unto the Lord, all ye lands !
Antiphon. Serve the Lord with gladness,
And come before His presence with a song.
Be ye sure that the Lord
He is god !
It is HE that hath made us, and not we ourselves
We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
0 come into His gates with thanksgiving.
And into His courts with praise :
Be thankful unto liini ;
Bless ye His name.
For the Lord is gracious :
Antiphon, His mercy is everlasting.
And His truth from generation to generation.
Proem-
PSALM CI.
A Psalm of David.
i WILL sing of mercy and judgment :
Unto Thee, 0 Lord, will I sing psalms.
1 WILL behave myself wisely in the way of uprightness
O when wilt Thou come unto me !
1 will walk with a perfect heart
In the midst of my house :
I will not set befoi-e mine eyes
Any thing of Avickedness :
1 will hate the sin of unfaithfulness ;
It shall not cleave unto me :
PSALM CII. 101
A froward heart shall depart from me ;
I will not know a wicked person :
Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour,
Him will I destroy :
Whoso hath also a liigh look and proud heart,
I will not suffer him.
Mine eyes look upon the faithful of the land,
That they may dwell with me :
W^hoso walketh in the way of uprightness,
He shall he my servant :
He that worketh deceit
Shall not dwell within my house :
He that telleth lies
Shall not tarry in my siglit.
I shall soon destroy
All the ungodly in the land :
That I may cut off from the city of the Lord
All the workers of iniquity.
*^* Tie last paragraph is a rej^lka of the former : speaking of the '' way of
iiprightness," in the beginning ; the hatred of wickedness, in the middle ; and
his resolution to destroy the wicked, in the end of each paragraph.
PSALM CII.
A prayer of the afflicted, when he is ovcnohehned, and poureth out his complaint
before the Lord.
XXEAE my prayer, 0 Lord,
And let my crying come unto Thee.
Hide not Thy face from me
Proem. In the day of my trouble :
Incline Thine ear unto me.
In the day that I call
Answer me speedily.
Jj OR my days are consumed away like smoke.
And my bones are burnt up, as it were a firebrand.
My heart is smitten down, and withered like grass,
So that I forget to cat my bread.
For the voice of my groaning,
My bones cleave to my skin.
1G2
THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
I am become like a pelican in the wilderness,
I am like an owl among desolate ruins.
I watch, and am even as a sparrow,
That sitteth alone upon the housetop.
Mine enemies revile me all the day long.
And they that are mad upon me are sworn together against me
For I have eaten ashes as it were bread,
And have mingled my drink with weeping :
And that because of Tiiine indignation and wrath :
For Thou hast taken me up, and cast me down.
My days are gone like a shadow,
And I am withered like grass.
But Thou, 0 Lord, shalt endure for ever,
And Thy remembrance throughout all generations.
Thou wilt arise.
Thou wilt have mercy upon Sion :
For it is time that Thou have mercy upon her ;
For the time is come.
For Thy servants take pleasure in her stones,
jrixid reverence her dust.
TIic " ]VaiHng Place'" at Jerusalem.
PSALM CU. 163
The heathen shall fccar Thy name, 0 Lord,
And all the kin<i;s of the earth Thy majesty :
For the Lord will build up Sion,
And His glory shall appear.
]Ie will turn Ilim unto the prayer of the poor destitute,
And despise not their desire.^
This shall he written for those who come after;
And the people which shall be born shall praise the Lord —
That He hath looked down from His sanctuary.
That the Lord from out of heaven did behold the earth ;
To hear the mourning of such as are in captivity,
To deliver the children appointed unto death ;
To declare the name of the Lord in Sion,
And. His worship at Jerusalem ;
When the nations are gathered together,
And the kingdoms also to serve the Lord.
He brought down my strength in the way,
He shortened my days : and I said —
0 my God, take me not away in the midst of mine age ;
As for Thy years, (they endure) throughout all generations.
Thou in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Thy hands.
'They shall perish ; but Thou shalt endure :
And they all shall wax old as doth a garment, [changed :
And as a vesture shalt Thou change them, and they shall be
But Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail.
The children of Thy servants shall continue.
And their seed shall stand fast in Thy sight.
1 The verbs in these four lines are preterites in the original, describing
God's deliverance Avith the eye of faith.
*^* The last paragraph is a replica of the first. That was written on the
occasion of the event : this when looking back on his affliction, in after years.
M 2
1C4 THE COOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM cm.
By David.
PeATSE the Lord, 0 my soul !
> ,,. T And all that is within me (praise) His lioly name.
Praise the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits.
Who forgivcth all thy sin,
Who healcth all tliine infirmities ;
Who saveth thy life from destruction,
Who crowneth thee with mercy and loving-kindness ;
Who satisfieth thy mouth Avitli good things,
Who reneweth thy life as the eagle.
The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment
For all them that are oppressed with wrong :
He showed His ways unto JNloses,
His works unto the children of Israel.
A ./■ ,7^„ Merciful and compassionate is the Lord,
Long-sunering, and oi great mercy.
Not for ever will He he chiding,
And not for ever will He keep (anger).
Not according to our sins has He dealt with us,
And not according to our iniquities has He rewarded us.
For as the heaven is high above the earth.
So great is His mercy toward them that fear Him :
As far as the east is from the west,
So far hath He set our sins from us.
. , As a father is merciful unto his own children,
" '■'' *'"■■ So is the Lord merciful unto them that fear Him.
For He knoweth whereof we are made,
He remembereth that wc are but dust.
The days of man are but as grass.
For he llourisheth as a flower of the field :
For as soon as the wind goeth over it it is gone,
And the place thereof shall know it no more.
PSALM CIV. 165
But tlie mercy of the Lord is for over and ever upon them that
And His righteousness upon children's children : [fear Ilim,
Even upon such as keep His covenant,
And upon such as think upon His commandments to do them.
The Lord hath prepared His seat in heaven,
And His kingdom ruleth over all.
Praise the Lord, ye angels of PHs, mighty in strength,
Ye that fulfil IHs word, and hearken to the voice of His word.
Praise the Lord, all ye His hosts.
Ye servants of His that do His pleasure.
Praise the Lord, all ye works of His,
In all places of His dominion :
Praise thou the Lord, 0 my soul !
PSALM CIV.
Praise the Lord, O my soul !
. 0 Lord my God, Thou art become exceeding glorious,
Thou art clothed with majesty and honour.
"Who decketh (Himself) with light as with a garment.
Who spreadeth out the heavens like a curtain ;
r Who layeth the beams of His chambers in the waters ;
■ Who maketh the clouds His chariot ;
LWho walketh upon the wings of the wind.
Who maketh His angels spirits.
His ministers a lla,raing fire.
Who laid the foundations of the earth.
That it should not be moved for ever.
Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment,
The waters stood above the mountains.
At Thy rebuke they fled,
At the voice of Thy thunder they hasted away. [valleys,
They reached up to the mountains, — they went down into the
Even unto the place which Thou didst appoint for them.
Thou hast set them their bounds which they shall not pass.
Which they shall not turn, to cover the earth.
166 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
Hi! scndeth the springs into the rivers
Wiiich run amongst the hills :
All beasts of the field drink thereof,
The wild asses quench their thirst :
Beside them shall the fowls of the air have their haljitation,
And sing among the branches.
He watereth the hills from above ;
Tlie earth is filled with the fruit of Thy works.
He bringeth forth grass for the cattle,
And green herb for the service of man ;
That He may bring food out of the earth,
And wine that maketh glad the heart of man,
And oil to make him a cheerful countenance,
And bread which strengtheneth man's heart.
The trees of the Lord are full of sap,
The cedars of Lebanon which He hath planted ;
"Wherein the birds make their nests.
And the fir-trees are a dwelling for the stork :
The high hills hath He given for the wild goats,
The stony rocks as a refuge for the coneys.
He appointed the moon for certain seasons.
And the sun knovveth its going down.
Thou makest darkness, that it may be night,
Wherein all the beasts of the forest do move :
The young lions roaring after their prey
Do seek their meat from God :
The sun arisetb, and 1/hey get them away together,
And lay them down in their dens :
While man goeth forth to his work
And to his labour, until the evening.
0 Lord, how manifold are Thy works !
Antiphon. j^ wisdom hast Thou made them all !
As the earth is full of Thy riches,
So is the great and wide sea also,
Wherein are things creeping innumerable,
]5oth small and great beasts.
Tliere go the sliips,
Ajid that leviathan whom Thou hast made to si:)ort therein.
PSALM CV. 167
These all wait upon Thee,
That Thou mayest give them meat in due season.
Thou givest it to them — they gather it ;
Thou opcncst Thy hand — they are filled with good.
Thou hidest Thy face — they are troubled ;
Thou takest away their breath — they die,
And are turned again to their dust.
Thou sendest forth Thy spirit — they are created :
And Thou renewest the face of the earth.
The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever :
Anhphon. r^^^ j^^j,^ gjj^^l^ ^.^jQ.pg .^ jjjg ^^,Q^.|,g
He looketh upon the earth — and it trembleth :
He toucheth the mountains — and they smoke.
I will sing unto the Lord, as long as I live :
ip 1,0/L J ^^.^ gi^^g psalms unto my God, while I have my being.
My meditation of Him shall be sweet,
My joy shall be in the Lord.
Sinners shall be consumed out of the earth,
And the ungodly shall come to an end.
AiUiphon.
Praise thou the Lord, 0 my .soul
Praise ye the Lord !
PSALM CV.
[By David. — See 1 Chrun. XVI.]
0
GIVE thanks unto the Lord ! Call upon His name !
. . , Make known among the nations what things He hath done,
bmg unto Him : sing psalms unto Him :
Talk ye of all His wondrous works.
Glory ye in His holy name ;
Eejoice in heart, ye that fear God.
Seek the Lord, and His strength,
Seek His face evermore.
Eemember the marvellous works that He hath done.
His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,
0 ye seed of Abraham His servant.
Ye children of Jacob His chosen.
Proem.
1G8 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
JriE is the Lord our God,
His judgments are in all the world.
He hath remembered His covenant for ever,
The word which He commanded for a thousand generations
{Even the covenant) which He made with Abraham,
And the oath that He swore unto Isaac ;
And appointed the same unto Jacob for a law.
And to Israel for a covenant for ever : saying —
" Unto thee will I give tlie land of Canaan,
" The lot of your inheritance,"
When there were yet but a few of them,
Yea, very few, and. they strangers in the land.
What time as they went from one nation to another.
From one kingdom to another people,
He suffered no man to do them wrong,
But rebuked kings for their sake : —
" Touch not ]Mine anointed ones,
" And do My prophets no harm."
Moreover He called for a dearth upon the land,
And destroyed all the provision of bread :
But He had sent a man before them,
Even Joseph, who was sold to be a bond-servant ;
Whose feet they hurt in the stocks.
The iron entered into his soul ;
Until the time of (God's) appointment had come,
(While) the word of the Lord tried him.
The king sent and delivered him,
The prince of the people let him go free :
He made him lord also of his house,
And ruler of all his substance ;
That he might bind down his princes after his will,
And teach his senators wisdom.
And Israel went into Egypt,
And Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
And He increased His people exceedingly,
And He made them stronger than their enemies,
(Till) lie turned their hearts to hate His people.
To deal untruly with His servants.
Then sent He Moses His servant.
And Aaron whom He had chosen,
And these showed His tokens among them.
And wonders in the land of Ham.
PSALM CV. 1G9
He sent darkness, and it was dark,
But they were not obedient unto Ilis word :
He turned their waters into blood,
And slew their fish :
Their land brought forth frogs,
Yea, even in their king's chambers :
He spake the word, and there came swarms of flies.
And gnats ^ in all their (][uarters :
He gave them hailstones for rain,
And flames of fire in their land :
He smote their vines also, and fig-trees,
And destroyed the trees that were in their coasts :
He spake the word, and the locusts came,
And caterpillars innumerable,
And they ate up all the grass of their land,
And they ate up the fruit of their ground :
And He smote all the first-born in their land.
Even the chief of all their strength.
But He brought them forth also with silver and gold,
There was not one feeble person among their tribes.
Egypt was glad at their departing,
For they were afraid of them.
He spread out a cloud to be a covering,
And fire to give light in the night-season ;
At their desire He brought quails,
And He filled them with the bread of heaven :
He opened the rock of stone, and the waters flowed out ;
So that rivers ran in the dry places.
For He remembered His holy promise,
And Abraham His servant :
And He brought forth His people with joy,
And His chosen with gladness :
And He gave them the lands of the heathen.
And they took the labours of the people in possession.
THAT THEY MIGHT KEEP HIS STATUTES,
AND OBSERVE HIS LAWS.
El)iphonem.
Antiphon. Praise ye the Lord !
1 Ex. viii. 16. Eng. Vers, "lice."
170 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM CVI.
[By David.— See 1 Chron. AT/.]
Praise ye the Lord !
Antiplion. 0 give thanks unto the Lord, for He is gracious,
For Ilis mercj' endureth for ever.
Who can express the nohle acts of the Lord !
(Who) can show forth all his praise !
Blessed are they that keep judgment,
He that doeth righteousness at all times.
Proem. IJemember me, 0 Lord, in the favour Thou bearest to Thy people,
0 visit me with Thy salvation.
TThat I may see the felicity of Thy chosen,
< That I may rejoice in the gladness of Thy people,
LThat I may give thanks with Thine inheritance.
We have sinned with our fathers.
We have done amiss, and dealt wickedly : *
Our fathers regarded not Thy wonders in Egypt,
They remembered not the multitude of Thy mercies ;
But they rebelled at the sea, even at the lied Sea.
Nevertheless, He helped them for His name's sake,
Til at He might make His power to be known :
And lie rebuked the Red Sea, and it Avas dried up ;
And He led them through the deep, as through the Wilderness :
And He saved them from the hand of the adversary ;
And He delivered them from the hand of the enemy :
But the waters overwhelmed their enemies ;
There was not one of them left.
Then they believed His words ;
They sang praise unto Him.
But soon did they forget His works,
And would not abide His counsel :
But they lusted in their hearts in the wilderness.
And they tempted God in the desert ;
And He gave them their desire,
But sent leanness withal into their soul.
PSALM CVI. 171
They angered Moses also in the camp,
And Aaron the saint of the Lord.
So the earth opened, and swallowed up Dathan,
And covered the congregation of Abirani ;
And the fire was kindled in their company ;
The llames burnt up the ungodly.
They made a calf in Horeb,
And worshipped a golden image.
Thus they changed their glory
Into the similitude of an ox that eateth hay !
And they forgat God their Saviour,
Who had done so great things in Egypt ;
"Wondrous works in the land of Ham,
And fearful things at the lied Sea.
So He said He would have destroyed them,
Had not Moses His servant
Stood before Him in the gap,
,To turn away His wrath lest He should destroy them.
And they thought scorn of that pleasant land,
And they gave no credence unto His word ;
And they murmured in their tents ;
And they hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord.
Then lifted He up his hand against them,
To overthrow them in the wilderness :
To overthrow them among the nations,
And to scatter them in the lands.
And they joined themselves unto Baal-Peor,
And they ate the offerings of the dead :
And they provoked Him to anger with their own inventions ;
And the plague broke out among them.
Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment ;
And so the plague was stayed :
And that was counted unto liim for righteousness,
Among all posterities for evermore.
They angered Him also at the waters of strife,
So that He punished Moses for their sakcs :
For they provoked His spirit.
So that He spake unadvisedly with his lips.
They destroyed not the heathen,
As the Lord commanded them ;
But were mingled among the heathen.
And they learned their ways.
172 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
And they worshipped their idols,
Which hccame a snare to them :
And they sacrificed their sons
And their daughters to devils ;
And they shed innocent blood,
Even the blood of their sons and of their daughters ;
Whom they offered to the idols of Canaan,
And the land was defiled with blood.
Thus were they stained with their own works,
And served idols ^ of their own inventions.
Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against His people,
Insomuch that He abhorred His own inheritance :
And He gave them over into the hand of the heathen,
And they that hated them were lords over them :
Their enemies oppres£.ed them, and had them in subjection ;
!Many a time did He deliver them ;
But they rebelled against Him with their own inventions.
And were brought down in their wickedness.
!N^evertheless, when He saw their adversitj^,
He heard their complaint :
He thought upon His covenant, and pitied them,
According to the multitude of His mercies :
He made them also to be pitied
Of all them that carried them away captive.
Deliver us, 0 Lord our God,
And gather us from among the heathen ;
That we may give thanks unto Thy holy name.
And make our boast of Thy praise.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
From everlasting to everlasting!
' And let all the people say
Amen ; Praise ye the Lord.
^ Hcb. " went a whoring with."
*^* This Psalm exliibits several instances of the introverted parallelism,
which wouhl have confnsed the paragraphs had they been ]>ointed out in the
text. Thus, "Red Sea" in ver. 7 corresponds with " Hed Sea" in ver. 9 ;
"destroyed" in the beginning of ver. 23 corresponds with "destroy" in tlie
termination of the verse; "land" in ver. 24 with "lands" in ver. 27;
"idols " and "sons and daughters" in ver, 36 with "sons and daughters" and
"idols" in ver. 37.
rsALM evil. 173
PSAL]\I. cvir.
.. , \J GIVE tlianks unto the Lord, for (He is) gracious !
^ ' For His mercy endureth for ever I
Let the redeemed of the Lord say thus,
Whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy,
Proem. And hath gathered them out of the lands ;
From the east, and from the west,
From tlie north, and from the south.
XHEY went astray in the wilderness, out of the way ;
They found no city to dwell in :
Hungry and thirsty,
Their soul fainted in them.
• But when they cried unto the Lord in their trouble,
^ ' He delivered them out of their distress.
And He led them by the right way,
That they might go to a city to dwell in.
Oh that men would therefore praise the Lord for His goodness,
n ip on. ^^^ £^^ ^Y^Q -wonders that He doeth for the children of men !
For He satisfieth the empty soul,
And He filleth the hungry soul with gladness.
Such as sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death.
Being fast bound in misery and iron ;
Because they rebelled against the words of the Lord,
And lightly regarded the counsel of the Most High :
Therefore did He humble their heart through heaviness;
They fell down, and there was none to help them.
But when they cried unto the Lord in theu* trouble,
[ntiphon. jjg delivered them out of their distress.
For He brought them out of darkness, and out of the shadow of
And brake their bands in sunder. [death,
Oh that men would therefore praise the Lord for His goodness,
ntiphon. ^^^ fQj, |.j^g wonders that He doeth for the children of men !
For He hath broken the gates of brass,
And smitten the bars of iron in sunder.
174 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
Foolisli men are plagued, because of their olfence,
And because of their wickedness.
Their soul abhorred all manner of meat,
And they were even hard at death's door.
. . , But when they cried unto the Lord in their trouble,
71 q) 7 . jj^ Jelivered them out of their distress.
He sent His word, and healed them,
And they were saved from their destruction.
, ,. , Oh that men would therefore praise the Lord for His eoodness,
' And for the wonders that He doeth for the children of men !
That they Avould sacrifice unto Him the sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And tell out His works with shouting.
They that go down to the sea in ships,
They that occupy their business in great waters —
These men see the works of the Lord,
And His wonders in the deep.
For at His word the stormy wind ariseth,
Which lifteth up the waves thereof:
They are carried up to the heaven, and down again to the deep ;
Their soul melteth away, because of the trouble :
They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man.
And are at their wits' end.
Anthihon ^^'^ when they cry unto the Lord in their trouble,
He delivereth them out of their distress.
For He maketh the storm to cease.
So that the waves thereof are still.
Then are they glad, because they are at rest.
And so He bringeth them unto the haven where they would be.
V . . , Oh that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness,
11 12> ion. ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ wonders that He doeth for the children of men !
That they would exalt Him also in the congregation of the people ;
That they would praise Him in the seat of the elders.
He turneth the rivers into a wilderness,
And drioth up the water-springs :
A fruitful land maketh He barren,
For the wickedness of them that dwell therein :
Again, He maketh the wilderness a standing water,
And water-springs of a dry ground :
And there He setteth the hungry,
That they may build them a city to dwell in :
PSALM CVIII. 175
That they may sow their land, and plant vineyards,
To yield, them fruits of increase.
lie blesseth them, so that they multiply exceedingly,
And sutfereth not their cattle to decrease/
Again, if they are minished, and brought low,
Through oppression, through aflliction, or sorrow —
He will pour contempt upon princes,
Making them wander outcast into the wilderness :
While He will set on high the poor from affliction,
Making them households, like a flock of sheep.
The righteous shall consider this, and rejoice ;
And the mouth of all wickedness shall be stopped.
'.pionem. -^jj^g^ jg ^jgg ^[n ponder these things.
And they shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord.
*^* There are nine letter A^uns reversed ( L ) i" this Psalm.
PSALM CVIIL
A Song or Psalm of David.
[A replica of Psalms LVII. and LX.\
\j GOD, my heart is fixed !
1 will sing, I will sing psalms.
(Awake,) my soul ;^ awake, lute and harp !
I myself will awake right early.
I will give thanks unto Thee, 0 Lord, among the people,
And I will sing psalms unto Thee among the nations :
For Thy mercy reacheth unto the heavens,
And Thy trutli unto the clouds.
Be Thou exalted, 0 God, above the heavens.
And Thy glory above all the earth.
^ In this paragraph the Psalmist goes back to the subject of the fust
speaking of " the wilderness," " a city to dwell in," and gifts of plenty.
* See Ps. vii. 5 ; xvi. 9 ; xxx. 12 ; and Ivii. 8.
176 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
Then shall Thy beloved he delivered : ^
Save with Thy right hand, and hear me.
God hatli spoken in His holiness —
" I will rejoice ; I will divide Shechera,"
" I wall mete out the valley of Succoth.
" Gilead is Mine ; Manasseli is Mine ;
" Ephraim also is tlie strength of ^M}^ head ;
" Judah is My lawgiver ;
" Moab is IMy hand-basin ;
" Over Edom will I cast out My shoe ;
" Over Philistia will I triumph."
"Who will lead me into the strong city 1
"Who will bring me into Edom 1
Wilt not Thou, 0 God, who hast cast us off?
Wilt not Thou, 0 God, go out Avith our hosts 1
0 be THOU our help in trouble ;
For vain is the help of man.
Through GOD we shall do great acts :
JntipJion. -p^^ .^ -g j^j, ^j^^^ ^-jj ^j.g^^ ^y^j^ Q^j. ej^gmieg^
PSALM CIX.
To the cliicf Musician. — A Psalm of David.
B]
►E not silent to me, 0 God of my praise !
Eor the mouth of the uugodlj', the mouth of the deceitful, is opened
They have spoken against me Avitli a lying tongue, [against me.
They compassed me about also with words of hatred,
Troctn. And they fought against me without a cause :
In return for my love, they are mine adversaries ;
But I betake myself unto prayer :
And they have rewarded nie evil, in return for good,
And hatred, in return for love.
1 This rendering is supported by the passage in Ps. Ix. coming after a Sclah,
and therefore beginning a new sentence.
- The reader is requested to correct the spelling of this name in I's. Ix. p. 103.
PSALM CIX. 177
OET Thou an ungodly man over him,
And let an adversary stand at his right hand :
Let him be condemned when ho is judged,
And let his prayer he turned into sin :
I,et his days be few,
And let another take his office :
Let his children be fatherless,
And his -wife a widow :
Let his children be outcast, and beg,
And let them beg in^ desolate places :
Let the extortioner consume all that he hath,
And let strangers spoil his labour :
Let there be no man to pity him,
Nor to have compassion on his fatherless children :
Let his posterity be destroyed,
And in the next generation let his name be blotted out :
Let the wickedness of his fathers be remembered - by the Lord,
And let not the sin of his mother be blotted out •.
Let them be before the Lord continually, [earth.
And let Him root out the memorial of (the wicked) from off the
And that because he remembered^ not to show mercy,
But persecuted the man who was poor, and afflicted,
And broken-hearted, (searching) to kill him.^
His delight was in cursing — Let it happen unto him :
He loved not blessing — Let it be far from him.
He clothed himself with cursing, as with a garment ;
Let it be in his bowels as water, and as oil in his bones :
Let it be unto him as the garment that he hath upon him,
And as the girdle that he is always girded withal.
Thus let it happen from the Lord unto mine enemies;,
And to them who speak evil against my soul.
But THOU, 0 Lord God ! *
Deal Thou with me according to Thy name ;
For sweet is Thy mercy. •
0 deliver me ; for I am helpless and poor,
And my heart is wounded within me.
1 Or — [being driven away] from tlieir
■^ ■ 2 Because he remembered not mercy, God remembered to him the wicked-
ness of his fathers. - See Ps. Ixii. 3.
■* Hcb. " O Jehovah Lord,"
N
178 THE BOOK OK PSALMS.
I go hence like tlie sliadow that departeth ;
I am driven away like tlie locust :
My knees are weak through fasting,
And my fle.sh is di'ied up for want of fatness.
I became also a reproach to them :
They that looked upon me wagged their heads.
Help me, O Lord my God !
Save me, according to Thy mercy !
And they shall know how that this is THY hand,
And that TJlOU, liOrd, hast done it.
They may curse ; but Thou wilt bless :
They who rise up shall be ashamed; but Tliy servant shall rejoice.
Mine adversaries shall be clothed with shame ;
And they shall be covered with confusion, as with a (;loak.
I will give great thanks unto the Lord with my moulh,
I will praise llim among the multitude :
Aatiphoii. -p^j. jjg ^^,-^ gj^^j^j ^^ ^Y\a right-hand of the poor,
To save him from those Avho condemn his soul.
PSALM ex.
A Psalm of David.
X HE Lord said unto ]\IY Lord —
" Sit Thou on ]\Iy right-hand,
" Until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool."
The Lord will send the rod of Thy power out of Sion :
Be Thou ruler, even in the midst among Thine enemies.
Thy people shall be a free-will offering in the day of Tby power,
In the beauty of holiness :
The dew of Thy offspring ^
Shall be as the womb of the dawn.
The Lord hath sworn, and He will not repent : —
" Thou art a priest for ever,
" After the order of Melchizc.dek."
The Lord upon Thy right-hand
Will wound even kings in the day of His wrath.
1 Hcb. "Liith."
PSALM CXI. 179
lie will judge tlic heathen : He will fill (their land) with slain :
He will smite in sunder the heads over divers countries.
He will drink of the brook in the way :
Therefore will He lift up the head.
*^* The second paragraph is a rrj)lica of tlie first.
PSALM CXI.
itiphon. Praise ye the Lord !
X 1 WILL give thanks unto the Lord Avith my whole heart,
3 Privately among the upright, and in the congregation.
J The works of the Lord are great,
1 Sought ont of all them that have pleasure therein.
n His work is worthy to be praised, and had. in honour,
T And His righteousness endureth for ever.
T He hath made His wonderful works to be remembered ;
n The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion.
t3 He hath given meat unto them that fear Him ;
^ He will ever be mindful of His covenant.
2 He hath showed. His people the power of His works,
*? That He may give them the heritage of the heathen.
D The works of His hands are verity and judgment :
3 All His commandments are true.
D (They) stand fast for ever and ever,
^ (And) are done in truth and equity.
2 He sent redemption unto His people,
V He hath established His covenant for ever :
p Holy and reverend is His name.
. , "n The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom ;
'^ A good understanding have all they that do thereafter.
biHphon. j^ His praise endureth for ever.
N 2
180 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM CXIT.
Antiphm. Praise ye the Lord !
^5 JdLESSED be the man who feareth the Lord,
3 Who hath great deliglit in His commandments:
J His seed shall be mighty upon earth,
"T The generation of the faithful shall be blessed,
n Kiches and plenteousness shall be in his house,
T And his righteousness remaineth for ever.
T Unto the godly there ariseth up light in the darkness
n (He is) merciful, loving, and righteous.
lC Well is it with the man who is merciful and lendeth ;
■^ He shall sustain his cause in the judgment.
D For ever shall he not be removed :
^7 For ever shall the righteous be had in remembrance.
f2 He will not fear because of evil tidings,
2 For his heart standeth fast, believing in the Lord :
D His heart is established, and will not fear,
JJ Until he see (his desire upon) his enemies.
3 He hath dispersed abroad, and given to the poor ;
y His righteousness endureth for ever :
p His horn shall be exalted with honour.
n The ungodly shall see it, and it shall grieve him ;
Epiphmevi.^* H^ shall gnash with his teeth, and consume away ;
n The desire of the ungodly shall perish.
PSALM CXIIL
PllATSE ye the Lord !
Praise, O ye servants of the Lord,
Praise ye the name of the Lord.
Aiidjilion. rBlessed be the name of the Lord
j From this time forth for evermore ;
From the rising up of the sun, unto the going down of the
Praised be the name of the Lord ! [same —
PSALM CXIV. 181
The Lord is exalted above all heathen,
And His glory above the heavens.
Who is like unto the Lord our God,
Who dwelleth so high ;
Who humbleth Himself (nevertheless) to behold
The things that are in heaven and earth !
^Vho raiseth tiio poor from the dust,
And exalteth the needy from the dunghill ;
That He may set him with the princes,
I'>en with the princes of His people.
Who maketh the barren woman to keep house.
And to be a joyful mother of children.
Praise ye the Lord !
PSALM CXIV.
W HEN Israel came out from Egypt,
And the house of Jacob from a strange people,
Judah was His sanctuary,
And Israel His dominion.
The sea saw (that), and fled ;
Jordan was driven back :
The mountains skipped like rams.
And the little hills like young sheep !
What aileth thee, 0 thou sea, that thou fleddest,
And thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back 1
Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams,
And ye little hills, like young sheep 1
Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord,
At the presence of the God of Jacob !
Who turned the hard rock into a standing water,
And the flint stone into a springing well.
182 THE BOOK OF PSxVI.MS.
PSALM CXV.
Not unto us, 0 Lord !
Antiphm. Not unto us, but unto Thy name give the praise :
For Thy loving mercy, and for Thy truth's sake.
Wherefore shall the heathen say —
" Where is now their God?"
As for our God, He is in heaven :
He hath done whatsoever pleased Him.
Their idols are of silver and gold.
Even the work of the hands of man !
They have mouths — and yet they speak not ;
They have eyes — and yet they see not ;
They have ears — and yet they hear not ;
They have noses — and yet they smell not ;
They have hands — and yet they handle not ;
They have feet — and yet they walk not :
They cannot speak witli their throat.
They that make them are like unto them ;
And so are all such as put their trust in them.
0 Israel, trust thou in the Lord !
He is their helper and defender.
0 house of Aaron, put your trust in the Lord !
HE is their helper and defender.
Ye that fear the Lord, put your trust in the Lord I
HE is their helper and defender.
The Lord hath been mindful of us ; He will bless (us)
He will bless the house of Israel,
He will bless the house of Aaron :
He will bless them that fear the Lord,
Both small and great.
The Lord shall add unto you,
Unto you, and to your children :
Ye are the blessed of the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
The heavens, even the heavens are the Lord's ;
The earth hath He given to the children of men.
PSALM CXVI. 183
The dead praise not Thee, O Lord ;
Neither all they that go dowu into silence.
But we will praise the Lord,
.hdiphod. From this time forth, for evermore.
Praise ye the Lord.
PSALM CXVI.
T LOVE THE LORD !
Because He hath heard the voice of my supplication.
Because He hath inclined His ear to me.
Therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live.
-LhE sorrows of death compassed me round about,
The pains of hell got hold upon me ;
I found trouble and heaviness.
Then called I npon the name of the Lord —
" 0 Lord, 1 beseech Thee, deliver my soul."
Crracious is the Lord, and righteous :
Yea, our God is merciful.
The Lord preserveth the simple :
I was in misery, and He helped me.
Turn again then unto thy rest, 0 my soul :
For the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee.
For THOU hast delivered my soul from death.
Mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.
I shall walk before the Lord
In the land of the living.
I trust (in Thee) : though I said (in my haste) —
"As for me, I am sore troubled."
As for me. I said in my haste —
*' All men are vanity."
What return shall I make unto the Lord
For all the benehts that He hath done unto me i!
184 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
I will receive the cup of salvation,
.... And I will call upon the name of the J^ord :
' " P ' ■ I ^jii p^y ,jjy vows unto the Lord
2^ow in the presence of all His people.
Right dear in the sight of the Lord
Js the death of His saints.
Truly, 0 Lord, I am Thy servant ;
I am Thy servant, and the son of Thine handmaid :
Thou hast hrukeii my bonds asunder.
1 will sac.ritice to Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiviu:^,
And I will call upon the name of the Lord :
I will pay my vows unto the Lord,
J.itiplMv. \y\v iu the presence of all His people ;
lu the courts of the Lord's house,
Kvon in the midst of thee, 0 Jerusalem.
Praise ye the Lonl !
PSALM CXVII.
.1 KAISE the Lord, all ye heatlien :
Praise Ilim, all ye nations !
AiUiphon. For Ilis merciful kindness is ever more and more towards us.
And the truth of the Lord endurcth for ever.
Praise ye the Lord !
PSALM CXVIIL
(J GIVE thanks unto THE LORD, for He is gracious ;
For His mercy endureth for ever.
Let Israel now confess —
loau Xhat His mercy endureth for ever.
.■lii/iphoii. '^-'^^ ^"^ Jiouse oi Aaron now coniess —
That His mercy endureth for ever.
Let them now that fear THK LOUD confess —
That His mercy endureth ibr ever !
PSALM CXVIII. 185
In my trouble I called upon THE LORD,
And THE LOUD heard me, and (set me) at large.
THE LORD is on my side : I will not fear.
What can man do unto me !
THE LORD is on my side with them that help me :
Therefore shall I see (my desire) upon mine enemies.
It is better to trust in THE LORD,
Than to put any confidence in man :
It is better to trust in THE LORD,
Than to put any contidence in princes.
All nations compassed me about :
But in the name of THE LORD will I destroy them.
They compassed me about — yea, they compassed me about :
i)Ut in the name of THE LORD will I destroy them.
They compassed me about like bees — They are extinct as a fire of
For in the name of THE LORD will I destroy them. [thorns :
Thou hast thrust sore at me, that I might fall :
But THE LORD sustained me.
THE LORD is my strength, and my psaliii.
And is become my salvation.
The voice of joy and salvation
Is in the dwelling of the righteous.
The right hand of THE LORD bringeth mighty things to pass ;
The right hand of THE LORD hath the pre-eminence ;
The right hand of THE LORD bringeth mighty things to pasi?,
[ shall not die, but live,
And declare the works of THE LORD.
THE LORD hath chastened and corrected me,
But He hath not given me over unto death.
Open me the gates of righteousness.
That I may go into them, and praise THE LORD.
This is the gate of THE LORD :
The righteous shall enter into it.
I will thank Thee: for THOU hast heard me,
And art become my salvation.
The stone which the builders refused
Is become the head-stone in the corner.
This is THE LORD'S doing.
And it is marvellous in our eyes.
This is the day which THE LORD hath made ;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
186 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
I beseech Thee, O LORD, Hosanna ; '
I beseech Thee, 0 LORD, send prosperity.
Blessed be he that coineth in the name of TIIL LORD :
We have blessed you out of the house of THE I>OUD.
God is TIIK LORD, and He hath showed us lijrht :
Bind the sacrifice with cords unto the horn.'s of the altar.
Thou art my COD : and 1 will thank Tliee !
Thou art MY God : and I will exalt Thee !
Antiphon.^ give thanks unto THE LORD: for He is gracious :
For His mercy endureth for ever.
PSALM CXIX.
*J* Four things are especially noticeable in this Psalm: — love of God's wwd;
singleness of that love; hatred of evil ; prayer against those who are evil.
^ JjLESSED are they who are undefiled in the way,
Who walk in the law of the Lord :
^ Blessed are they who keep His commandments,
Who seek Him with their whole heart ;
Jn^ WTio do no wickedness,
Who walk in His ways.
t^ Thou hast charged —
That we should diligently keep Thy commandments.
Ji^ Oh that my ways were made so direct,
That I might keep Thy statutes !
^ Then shall I not be confounded,
While I have respect unto all Thy commandments.
Ji^ I will praise Thee with an unfeigned heart,
Whenlshall have learned the judgments of Thy righteousness.
Ji^ I will keep Thy statutes :
}^ 0 forsake me not utterly.
1 /lib. "Save." See Matt. xxi. 9.
PSALM OXIX. 187
3 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way ?
Even by ruling himself after Thy word,
n With my whole heart have I sought Thee :
0 let me not go wrong out o( Thy commandments.
2 Thy word have I hid within my heart,
That I should not sin against Thee.
"2 Blessed art Thou, O Lord !
0 teach me Thy statutes.
2 With my lips have I declared
All the judgments of Thy mouth.
"2 I have had as great delight in the way of Thy testimonies,
As in all manner of riches,
m I will meditate in Thy commandments,
And have respect unto Thy ways.
2 I will delight in Thy statutes :
1 will not forget Thy word.
J 0 be gracious unto Thy servant.
That I may live and keep Thy word.
} Open Thou mine eyes.
That I may see the wondrous things of Thy la w.
2 I am a stranger upon earth :
0 hide not Thy commandments from me.
J My soul break eth for the very fervent desire
That it hath alway unto Thy judgments !
J Thou hast rebuked the proud :
Cursed are they that do err from Thy commandments.
J Turn from me shame and reproach :
For I have kept Thy testimonies.
2 Princes also did sit and speak against me :
But Thy servant will meditate in Thy statutes.
2 For Thy testimonies
Are my delight, and my counsellors.
"T My soul cleaveth to the dust !
Quicken Thou me, according to Thy word.
"T I acknowledge my ways : and Thou heardest me :
0 teach me Thy statutes.
"T Make me to understand the way of Thy commandments,
And so shall I talk of Thy wondrous ways.
"T My soul melteth away for very heaviness :
Comfort Thou me according to Thy word.
188 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
T Take from me the way of lying,
And cause Thou me to make much of Thy law.
"7 I have chosen the way of truth,
And Thy judgments have I laid before me.
"T I have stuck unto Thy testimonies :
0 Lord, confound me not.
"7 I will run the way of Thy commandments,
When Thou hast set my heart at liberty.
n Teach me, O Lord, the way of Thy statutes,
And I shall keep it, unto the end.
n Give me understanding, and I shall keep Thy law :
Yea, I shall keep it with my whole heart.
n Make me to go in the path of Thy commandments,
For therein is my desire,
n Incline my heart unto Thy testimonies.
And not to covetousness.
n Turn away mine eyes, lest they behold vanity ;
And quicken Thou me in Thy way,
n Stablish Thy word unto Thy servant.
That I may fear Thee,
n Take away the reproach that I am afraid of ;
For Thy judgments are good,
n Behold, my delight is in Thy commandments :
O quicken me in Thy righteousness.
T Let Thy loving mercy come also unto me, 0 Lord ;
Even Thy salvation, according to Thy word.
T So shall I answer him that reproacheth me ;
For my trust is in Thy word.
T 0 take not the word of Thy truth utterly out of my mouth ;
For my hope is in Thy judgments.
T So shall I alway keep Thy law.
Yea, for ever and ever.
T And I will walk at liberty.
For I seek Thy commandments.
1 I will speak of Thy testimonies also, even before kings,
1 And will not be ashamed.
'] And my delight shall be in Thy commandments.
Which I have loved :
T My hands also will I lift up unto Thy commandments, which 1
1 And my study sliall be in Thy statutes. [have loved ;
PSALM CXIX. 189
T Eomember Thy word unto Thy servant,
"Wherein Tliou hast caused me to put my trust.
T The same is my comfort in my trouble,
For Thy word hath quickened me.
T The proud have had me exceedingly in derision ;
Yet have I not shrinked from Thy law.
* For I remembered Thino everlasting judgments, O Loid,
And received comfort.
* Indignation hath seized me,
Decause of the wicked who forsake Thy law.
* Tiiy statutes have been my psalms
In the house of my pilgrimage.
* I have thought upon Thy name, 0 Lord, in the night-season,
And have kept Thy law,
* This (comfort) I had,
Because I kept Thy commandments.
n THOU art my portion, O Lord !
I have promised to keep Thy law,
n I entreated Thy Itivour with my whole heart ;
n O be merciful unto me, according to Thy word.
n I called mine own ways to remembrance.
And turned my feet unto Thy testimonies,
n I made haste, and delayed not,
To keep Thy commandments,
n The snares of the wicked are cast about mo :
But I have not forgotten Thy law.
n At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto Thee,
Because of Thy righteous judgments,
n I am a companion of all them that fear Thee,
Of them that keep Thy commandments,
n The earth, 0 Lord, is full of Thy mercy :
n 0 teach me Thy statutes.
CO 0 Lord, Thou hast dealt graciously with Thy servant,
According to Thy word.
tb 0 teach me true understanding and knowledge,
For I have believed Thy commandments.
tO Before I was troubled I went wrong :
But now have I kept Thy word.
JO Thou art good and gracious !
0 teach me Thy statutes.
190 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
O The proud have imagined a lie against me ;
]Jut I will keep Thy commandments with my wliole heart.
CO Tlieir heart is as fat as brawn :
But my delight hatli been in Thy law.
lC It is good for me that I have been in trouble,
That I may learn Thy statutes.
U The law of Thy mouth is dearer unto me
Than thousands of gold and silver.
^ Thy hands have made me, and fashioned me ;
0 give me understanding that I may learn Thy command-
1 They that fear Thee will be glad when they see me, [ments.
Because I have put my trust in Thy word.
"^ I know, 0 Lor^l, that Tliy judgments are right.
And that Thou of very faithfulness hast caused me to be
^ Let Thy merciful kindness be my comfort, [troubled.
According to Thy word unto Thy servant.
"* Let Thy loving mercies come upon me, that I may live :
For Thy law is my delight.
■1 Let the proud be confounded, for they go wickedly about to
But I will meditate on Thy commandments. [destroy me :
"* Let such as fear Thee be turned to me;
And such as keep Thy commandments.
^ Let ray heart be sound in Thy statutes,
That I be not ashamed.
2 My soul faileth for Thy salvation :
1 had hoped for (the accomplishment of) Thy word.
2 Mine eyes fail in looking for Thy promise, saying —
Oh when wilt Thou comfort me ?
3 For I am l)ecome like a (leathern) bottle in the smoke :
Yet do I not forget Thy statutes.
2 How many are the days of Thy servant 1
When wilt Thou be avenged of them that persecute me 1
2 The proud have digged pits for me,
Which arc not after Thy law.
2 All Thy commandments are true :
They persecute me falsely : 0 be Thou my help !
2 They had almost made me fail upon earth :
But I forsook not Thy testimonies.
2 O quicken me after Thy loving-kindness :
And so shall I keep the testimonies of Thy truth.
PSALM CXIX. 191
'7 0 Lord, Thy word
Endureth lor ever in heaven !
7 Thy truth also remainetli from one generation to another:
Thou hast laid the foundation of the earth, and it abideth.
7 They continue this day according to Thine ordinance ;
For all things serve Thee.
7 If my delight had not been in Thy law,
I should have perished in my trouble.
7 I will never forget Thy commandments ;
For with them Thou hast cj[uickened me.
7 I am Thine : 0 save me :
For I have sought Thy commandments.
"7 The ungodly laid wait for me, to destroy me :
But I will consider Thy testimonies.
7 I see that all things come to an end :
iiut Thy commandment is exceeding broad.
f2 What love have I unto Thy word !
All the day long is my study in it.
J2 Thy precepts have made me wLser than mine enemies :
For they are ever with me.
f2 I have more understanding than my teachers :
For Thy testimonies are my study.
^ I am wiser than the aged :
For I keep Thy commandments.
f2 I have refrained my feet from every evil way.
That I may keep Thy word.
f2 I have not departed from Thy judgments :
For Thou teachest me.
J2 Oh how sweet are Thy words unto my throat ;
Yea, sweeter than honey unto my mouth !
^ Through Thy commandments I get understanding :
Therefore I hate all evil ways.
2 Thy word is a lantern unto my feet,
And a light unto my paths :
2 I am sworn, and am stedfastly purposed
To keep Thy righteous judgments.
2 I am troubled above measure :
Quicken me, 0 Lord, according to Thy word.
2 Let the free-will offerings of my mouth please Thee, O Lord !
And teach me Thy judgments.
192 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
2 My soul is alway in my hand :
Yet do I not forget Tliy law.
2 The ungodly have laid a snare for me :
lUit yet I swerved not from Thy commandments.
2 Thy testimonies have I claimed as mine heritage for ever :
For they are the very joy of my lieart.
2 I have applied my lieart to fulfil Thy statutes :
Even alway, unto the end.
0 I hate them that are of a divided heart :
But Thy law do I love.
^ Thou art my defence and shield :
And my trust is in Thy word.
D Away from me, ye wicked :
I will keep the commandments of my God.
D O stahlish me according to Thy word, that I may live :
And let me not be disappointed of my hope.
D Hold Thou me up, and I shall he safe :
Yea, my deli,L,'ht sliall be ever in Thy statutes.
l) Thou hast trodden down all them that depart from Thy statutes :
For they imagine but deceit.
[^ Thou puttest away all the ungodly of the earth like dross :
Therefore 1 love Thy testimonies.
0 My flesh trcmbletli for fear of Thee :
And I am afraid of Thy judgments.
^' I deal with the thing that is lawful and right :
0 give me not over unto mine oppressors.
V Undertake for Thy servant fur good ;
That the proud do me no wrong.
^ Mine eyes fail with looking for Thy salvation,
And for the word of Thy righteousness.
jj O deal with Thy servant according iinto Thy loving mercy.
And teach me Thy statutes.
^ I am Thy servant :
O grant mo understanding, that I may know Thy testimonies.
^ It is time for Thee, Lord, to stretch out Thine hand ;
For they have destroyed Thy law.
^ For I love Thy commandments
Above gold and precious stone,
^' Therefore hold I straight all Thy commandments ;
And all false ways 1 utterly abhor.
PSALM CXIX. 1!):
2 Thy testimonies are wonderful :
Therefore doth my soul keep tliein.
^ The entrance of Thy word giveth light ;
Making wise the simple.
i^ I longed and ])anted after Thy word :
For my delight was in Tliy commandments.
•^ 0 look Thou upon me, and he merciful unto me,
As Thou usest to do unto those that love Thy name.
^ Order my steps in Thy word ;
And let no wickedness have dominion over mo.
^ () deliver me from the wrongful dealings of men :
And so shall I keep Thy commandments.
2 Show the light of Thy countenance upon Thy servant,
And teach, me Thy statutes.
^ Mine eyes gush out with water ;
Because men keep not Thy law.
V Righteous art Tlinu, 0 Lord !
And true are Thy judgments.
V The testimonies that Thou hast commanded
Are exceeding righteous and tiue.
^* INIy zeal hatli even consumed me,
Because mine enemies have forgotten Thy word.-.
^ Thy word is tried to the uttermost :
And Thy servant loveth it.
V I am small, and of no reputation :
Yet do I not forget Thy commandments.
V Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
And Thy law is the truth.
V Troxible and heaviness have taken hold upon me :
Yet is my delight in Thy commandments.
2^ The righteousness of Thy testimonies is everlasting I
0 grant me understanding, and I shall live.
p I call with my whole heart :
Hear me, 0 Lord ! I will keep Thy statutes,
p Yea, even unto Thee do I call :
Help mo, and I shall keep Thy testimonies.
p Early in the morning do I cry unto Thee :
For in Thy M'ord is my trust,
p Mine eyes forestall the night watches.
That I might meditate in Thy words.
19-t TUK BOOK OF PSALMS.
. p Hear luy voice, according to Thy loving-kindness :
Quicken me, 0 Lord, according as Thou art wont,
p They draw nigh that pursue wickedness.
And that are far from Thy law.
p But THOU art nigh at hand, 0 Lord !
And all Thy commandments are true,
p As concerning Thy testimonies I have known long since
That Thou hast founded them for ever.
n 0 consider mine adversity, and deliver me :
For I do not forget Thy law.
") Avenge Thou my cause, and deliver me :
Quicken me, according to Thy word.
1 Salvation is far from the ungodly :
For they regard not Thy statutes.
") Great is Thy mercy, 0 Lord !
Quicken me, according as Thou art wont.
■) iMany there are that trouble me, and persecute me :
Yet do I not swerve from Thy testimonies.
"1 It grieveth me when I see the transgressors.
Because they keep not Thy law.
T Consider, 0 Lord, how 1 love Thy commandments ;
O quicken mt;, according to Thy loving-kindness.
"I The whole of Thy word is true : [more.
And all the judgments of Thy righteousness endure forever-
Ji^ Princes have persecuted me without a cause :
But my heart standeth in awe of Thy word.
^ I am as glad of Thy word,
As one that findeth great spoil.
J^ As for lies, [ hate and abhor them :
But Thy law do I love.
II* Seven tiuKis a day do I praise Thee,
Because of Thy righteous judgments.
'2/ Great peace have they who love Thy law.
And are not offended at it.
l^ Lord, I have looked for 'J'hy salvation,
And done after Thy commandments.
J£^ My soul hath kept Thy testimonies,
And loved them exceedingly.
J2* I have kept TJiy commandments and testimonies ; .
For all my ways are before Thee.
PSALM oxx. 195
J^ Let my complaint come before Thee, 0 Lord !
Give me understanding, according to Tliy word.
n Let my supi)lication come before Thee :
Deliver me according to Thy word.
jn My lips shall speak of Thy praise,
When Thou hast taught me Thy statutes.
]n Yea, my tongue shall speak of Thy word :
For all Thy commandments are righteous.
jn Let Thine hand help me.
For I have chosen Thy commandments,
p I have longed for Thy salvation, 0 Lord ;
And in Thy law is my delight.
pi O let my soul live, and it shall praise Thee ;
And Thy judgments shall help me.
p I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost :
O seek Thy servant, for I do not forget Thy commandments.
PSALM CXX.
A Song of the. (joings up.
W HEN I was in trouble, I called upon the Lord,
And He heard me.
Deliver my soul, 0 Lord, from lying lips,
And from a deceitful tongue.
^Vhat shall be given unto thee,
( )r what shall one add unto thee, thou deceitful tongue 1
Even sharp arrows of the Mighty One,
With coals of juniper.
Alas, that I am. constrained to dwell with Mesoch,
That I have my habitation among the tents of Ivedar I
My soul hath long dwelt among them
That are enemies to peace !
I am for peace : [battle.
But when 1 speak unto them thereof, they make them ready to
0 2
196 THE HOOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM cxxr.
A Snnq of the goivgs vp.
I WILL lift up mine eyes unto the hills,
From whence cometh my help.
My help cometh even from THE LORD,
Who hath made heaven and earth !
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved,
He that keepeth thee Avill not slumber :
Behold, He will neither slumber nor sleep.
That keepeth Israel.
THE LORD is thy keeper !
THE LORD is thy defence upon thy right hand.
So that the sun shall not l)urn thee by day,
Neither the moon by niglit.
The Lord will keep thee from all evil :
(Yea, it is even) HE (that) will keep thy soul.
The Lord will keep thee in thy going out, and thy coming in,
From this time forth, for evermore.
PSALM CXXII.
A Song of tlw goings up. — By David.
T WAS glad when they said unto me —
" Let us go into the house of the Lord :
" Our feet shall stand in thy gate-s, O Jerusalem."'
.Ferusalem is built as a city
Which is compacted well together.
For thither the tribes (jo up.
Even the tribes of the Lord ;
(As) a testimony to Israel,
To give thanks unto the name of the Lord.
For there is the seat of judgment.
Even the seat of the house of David.
PSALM CXXII.
197
O pray for the peace of Jerusalem ! '
They shall prosper that love thee.
Peace be within thy walls,
And prosperity within thy palaces !
Because of my brethren and companions,
I will say — " Peace be within thee ! "
Because of the house of the Lord our God,
I will pray for thy good.
• Hch. " O pray for the peace of Abode of Peace."
This passage is often chosen by the seal engravers of Jerusalem as a motto,
hoth for Jews ami Christians.
Another favourite motto is tliat taken from Fs. cxxviii. 5, "The Lord
bless thee out of Zion," or "The Lord from out of Zion give thee His blessing. "
This passage ought to have been included in the list of Antiphons in p. 15,
as it occurs here, and in Ps. cxxxiv. 3. The seal, or device, has an olive
branch in the middle, the emblem of peace, (Gen. viii. 11,) and the type of
God's people. (Jer. xi. 16.)
But the .subject generally selected by Christian engravers is the Cross of
Jerusalem, with the name of the city above, surrounded by an olive garland.
Not only was an olive tree the emblem of the city, when God's peace rested
upon it ; but olive trees formerl}' abounded in its neighbourhood, and are
still grown there. We may presume that the Mount of Olives was formerly
covered with these trees.
With this key to the significance of the olive, we can better understand
the psalmist, when in Ps. cxxviii. he likens the children of a good man, living
in the perpetual verdure of peace and love one with another, to the flourishing
stems of an aged olive trunk, shooting upwards side by side, with their
1)ranches locked together in indissoluble unity.
198 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM CXXIII.
A Song of the goings up.
U NTO Thee, 0 Lord, lift I up mine eyes,
() Thou that dwellest in the heavens !
Behold, even as the eyes of servants
Look unto the hand of their masters.
And as the eyes of a maiden
Unto the hand of her mistress,
Even so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God,
Until He have mercy upon us.
Have mercy upon up, 0 Lord, have mercy upon us :
For we are utterly filled with contempt.
Our soul is utterly filled [of the proud.
With the scornful derision of the wealthy, and with the contempt
PSALM CXXIV.
A Song of the goings up. — By David.
IF THE LORD had not been on our side,
Xow may Israel say :
If THE LORD had not been on our side,
When men rose up against us —
Then they had swallowed us up alive,
When they were so wrathfiUly displeased at us :
Then the waters had drowned us,
The stream had gone over our soul.
Then there had gone over our soul
Even the deep waters of the proud !
But praised be THE LORD,
Who hath not given us over for a prey unto their teeth.
Our soul is delivered, even as a bird out of the snare of the
The snare is broken, and we are delivered. [fowler :
PSALM CXXV.
199
Out help standcth in the name of THE LORD,
Wlio hatli made lieaven and earth.
PSLAM CXXV.
A Song of the goings u}).
They that trust in the Lord sliall be as the Mount Sion,
Which shall not be removed, but standeth fast for ever.
The hills stand round about Jerusalem :
Even so doth the Lord stand round about His people,
From this time forth for evermore.
For the rod of the ungodly cometh not into the lot of the righteous
Lest the righteous put their hands unto wickedness.
]:)o well, 0 Lord, unto those that are good,
Unto those that are upright of heart.
As for such as turn back unto their own wickedness,
iphon. The Lord will lead them forth with the evil-doers ;
But peace shall be upon Israel.
Jcnvialem, from the Moimt of Olices
From a sketch by the Author.
200 TlIK llOOK OF PSALMS.
P6ALM CXXVI.
^ SoiKj of the tjoinijH up.
VV 1II']N the Lord turned the captivity of Sion,
Then were wo like unto them that dream :
Then was our mouth filled with laughter,
And our tongue with joy.
Then said they among the heathen —
•' The Lord hatli done great things for them ! "
The Lord HATH done great things for us !
"Whereof we rejoice.
Turn our captivity, 0 Lord,
As the rivers in the south.
They that sow in tears,
.Shall reap in joy.
lie that walketh iu the path of weeping,
Bearing forth good seed,
Shall come back in the path of rejoicing,
Bearin;» liis sheaves with him.
PSALM CXXVIL
A Song of the goings up. — For Solomon.
liiXCEPT Lhu Lord Ludd the house,
Its buihlers have but toded in vain !
Except the Lord keep the city,
Its keepers have but watched iu vain !
It is in vain that ye rise up early,
And that ye late take rest.
And that ye eat tlie bread of labour :
For (God) givelh to His beloved' sleep,
Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord,
And the fruit of the womb is (His) reward.
Like as arrows in the hand of a mighty man,
Even so are the young children.
' ■' Jcilciliiili," till." early uaiiie of i>okinioii. See I's. xlv., title and note
PSALM CXXVIII.
201
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them :
He shall not be ashamed; but shall withstand his enemies in
[the gate.
PSALM CXXVIII.
A Su7ig of the (joiivjs up.
Blessed are all they that fear the Lord,
That walk in His ways !
For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands ;
lUessed art thou, and happy shalt thou be.
Thy wife shall be as the fruitful vine,
Upon the walls of thine house :
Thy children like the olive stems,
liound about thy table.
Old Olive-trunks — with interlacing stems.
Garden of Gethsetnanc . See p. 197.
202 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
Lo, thus shall the man be blessed
That feareth the Lord.
The Lord from out of Sion shall give thee His blessing ;-
And Thou shalt see Jerusalem in prosperity
All thy life long :
And thou shalt see thy children's children,
And peace upon Israel.
PSALM CXXIX.
A Song of the goinr/s up,
JMANY a time have they afiElicted me from my youth up,
May Israel now say :
Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth up :
]5ut they have not (prevailed) against me."
The ploughers ploughed upon my back,
They made long furrows.
But the Lord is righteous,
And hath hewn the snares of the ungodly in pit ces.
Let them be confounded, and turned backward.
As many as have evil will at Sion :
Let them be as the grass growing upon the house-tops,
Which withereth afore it be plucked up :
Whereof the mower filleth not liis hand,
Neither he that bindeth up the sheaves, his bosom.
So that the}' say not, who pass by — " The Lord bless you I
" We bless vou in the name of the Lord."
PSALM CXXX.
A Song of the goings up.
vJUT of the deep have I called unto Thee, 0 Lord
Lord, hear my voice !
O let Thine ears consider well
The voice of my complaint.
PSALM cxxxr. 203
Tf Thou shouldst be extreme to mark iniquity, 0 Lord,
Lord, who may abide it !
But there is mercy with Thee :
Therefore shalt Thou be feared.
T wait for the Lord : my soul doth wait for Him :
In His word is my trust.
My soul waiteth for the Lord,
More than they who watch long for the morning.'
0 Israel, trust in the Lord !
For with THE LORD there is mercy,
Antiphon. And in HIM is plenteous redemption.
And He will redeem Israel
From all his sins.
PSALM CXXXL
, A Song of the goings up. — By David.
JjOED, I am not high-minded,
I have no proud look :
I do not exercise myself in great matters.
In things which are too high for me :
But I refrain my soul, and keep it low.
Even as a child which is weaned from his mother ;
My soul is even as a weaned child.
. , . , 0 Israel, trust in the Lord !
Jbrom this time tortli, tor evermore.
1 Ucb. "more tlian they who watch for the morning, watching for the
inornint;. "
204 liJi; BOOK OF rSALMS.
PSALM CXXXII.
A Song of the goings uj.>.
-LiOIiD, remember David,
And all his troubles.
How he sware unto the Lord,
And vowed a vow unto the mighty God of Jacob —
" I will not come within the habitation of my house,
" I will not go up to the couch of my bed :
" I will not give sleep to mine eyes,
'• Nor slumber unto mine eyelids —
" Until I find out a place for (the temple of) the Lord,
" A habitation for the mighty God of Jacob."
Lo, we heard of the same at Ephrata ;
We found it in the fields of the wood.'
We will go into His tabernacle ;
We will bow down before His footstool.
Arise, 0 Lord, into Thy resting-place,
. , Thou, and the ark of Thy strength ! -
'' ' Let Thy priests be clothed with righteousness,
And let Thy saints shout with joyfulness.
For Thy servant David's sake
Turn not away the face of Thine anointed.
The Lord hath sworn^ unto David, in His truth :
He will not turn from it : —
" Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.
" If thy children will keep My covenant,
" And ^ly testimonies that I shall learn them,
" Their children also shall sit upon thy throne for evermore."
For the Lord hath chosen Sion for Himself,
He hath longed for it as His habitation.
" This shall be My rest for ever :
" Here will I dwell, for I have longed for it.
1 The fields outside of Kirjath-jearim, the " city of woods."
2 Taken from the words used by Moses each time that the ark rested,
(Num. X. 3G,) and applied afterwards by Soloinou. (2 C'hron. vi. 41.)
3 In tlie first paragraph David swears to the Lord. Here the Lord swears
to David.
PSALM CXXXHT.
205
" I will bloss her victuals with increase ;
" I will satisfy her poor with bread.
" I will clothe her priests with salv;ition,
" And her saints shall shout for joy, and rejoice with shouting.
" There will I make the horn of David to flourish ;
" T have ordained a lamp for Mine anointed.
** As for his enemies, I will clothe them with shame ;
" But upon himself shall his crown flourish."
*^* The fourtli paragraph is a rqdica of the second and third. It, first
refers to Ood's house, then to his priests, and lastly to David and his posterity.
PSALM cxxxiir.
A Song of the goings up, — By David.
JjEHOLD, how good and joyful a thing it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity.
It is like the precious ointment upon the head.
Which fell down upon the beard, upon the beard of Aaron ;
AVhich fell down to the skirts of his clothing,
it is like the dew of Hermon,
Which falls down upon the hill of Sion.
Moiint Lebanon, covered with clouds or dcir,
As seen from Eermmi, or Anti- Lebanon.
From a shrfch by the Author.
206 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
For there the Lord promised His blessing,
Even life for evermore.
PSALM CXXXIY.
A Song of tlie goings up.
XjEHOLD now, bless ye the Lord,
All ye servants of the Lord,
Aniiphon. Ye that by night stand in the huuse of the Lord ;
Lift u]) your hands in the sanctuary,
And bless ye the Lord !
'J'he Lord that made heaven and earth,
Give thee blessing out of Sion !
PSALM CXXXV.
Praise ye the Lord.
x EAISE ye the name of the Lord,
Praise it, O ye servants of the Lord !
Antiphon "^® ^^^*' ^tand in the house of the Lord,
In the courts of the house of our God.
Praise ye the Lord : for the Lord is gracious !
Sing psalms unto His name, for it is lovely.
For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto Himself,
And Israel for His own possession.
For I know that the Lord is groat,
And that our Lord is above all gods.
Whatsoever the Lord pleased, tliat did He,
In heaven, and on earth,
in the sea, and in all deep places.
He bringeth forth the clouds from the ends of the earth.
He sendeth forth lightnings with the rain,
Bringing the winds out of His treasure.
P8ALM CXXXV. '207
lie smote the first-born of Egypt,
Both of uiiiu and beast :
lie seat tokens and wonders into tlie midst of thee, 0 Egypt,
Upon Pharaoh, and all his servants :
lie smote divers nations.
And slew mighty kings :
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
And Og, the king of Basan,
And all tlje kingdoms of Canaan :
And He gave their land to be a heritage,
Even a heritage unto Israel His people.
'J'hy name, O Lord, endureth for ever :
l>itiphon. ,p|^^ remembrance, 0 Lord, from generation to generation !
For the Lord will avenge His people.
And be gracious unto His servants.
The idols of the heathen are but silver and gold,
The work of the hands of man !
They have mouths — and yet they speak not ;
They have eyes — and yet they see not ;
They have ears — and yet they hear not ;
Neither is there any breath in their mouths.
They that make them are like unto them ;
And so are all they that put their trust in them.
0 house of Israel, bless ye the Lord !
0 house of Aaron, bless ye the Lord !
0 house of Levi, bless ye the Lord !
intiphm . Ye that fear the Lord, bless ye the Lord !
Blessed be the Lord out of Sion,
Which dwelleth at Jerusalem !
Praise ye the Lord !
208 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM CXXXVI.
[An antiphimal Psalm.]
\J GIVE thanks unto the T.ord : foi- lie i-; gracious :
And His mercy endiireth for ever !
FuU (> sive thanks unto the Cod of all gods :
Aiiilphoii. For His mercy endureth for ever !
0 give thanks unto the Lord of all lords :
For His mercy endureth for ever !
To Him who only doeth great wondcis :
For His mercy endureth for ever !
To Him who by wisdom made the heavens :
For His mercy endureth for ever !
To Him who stretched out the earth above the waters :
For His mercy endureth for ever !
To Him who made great lights :
For His mercy endureth for ever !
The sun, for the ruling of the day :
For His mercy endureth for ever !
The moon and the stars, for the ruling of the night :
For His mercy endureth for ever !
To Him who smote Egypt in their first-born :
For His mercy endureth for ever !
And brought out Israel from the midst of them :
For His mercy endureth for ever !
With a mighty hand, and with a stretched-out ar:n :
For His mercy endureth for ever !
To Him who divided the Red sea into two parts :
For His mercy endureth for ever !
And made Israel to go through the midst of it :
For His mercy endureth for ever !
But who overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea
For His mercy endureth for ever !
To Him who led His people through the wilderness :
For His mercy endureth for ever !
To ITim who smote gTcat kings :
For His mercy endureth for ever I
PSALM OXXXVII. 209
Yea, and slew mighty kings :
For His mercy endureth for ever !
Sihon, king of the Amorites :
For His mercy endureth for ever !
And Og, the king of Basan :
For His mercy endureth for ever !
And who gave their land to be a heritage
For His mercy endureth for ever !
Even a heritage unto Israel His servant :
For His mercy endureth for ever !
"Who remembered us in our low estate :
For His mercy endureth for ever !
And hath delivered us from our enemies :
For His mercy endureth for ever !
Who giveth food to all flesh :
For His mercy endureth for ever !
Fidl 0 give thanks unto the God of heaven :
intiphon. For His mercy endureth for ever !
PSALM CXXXVII.
JdY the waters of Babylon we sat down ;
And we wept when we remembered (thee, 0) Sion !
Upon the willows in the midst of it
We hanged up our harps i
For they that led us away captive asked of us then a song,
And they that wasted us, melody : —
" Sing us one of the songs of Sion ! "
How shall we sing the Lord's song
In a strange land !
If I forget thee, 0 Jerusalem,
May my right hand forget (how to play) ; ^
May my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth :
1 Aposiopesi.
!10
THE DOOK OF PSALMS.
If I remember thee not,
If I think not of Jerusalem,
Above my chief joy.
Eemember, O Lord, the children of Edom,
In the day of Jerusalem :
Who said — " Raze it, raze it,
" Even to its foundations."
0 daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed, -
Blessed shall he be that rewardeth thee,
As thou hast rewarded us :
Blessed shall he bo that seizeth and dasheth
Thy children against the stones.
PSALM cxxxviir.
By David.
L WILL give thanks unto Thee, (0 Lord),i with my whole heart :
Even before the gods will I sing psalms unto Thee.
I will worship toward Thy holy temple,
" ^'' '-'"''" "And I will give thanks unto Thy name,
Because of Thy mercy, and because of Thy truth :
Because^ Thou hast magnified Thy name above all, (according to)
[Thy promise.^
When I called upon Thee, Thou heard est me,
And enduedst my soul with much strength.
All the kings of the earth shall give thanks unto Thee, 0 Lord,
When they shall hear the words of Thy mouth.
Vea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord,
'I'hat great is the glory of the Lord.
For though the Lord be high, yet hath lie respect unto the lowly :
As for the proud, lie beholdeth them afar otf.
1 J}WsiO}K!^'f<.
' Although this word is not ihe same in the Hebrew as in the paralld
licmistich, the wonl "above," which follows, is the same word.
' This is the reading of IJLshoj) llorsh'y. See the remarks of Hamraoud,
J'hilJips, and Pcrowne, on this ditficult verse.
PSALM CXXXI.V. 2] 1
Though T walk in the raiJst of trouble, yet wilt Thou refresh rue :
Thy hand wilt Thou stretch forth upon the fury of mine enemies,
And Thy right hand will save me.
The Lord will accomplish for me :
0 Lord, Thy mercy (endureth) for ever:
Forsake not then the work of Thine own hands.
0
PSALM CXXXIX.
To the chief Musician. — A Psalm of David,
LORD!
{Thou hast searched me out, and known me !
Thou knowest my down-sitting, and mine up-rising.
Thou understandest my thoughts long before.
Thou art about my path, and about my bed.
And Thou spiest out all my ways !
For lo, there is not a word in my tongue,
But Thou, 0 Lord, knowest it altogether !
Thou hast fashioned me behind and before.
And laid Thine hand upon me.
Such knowledge (is) too wonderful for me ;
It is excellent : I cannot attain unto it !
Whither can I go then from Thy spirit ?
Or whither can I flee from Thy presence 1
If I climb up into heaven — Thou art there :
If I go down to hell — Thou (art there also).
If I take the wings of the morning,
If I dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there shall Thy hand lead me,
And Thy right hand shall hold me !
If I say — surely the darkness shall cover me.
Then shall my night be turned to day :
r Yea, the darkness is no darkness to Thee,
/ But the night is as clear as the day,
[ The darkness as the light.
For Thou hast possessed my reins,
Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
I will praise Thee : for I am fearfully and wonderfully made !
Wonderful are Thy works : and that my soul knoweth well !
p2
212 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
My bones were not hid from Thee,
When I was made secretly,
When I was fashioned beneath in the earth.
Thine eyes did see my embryo state.
And in Thy book were all (my members) written,
(As in) the days they were fashioned.
When as yet there was none of them.'
How dear are Thy counsels unto me, 0 God !
How great is the sum of them !
If I tell them, they are more in number than the sand !
When I wake up, Thou art still present in my thoughts !
Thou wilt surely slay the wicked, 0 God :
Depart from me, ye bloodthirsty men.
For they speak unrighteously against THEE ;
Thine enemies take (THY NAME) in vain.
Do not I hate them, 0 Lord, that hate Thee?
And am I not grieved with them that rise up against Thee ?
Yea, I hate them right sore :
I count them as MINE enemies.
Search me, 0 Lord, and examine 2 my heart ;
Prove me, and examine ^ my thoughts :
' " '■'' '''"■ And see if there be any way of wickedness in me,
And lead me in the way everlastmg.
PSALM CXL.
To the chief Musician. — a Psalm of David.
JJeLIVEK me, 0 Lord, from the evil man ;
Antip ion. p,.gggj.^Q jjjg fj.Qj^ ii^Q wicked man ;
Who imagine mischief in their heart ;
They stir up strife all the day long.
1 The passar^e might be understood as having a i^ohjms : — " And iii Tliy
book were all (my actions) written, (even the actions of) the days (when) they
were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them : " but the context shows
that it relates to the material structure of man.
'■2 Tlio same word, yi\ "know," or "examine," as in verse 1.
PSALM CXL. 213
They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent :
Adders' poison is under their lips.
nbo
Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the ungodly ;
n ipion. pj.ggQjryQ j^g from the wicked man.;
Who have purposed to overthrow my goings ;
The proud have laid a snare for me, and cords :
Tliey have spread a net by the way-side,
They have set traps for me.
I said unto the Lord : —
Thou art my God !
Hear the voice of my prayer, 0 Lord.
O Lord my God ! ^ thou strength of my salvation,
Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
(Let not the ungodly have his desire, O Lord ;
Let not his devices prosper ;
Let them not be exalted.
nbo
As for those that compass me about ; —
TLet the mischief of their own lips cover them ;
( Let hot burning coals fall upon them ;
iLet them fall into pits, that they rise not up again-.
A man full of words shall not prosper upon the earth : [thrown.
A man full of violence shall be hunted by evil till he be over-
Sure I am that the Lord will maintain
The cause of the poor, and the right of the helpless.
ip on. rpj^^ righteous shall give thanks unto Thy name,
And the just shall continue in Thy sight.
^ Hcb, "Jehovah, Lord,"
214. THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
rSALM CXLI.
A Psalm of David.
JuOKD, I cry unto Tliec ! Haste Thee unto me :
And consider my voice wLen I cry unto Thee.
Let my prayer be set forth in thy sight as the incense,
And the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.
Set a watch, 0 Lord, before my mouth ;
Keep the door of my lips.
Let not my heart be inclined to any evil thing,
Let me not be occupied with imgodly works,
With the men that work wickedness ;
And let me not partake of tlieir pleasures.
If the righteous were to strike me, (I would regard it as) a mercy ;
And if he were to rebuke mo, (I would regard it as) oil upon the head :
(So even the wickedness of the ungodly) shall not break my head ;
But their wickedness shall provoke only to prayer.^
(When) their princes were cast down by the side of the rock,
They listened to my words, for they were sweet : '
(Though) our bones (then) lay scattered at the mouth of the pit,
Like as when one breaketh and heweth (wood) upon the earth.
15ut unto THEE, 0 Lord God ! ^ do I direct mine eyes :
In THEE is my trust : 0 cast not out my soul.
Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me,-
And from the traps of the wicked doers.
AnLiphoa ^-"^^ ^^^® ungodly fall into their own nets together,
And let me ever escape them.
1 See Ps. cix. 4 : — "In return for n\y love, they are mine adversaries:
But 1 betake myself unto prayer."
* See 1 Sam. xxiv., xxvi. ^ Ihb. "Jehovah, Lord."
rsALM ex MI. 215
PSALM OX LI I.
A Psalm of instruction. — By David. A prayer when Ice v-as in the cave.
W ITll my voice unto the Lord did I cry ;
With my voice unto the I>ord did I make my supplication :
1 poured out my complaint before Him ;
I showed Him of my trouble.
Wlien my spirit was in heaviness,
Tliou knewest my path :
In the way wherein 1 walked
Have they privily laid a snare for me.
1 looked on my right hand,
But there was no man that would know me :
1 had no place to flee unto;
And there was no man that cared for my soul.
1 cried unto THEE, 0 Lord ! I said —
TllOU art my refuge,
And my portion in the land of the living.
Consider my complaint,
For I am brought very low.
Deliver me from my persecutors,
For they are too strong for me.
Bring my soul out of prison,
That I may give thanks unto Thy name.
The righteous ^ shall compass me about :
ntiphon.y^^ Thou wilt deal bountifully with me !
' Instead of the wicked, as above, and in the former Psalm.
*,* This Fsalm exliibits tlie replica.
216 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM CXLIII.
A Psalm of David.
j XIEAE, my prayer, 0 Lord !
Give ear to my supplications :
Hearken unto me for Thy truth and righteousness' sake.
And enter not into judgment with Thy servant :
For in Thy sight shall no man living be justified.
For the enemy hath persecuted my soul,
He hath smitten my life down to the ground :
He hath laid me in the lowest darkness.
As the men which have been long dead.
Therefore is my spirit vexed within me,
And my heart within me is desolate.
I remember the time past,
I muse upon all Thy works,
.1 meditate on the works of Thy hands :
I stretch forth my hands unto Thee,
My soul gaspeth for Thee as a thirsty land.
Hear me, 0 Lord, and that soon.
For my spirit waxeth faint :
Lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
0 let me hear Thy loving-kindness betimes in the morning,
For in THEE is my trust :
Show Thou me the way that I should walk in :
For I lift up my soul unto THEE,
Deliver me, 0 Lord, from mine enemies,
For I flee unto THEE to hide me.
Teach me to do Thy will,
For THOU art my God.
Let Thy loving spirit lead me forth
Into a land of quietness.
Quicken me, 0 Lord, far Thy name's sake,
And for Thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.
And of Thy goodness cut off mine enemies,
And destroy all them that vex my soul ;
For I am Thy servant.
PSALM CXLIV. 217
PSALM CXLIV.
By David.
j3lESSED be the Lord, my strength !
Who teacheth my hands to war,
And my fingers to fight.
Proem. ]y[y j^ope and my fortress,
My castle and deliverer,
My defender in whom I trust,
Who subdueth my people that is under mc.
-LiOED, what is man,^ that Thou regardest him]
Or the son of man," that Thou thinkest of him ?
Man is like a thing of nought :
His time passeth away like a shadow !
Bow Thy heavens, 0 Lord, and come down :
Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
Cast forth Thy lightnings, and scatter them :
Shoot out Thine arrows, and destroy them.
Send down Thy hand from above :
Save and deliver me
From the great waterfloods,
nUpJmi.YYora the hands of strange children ;^
Whose mouth talketh of vanity.
And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
I will sing a new song unto Thee, 0 God !
I will sing psalms unto Thee upon a ten-(stringed) lute :
Who giveth victory unto kings,
Who hath delivered David Thy servant from the peril of the sword.
Save and deliver me
From the hands of strange children ;
ntwhon.y^YiosQ mouth talketh of vanity,
And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
^ Man of dust, "Adam." ^ Man of distinction, " Eesh.'"
3 ffeb. " Sons of the stranger."
218 Tin: book of psalms.
That our sons may he as plants
"Whicli grow up (vigorously) in their youth :
That our daughters may be as corner-stones,
Which are fitted for the temple.
'J'liat our garners may be full,
Affording all manner of store :
'J'hat our sheep may bring forth thoasauds,
And ten thousands in our fields.^
That our oxen may be heavy laden,
'J'hat there be no breakiag down :
And that there be no going forth,
And no complaining in our streets.
lUcssed are the people wbo are in such a case :
Blessed are the people who have THE LORD for their God !
PSALM CXLY.
Praise of David.
^ L WILL magnify Thee, 0 God my King !
Proem ^ ^'^^^ bless Thy name for ever and ever !
3 Every day Avill I give thanks unto Thee ;
1 will praise Thy name for ever and ever !
} VxEEAT is the Lord, and highly to be praised.
There is no end of His greatness !
T ()ne generation shall praise Thy works unto another,
And shall declare Thy power !
n As for me, I will be talking of Thy worship,
Thy glory, Thy praise, and wondrous works !
1 So that man shall speak of the might of Thy marvellous acts,
And I will also tell of Thy greatness !
* The memorial of Thine abundant kindness shall be showed,
And men shall sing of Thy righteousness.
n Gracious and merciful is the Lord ;
Long-suffering, and of great goodness !
Antiphov.,^ Loving is the Lord to every man :
And His mercy is over all His works !
1 Uch. " Oi>cn ]ilaces." Sec Job, v. 10; ProV. viii. 26.
ifipJu
PSALM CXLY. 219
1 All Thy works praise Thee, 0 Lord !
And Thy saints give thanks unto Thee.
^ They show the glory of Thy kingdom,
And talk of Thy power !
^7 That Thy j)ower, Thy glory, and the mightiness of Thy kingdom
Might he known unto men,
J2 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom ;
And Thy dominion endureth from generation to generation !
J [Faithful is the Lord in His words,
And holy in all Ilis works ! ^]
D The Lord upholdeth all such as fall,
And lifteth u]) all those that are bowed down.
^ The eyes of all wait upon THEE, 0 Lord :
And Thou givest them their meat in due season !
^ Thou openest Thy hand.
And fillcst all things living with plenteousness !
Antiphon ^* l^igliteous is the Lord in all His ways !
And holy in all His works !
p The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him :
Yea, to all such as call upon Him faithfully.
") He will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him :
He also will hear their cry, and will help them.
The Lord preserveth all them that love Him ;
But scattereth abroad all the ungodly.
.-/ /I //;)/<() <(.n My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord !
And let all flesh give thanks unto His holy name,
For ever, and ever !
^ This verse, wliich appears in the Septuagint, is found also in the Syrian,
Arabic, and Vulgate versions, and in one Hebi ew MS. of ihe fourteenth century.
It is vindicated by the learned Dr. Hammond. Though a fair presumption
that the Seventy may have interpolated it in order to bring in the deficient
letter Kun, it is equally fair to presume that the letter was not originally
omitted, and that it might have been preserved in one copy which the
Seventy consulted. Anotlier presumption in its favour is that it forms an
antiidion, wliich it is not likely that the Seventy would have thought of, had
thev restored the letter.
220 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM CXLVI.
Praise ye the Lord !
^ , . , Praise the Lord, 0 my soul !
1 will praise my God while 1 live :
I will sing psalms to my God while I have my being.
O put not your trust in princes, or in any child of man ;
For there is no help in them :
For when the breath of man goeth forth, he shall turn again to his
And in that day all his thoughts perish ! [earth,
Blessed is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help,
And whose hope is in the Lord his God ;
Who made heaven and earth,
The sea, and all that therein is,
Who keepeth His promise for ever.
Who helpeth them to right that sufifer wrong,
Who feedeth the hungry.
The Lord looseth men out of prison,
The Lord giveth sight to the blind :
The Lord helpeth them that are fallen.
The Lord careth for the strangers :
He raiseth the fatherless and widow ;
(While) the way of the ungodly He turneth upside down.
The Lord shall reign for ever !
Antijihoa. Xhy God, 0 Sion, from generation to generation !
Praise ye the Lord !
PSALM CILVn. 221
PSALM CXLVII.
Praise yo the Lord !
iliphon. For it is a good thing to sing psalms unto our God ;
For it is a joyful and pleasant thing to sing praises.
The Lord doth build up Jerusalem,
He doth gather together the outcasts of Israel.
He healeth those that are broken in heart,
He bindeth up all their sorrows.
He telleth the number of the stars.
He calleth them all by their names.
Great is our Lord, and great is His power :
Yea, and His wisdom is infinite !
The Lord setteth up the meek :
He casteth the ungodly down to the ground.
bUiphon. 0 raise the antiphon unto the Lord, with thanksgiving :
Sing psalms upon the harp unto our God !
Who covereth the heaven with clouds,
Who prepareth rain for the earth :
Who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains for the cattle,
Their food for the young ravens that call upon him.
He hath no pleasure in the strength of a horse.
He hath no delight in any man's legs :
But the Lord's delight is in them that fear Him,
In them that put their trust in His mercy.
'ntivhon Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem :
■ Praise thy God, 0 Sion !
For He hath made fast the bars of thy gates,
He hath blessed thy children within thee.
Who maketh peace in thy borders,
He filleth thee with the flower of wheat.
Who sendeth forth His commandment upon earth ;
His word runneth very swiftly.
Who giveth snow like wool ;
He tcattereth the hoar-frost like ashes.
222 THE DOOK OF PSALMS,
Who casteth forth His ice like morsels :
Who is able to abide His frost ?
He sendeth out His word, and melteth them :
He bloweth with His wind, and the waters flow.
Who showed His word unto Jacob,
His statutes and ordinances unto Israel.
He hath not dealt so with any nation :
Neither have (the heathen) knowledge of His laws.
Antiphviu Praise ye the Lord !
PSALM GXLVIIL
Antiphor. Praise ye the Lord !
J: EAISE the Lord, in the heavens,
Praise Him, in the height !
Praise Him, all ye angels of His,
Praise Him, all His hosts !
Praise Him, sun and moon,
Praise Him, all yo stars of light !
Praise Him, ye heaven of heavens,
And ye waters that are above the heavens !
Let them praise the name of the Lord ;
For He comm.anded, and they were created !
He hath made them fast for ever and ever :
He hath given them a law which shall not be broken
Praise the Lord, upon earth,
Ye dragons, and all deeps !
Fire and hail, snow and vapours,
Wind and storm, fulfilling His word !
Mountains and all hills,
Fruitful trees and all cedars,
Beasts and all cattle,
Creeping things, and fowls of the air ;
Kings of the earth, and all peoples,
Princes, and all judges of the world :
Young men and maidens,
Old men and children —
Praise the name of the Lord !
PSALM CXLIX. 223
For His name only is excellent,
Ilis praise above heaven and earth !
He will exalt the horn, of His people,
All His saints shall praise Him :
Even the children of Israel,
A people dear unto Him !
• Praise ye the Lord !
PSALM CXLIX.
Praise ye the Lord
vJ SING unto the Lord a new song,
(Sing to) His praise in the congregation of the saints !
Let Israel rejoice in Him that made him,
Let the children of Sion be joyful in their King !
Let them praise His name in the dance,
Let them sing psalms unto Him with tabret and harp :
For the Lord hath pleasure in His people,
He will give help to the meek-hearted.
Let the saints be joyful with glory,
Let them rejoice in their beds :
Let the praises of God be in their mouths,
And a two-edged sword in their hands,
To be avenged of the heathen,
And to rebuke the people :
To bind their kings with chains,
And their nobles with links of iron :
To execute on them the judgment written — •
" This honour have all His saints."
Antiphon. Praise ye the Lord !
224
TnE BOOK OF PSALMS,
Kpiplionon.
PSALM CL.
[An Antiphon.]
Praise ye the Lord !
PeAISE God in His holiness,
Praise Him in the firmament of His power !
Praise Him in His noble acts,
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness !
Praise Him Avith the sound of the trumpet,
Praise Him upon the lute and harp :
Praise Him with the cymbals and dances.
Praise Him on the stringed-instruments and pipes
Praise Him upon the well-tuned cymbals,
Praise Him upon the loud cymbals.
Let everything that hath breath
Praise the Lord !
Antiphon. Praise ye the Lord.
ESSAY I.
THE PSALMS OF DAVID RESTOEED TO DAVID.
I.
THE PSALMS OF DAVID KESTORED TO DAVID.
\JF the hundred and fifty psalms in the Book of Psalms exactly
one hundred have titles, and of these latter seventy-three are
assigned to David, and twenty-seven have other names attached.
As, therefore, about one half of the psalms are not attributed to
David, and some of them bear other names, commentators have,
in all ages of the Church, been permitted to assume that any of
the fifty psalms which are without titles may be by unknown
authors, and that they may have been written at various times.
As more and more learning and investigation have been made to
bear upon the subject, attention has been directed to peculiarities
of style in certain psalms, to supposed references to historical
events, to similarity to other psalms and to other portions of
Scripture ; and the result has been that many of the psalms which
bear the name of David are " proved " by this " internal evidence"
to be not by him ; till at last few or no psalms remain which by
the consent of all writers we can confidently assign to him whose
name they bear. Carried away by the great learning of these
writers, we have accepted their conclusions, and taken their argu-
ments as granted : so that now if any writer in the present day
ventures to express a contrary opinion, he is immediately refuted by
a reference to the dicta of these learned men. But this deference to
the assertions of these great writers has been too easily conceded :
and it is the object of the present essay to show that some of the
principal arguments relied on by them are not conclusive, while
others may be adduced of a contrary character : by which means
we shall come back to the old opinion, that, though some of the
psalms were probably written by other authors, the great bulk of
the psalms were written by David, and the book as a whole may
be justlv attributed to the royal psalmist.
q2
228 ESSAY I.
The Psalms are called the " Psalms of David," because the
greater part of them were supposed to be written by him, and
one half of them, as we have seen, bear his name. Some of them,
however, bear the names of his three directors of the choir, Asaph,
Heman, and Ethan ; some appear to be written by the sons of
Korah ; one bears the name of Moses ; two that of Solomon ;
while others have no name attached to them. But although these
names appear to the Psalms, it is by no means certain that they
represent the authors : for the same particle 7 le, which is attached
to them «nay be translated of, by, to, or for ; and thus we find the
word very properly rendered in the margin of our Bibles, with
this double interpretation, whenever it precedes any other name
than that of David. One example will explain this ambiguity.
In the heading of the eighty-eighth psalm we have — " A psalm
7 /or the sons of Korah, ^ to tlie chief musician upon Mahalath,
^ for antiphonal response, a song of instruction, 7 to or of Heman
the Ezrahite." It is therefore evident that the particle ^7 in front
of a name, as " a psalm 7 Asaph," does not necessarily prove that
the psalm was written bi/ Asaph, for it might have been written to
or for Asaph, as one of the three directors of the choir. This is
further evident from 1 Chron. xvi. 7, where we read that " David
delivered this psalm into the hands of Asaph and his brethren."^
On the other hand, it would appear from 2 Chron. xxix. 30, where
we are told that Hezekiah sang praises unto the Lord " in the
words of David and of Asaph the seer," that Asaph did compose
some psalms ; unless, indeed, as is probable, that in Hezekiah's
time these psalms were , attributed to Asaph simply from the
ambiguity of the particle "7 le. This Asaph, from being called a
seer, has been erroneously supposed to have been a different Asaph
to David's chief singer, and to have lived in the time of Hezekiah :
while others, from the mournful character of his psalms, have
placed him in the time of the Babylonian captivity. Kow if
Asapli is supposed to have lived at the time of the "Babyh)nian
captivity," the reference to an Asapli living in the time of Hezekiah
1 Haminond indoed objects from tliis very circumstance, tliat as Ps. xcvi.
cv. and cvi. arc not inscriVied "To Asajili," tl if re lb re the iuscrijition in other
psalms of C]DN^ cannot be taken to mean 'J'o Asaph, but Of Asaph. But
this objection is easily answered : for if tliese particular psahns do not bear
the in.-(ni|ition of "To Asapli," neither do tiny bear the inscription "Of"
or " ]iy David," although we arc informed of both these facts : for as the
absences ot David's name cannot disprove their being his, when we know
from 111 her authority tliat tliev were written by him ; so the al'sence of
Asa])li s name cannot disprove their lu-in;^ addressed to him, when wo learn
from the idjove jiassage that they were so addressed.
ASAPH.
229
is of no use to us. There was, indeed, an earlier Babylonian cap-
tivity, but this did not take place in the reign of Hezelciali, but in
that of his successor, Manasseh : besides which, we read only of
the king being taken prisoner. (2 Chron. xxxiii. 11.) It is true
that Israel was taken captive in the reign of Iloshea, (2 Kings
xvii, xviii.,) who was contemporary with Hezekiah : but then it
must be remembered that these kingdoms of Judah and Israel were
at continual enmity; and that only fifteen years before, 120,000
men of Judah were slain by the men of Israel, and 200,000 carried
away captive : (2 Chron. xxviii :) besides which, even the captivity
of Israel was five years after the occasion when Hezekiah ordered
" the psalms of David and of Asaph the seer " to be sung. As
regards Hezekiah, there was an Asaph whose name is connected
with his reign : but he is not called a seer, and we find but one
mention of his name ; it is when we are told that " Joah the son
of Asaph was Eecorder ; " (2 Kings xviii. 18, 37 ;) whose office pro-
bably his father Asaph had held before him : moreover, as his son
was contemporary with Hezekiah, it is possible that he himself
might then have been dead. As the name of Asaph, therefore, is
no authority for supposing that the psalm-writer of that name
lived in the time of Hezekiah ; — although we know from
Is. xxxviiii. 20, that Hezekiah wrote psalms or songs, or ordered
them to be written, for the service of the temple worship ; — so
we shall find that tlie title of seer given to Asaph in 2 Chron.
xxix. 30, is no autliority for supposing him to be a difi'ereut person
from David's chief singer. The three directors of the choir
appointed by David were Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun. Heman
is called a seer in 1 Chron. xxv. 5 ; and Jeduthun is called a seer
in 2 Chron. xxxv. 15. "What wonder then that Asaph also should
be a seer? Possibly they were of the school of the prophets,^ out
of wliich God was pleased to call up one from among the rest, to
give forth his prophecies, on particular occasions.'
If we have had to overcome difficulties in determining the indi-
viduality of Asaph, we have equal apparent difficulty respecting
that of Heman and Ethan, whose names are attached to Ps.
1 1 Sam. X. 5 ; xix. 20—24 ; 2 Kings ii. 3—15.
2 1 Kings XX. 35 ; 2 Kings ix. 1— 15. Some confirmation of this attribu-
tion to David or David's time, of the psalms whicli bear the name of Asaph,
arises from tlie peculiar structure of the epanodos, which naturally leads us
to suppose that all psalms in which we find this peculiarity were ^yritten by
the same author. Now, Ps. xxix. and xxx. were written by David, and it
is probable therefore that Ps. Ixvii. and Ixxvii., where we also find this
peculiarity, were likewise written by David, though one of these has no
title, and the other bears the name of Asaph.
230 ESSAY I.
Ixxxviii. and Ixxxix., and who arc called Ezrahites. Now it so
happens that in 1 Kings iv. 31, we read that Solomon "was wiser
than all men, than Ethan the Ezmhite, and lieman, and Chalcol,
and Darda, the sons of Mahol ; " ^ while in 1 Chron. ii. G, we find
that " the sons of Zerah (Judah's son) were Zimri, and Ethan, and
Heman, and Calcol, and Dara ; " who are called Ezrahites para-
gogically from Zerah their father. This has led the compiler of the
Book of Psalms to place these two psalms, Ixxxviii. and Ixxxix.,
next to Ps. xc, which is a psalm of Moses, and prior to his,
as being of greater antiquity : and so Athanasius and Eusebius
held them to be, notwithstanding the frequent mention of David's
name in Ps. Ixxxix., which is, of course, a proof to the con-
trary. The coincidence of these names is certainly very remark-
able : hut the internal character of the two psalms forbids us to
attribute them to an earlier period than that of David. If it be
objected, why then are lieman and Ethan called Ezrahites, when
we know from 1 Chron. vi. that they were Levites, and not de-
scended from Judah ; Asaph being descended from Gershon, the
eldest son of Levi ; Ilcman being the descendant of Kohatb, the
second son ; and Ethan being descended from jMerari, the youngest
son of Levi? — we might ask, Why is only Ethan called an Ezrahite
in 1 Kings iv. 31, and not Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda also?
This difficulty has led to various ways of accounting for the same ,
and Heman and Ethan have been supposed to be called Ezrahites,
not from family descent, but from some other cause. Good sup-
jwses the word to mean encircled with a chaplet, as a Laureate ;
Hengstenberg supposes Heman and Ethan to have been living
among the descendants of Zerah, Judah's son, and so bearing their
name ; and adduces instances of like effect ; - while Weiss also believes
them to be sojourners, as all the Levites were, and assigns this as the
reason, deriving the name from Ezrah, to sojourn. The Bishop of
Bath and Wells (Lord Arthur C. Hervey) suggests that " Heman
the Kohathite, or his father, (and of course we may suppose the
same of Ethan the IMerariite,) married an heiress of the house of
Zerah, as the sons of Hakkaz (1) did of the house of Barzillai, (see
Ez. ii. 61 ; Neh. vii. G3,) and was so reckoned in the genealogy
of Zerah, and was called after their name.''^* "Or it might
1 Mahol is supposed to be Zerah's wife.
2 "There are not wanting examples of Levites bciug spoken of as belon<]ring
to the family of whieh, in their eapaeity of citizens, they formed part. Thus.
Samuel the Levite, 1 Sam. i. 1, is called an Kphraimite ; and in .ludgesxvii. 7
there follows immediately after the words 'of the family of .ludah,' the remark,
' who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.' " (Ou I's. Ixxxviii.)
•^ Smith's Z>ic<. of tlie Bible, art. "Heman."
HEMAN AND ETHAN. 231
also be possible that Heman and Ethan wore properly of the
tribe of Judah, but on account of their gift of song were incor-
porated with the Lcvitical family of singers."^ Be this as it may,
there is no doubt that the Heman and Ethan whose names are
attached to these two psalms were the same Heman and Ethan
who were directors of the choir in the time of David. But here
we meet with a fresh difficulty : for while in 1 Chron. vi. 44, and
XV. 17, 19, the three chiefs or directors are called Heman, Asaph,
and Ethan ; in other passages, as in 1 Chron. xii. 41, 42 ; xxv. 1 ;
2 Chron. v. 12 j xxix. 13, 14; and xxxv. 15, they are called
Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun ; and in 1 Chron. xxv. 6, Asaph,
Jeduthun, and Heman. Ethan and Jeduthun are therefore identi-
cal ; and nothing is commoner in the Old Testament than for the
same person to have two names ; as Abram, Jacob, Solomon, and
Daniel had.^ Ethan, then, whose name signified strong, appears to
have had the name of Jed-Ethan, or Jeduthun, given him, signi-
fying, who giveth praise, because it was his duty to " prophesy with
a harp, to give thanks, and to praise the Lord." (1 Chron. xxv. 3.)
A further difficulty arises with regard to the name of Jeduthun,
— that although Ps. xxxix. is headed 7 To Jeduthun, Ps. Ixii.
and Ixxvii. are headed j/ Upon Jeduthun, as though it were the
name of some musical instrument. Some suppose the letter ]) to
have been inserted by copyists in mistake, others that some ellipsis
takes place here : but all are agreed that the true meaning is that
given by our translators — 2\i Jeduthun. Heman and Ethan, or
Jeduthun, being seers, it is possible that they may have written
these two psalms, as Asaph may have written others ; yet it seems
probable from the subject of the psalms that David was the author ;
and that, as he addressed some of his psalms 7 To the chief
musician ; '7 To Jeduthun ; ^ For the sons of Korah ; so in these
instances it may have been 7 To Heman ; 7 To Ethan.
■j<cln the same manner we may conclude that Ps. Ixxii. and cxxvii.
were addressed ^ To Solomon, and not By Solomon. So, in like
manner, it does not appear at all certain that the psalms which bear
the name of Asaph were composed by him. It is true that the com-
piler of the Book of Chronicles says that Hezekiah praised God in
the words of David and of Asaph the seer. But we must remember
that Hezekiah lived three hundred years after the time of David ;
and it is probable that the psalms bearing Asaph's name were attri-
buted to him in his reign, only for the same reason that they have
1 Ivn'pl. BlhJe Did., art. " Heman."
* See also numerous examples in the nuirgin of our Bible, iu the genealogies
giveu iu the First Book of Chronicles.
232 ESSAY I.
been attributed to him subsequently — because they have the particle
'j before Asaph's name, which, as we have seen, may be either by
or to. And only one hundred years after the time of Hezekiah
we find that all the book of the law was lost, and all knowledge of
God's AVord forgotten. (2 Chron. xxiv.) Moreover wo know that
David " delivered his psalms into the hands of Asaph and his
brethren," and that he " praised by their ministry." (2 Chron.
vii. 6.) "We have psalms To Jeduthun,^To the chief musician,
xl'or the sons of Korah : which of the psalms are we to put down
as "To Asaph," as "delivered into his hands" for the service of
song 1 Doubtless those which bear his name. It will thus be seen
that it is quite possible, and indeed probable, that David may have
been the author of psalms Avhich have other names attached to
them, and that they were merely delivered to them to be set to
music, for the arrangement of the solos, and for the chorus.
"We have said that the preposition le makes it probable that
Ps. Ixxii. and cxxvii. were addressed To Solomon, and not
written hy Solomon. Let us now examine these psalms, together
with Ps. xlv., " a song of the beloved," which also relates to Solo-
mon. On reading these psalms carefully, with the observations we
have made on the latter psalm, it will be evident that they were all
Avritten shortly before the death of David ; when, his life draAving
to a close, he summed up all God's gracious deliverances and mani-
fold blessings to him ; he thought of his son who was to succeed
him, according to God's promise ; and, according to that same
promise, of the Messiah who was to spring from his loins. He
poured out a prayer and prophecy on behalf of his son, in two of
these psalms, (Ixxii. and xlv.,) in the latter of which especially his
thoughts were often directed to the Messiah ; and he ends each
psalm with praise to God ; thus acknowledging God as the only
giver of all good.
Blessed he the Lord God, the God of Israel,
Whiuh only doeth wondrous lhin<;s :
And blessed he the name of His majesty for ever,
And let all the earth be hlled with His majesty.
Ameu, and Amen.
I will remember thy name
From generation to generation ;
Therefore shall the people give thanks unto Thee
For ever and ever.
And as Daedalus furnished wings for Icarus, and then cautioned
him how to use them, which caution was disregarded by his son :
so we find David giving the kingdom to Solomon, and cautioning
SOLOMON. 233
him in like manner : which caution was in like manner disrcL'arded,
so far as fidelity to God was concerned. In Ps. cxxvii. he
says —
Exce])t the T^onl build the lioiise,
Thfir Icibour is but lost that build it :
Except the Lord keep the city,
The watchman waketli but in vain.
And then, blessing his son in the words of Ps. Ixxii., he adds :
The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended. ^
With this agrees what we read in the Second Book of Samuel —
Now these be the last words of David : —
David the sou of Jesse said,
Aud the man wlio was raised up on high ;
The anointed of the God of Jacob,
And th(! sweet psalmist of Israel said :
The Spirit of the Lord spake by me,
And His word was in my tongue ;
The God of Israel said,
Tlie Kock of Israel spake to me—
2^othing can exceed the solemnity with which these words are
brought out. We expect Avhat he has to say to follow after every
one of the nine preceding lines ; but line follows after line, and
still it is delayed ; and at last we find that, instead of its proceed-
ing from David himself, it proceeds from the Spii'it of the Lord
speaking in him : it proceeds from God himself. Aud what are
these words 1 They are an injunction to him who is anointed
king, to rule in justice and righteousness ; followed by an assurance
of blessing and prosperity from God, if he does so : —
He that ruleth over men must be just.
Ruling in the fear of God.
And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun ariseth,
Even a morning without clouds :
As the tender grass springing out of the earth,
By clear shining after rain. (2 Sam. xxiii. 1 — 4.)
And now if we turn back to the seventy-second psalm, we see how
identical are the thoughts expressed. The psalmist begins by pray-
ing God to fill the heart of the king, and the king's son, with
righteousness and j udgment ; and then describes the blessings which
will follow. In each case David calls himself " David the son of
Jesse : " above he likens his son to the " tender grass springing out
^ Calvin also makes this verse apply to the psalm itself, not to the book.
234 ESSAY 1.
of the earth, by clear shining after rain ; " and in the psalm ho
describes him as " coming down like rain upon tlie moist grass,
even as the showers which water tlie earth : " in the history he
concludes by saying — " Now these be the last words of David the
son of Jesse," and he concludes the psalm by saying — " The prayers
of David the son of Jesse are ended."
If this reasoning be admitted, if these psalms were written of or
concerning Solomon, and not by tSolomon, then we must see that
the lamed is of no authority for supposing that where it is joineil
to the names of Asaph, P^than, lleman, or the sons of Korah in
certain psalms, it denotes that these psalms were written by them,
instead of being directed to them. f
Let us now see whether there is any authority for supposing
that the psalms which bear the name of " the sons of Korah "
w^ere written by them, instead of for them. The twelve psalms,
(xlii.^ — xlix., Ixxxiv. — Ixxxviii.,) in the inscriptions of which the
sons of Korah are referred to, will be found on examination to
accord perfectly with the various phases of David's life, and with
the various emotions of his heart : — now oppressed ; now pouring
out his thanksgivings to God ; now describing his personal indi-
vidual longing for God's sanctuary from which he is separated ; now
full of joyful exultation on behalf of Sion ; now cast down and
afflicted ; now trustful in God's help, and defiant and full of disdain
of all God's enemies ; now looking forward (as we have seen in Ps.
xlv.) with pride and pleasure to the thought of his son's succeeding
him, and prophesying of the Messiah who should come after him.
Some writers indeed have supposed all these psalms to be -written
by the Maccabees, but the general opinion has been that Ps. xliv.
belongs to the time of the 15abylonian captivity, and Ps. Ixxxv. to
the time of the return from that captivity.
Although David's choir of two hundred and eighty-eight singers
was divided into twenty-four lots of twelve singers each, represent-
ing the four sons of Asaph, the six of Jeduthun, and the fourteen
of Heman the descendant of Korah, we find that Asaph's choir,
which was in such a minority, outlived its rivals. Notwithstanding
the idolatries introduced by Solomon and his descendants, the
triple choir of Asaph, Jeduthun, and lleman, was still in being in
the reign of Jehoshaphat, n.c. 89G,- and even so late as the reign of
Ilezekiah, B.C. 72G.^ But one hundred years after this, in the
' Of the first psalms in this group, xlii., xliii., Dr. Kiiy says — "The
situation is that ot David in 2 Sam. xv. 25."
- 2 Chroii. XX. li). 3 2 Chrou. xxix. 12—14.
SONS OP KORAH. 235
reign of Josiah, b.c. 023, the choirs of Jeduthun and of the sons
of Korah liad disappeared,^ leaving only the choir of the sons of
Asaph. This was only thirty -five years before the captivity, which
happened in his son's time ; on returning from which, in the time
of Zerubbabel, B.C. 530, we find only the choir of the sons of
Asaph, '■^ which was still alone in the time of Nehemiah, B.C. 445,'
unless indeed the choir of Jeduthun had then revived, which is not
probable."* Thus we see that the choir of the sons of Korah had dis-
appeared for about two hundred years, and consequently that these
psalms could not have been written by the sons of Korah ^ during
or after the return from the captivity. We must go back, there-
fore, to the time of David : a conclusion which is confirmed by the
title of the eighty-eighth psalm, which is addressed " 'j For the sons
of Korah. 7 To the chief musician .... Maschil 7 Of Ilcman
the Ezrahite." A further objection has been noticed by De-
litzsch, who observes*': — "It is certainly remarkable that instead
of an author, it is always the family that is named." But the fact
just noted that one of those psalms bearing the name of the sons
of Korah is said to be by Heman the Ezrahite, shows that the
inscription must be read " To or for the sons of Korah." Other-
wise we might indeed wonder, if all these psalms had been by
the sons of Korah, that we have none by the sons of Asaph,
when we know that his descendants retained their office for
many generations ; especially when it is believed by these writers
that one of his most eminent descendants was inspired by God
to write psalms in the reign of Hezekiah. If it be still pressed
upon us that some of these psalms, especially the forty-fourth'' and
^ 2 Cliron. xxxv. 15. 2 ggra ii. 41, iii. 10; Neh. vii. 44.
^ Neh. xii. 35, 3(5. 4 Comp. Neh. xi. 17 and 22.
^ As for the psalins hearing the names of "the sons of Coreh, Eman,
Kthan, and Jednthun, it cannot be concluded that those psalms were com-
posed by them ; it being more probable that they were to be snng by them —
as of the sons of Coreh seems clear — or that it is upon some other account
that tl»cir names are there mentioned." Hammond, Annot. on Titles of Ps.
Delitzsch also shows how Ps. Ixxxv. and Ixxxvii., both of which bear the
name of tlie sons of Korah, "have points of contact" with Ps. Ixxxvi.,
which is by David ; and liow Ps. xlix., also bearing the same title, (sons of
Korah,) "in its didactic character harmonizes with the p.salms of the time of
David."
6 Bibl. Com. ii. 52.
'' " A series of expositors from Calvin to Plitzig have referred this psalm
to the times of the Maccabees." See this disyiroved by Hengstenberg.
Others, looking at the objections to this theory, attribute it to the time of
Jehoiakim or his S(jn Johoiachin, while others, as De Burgh, seeing these
dates fit in uo better, put it down as prophetical of the times of the early
236
ESSAY I.
eighty-fifth,^ refer to and mention a " captivity ;" we would answer
first, as we shall presently see, that there was a captivity in the
time of David ; and secondly, that the word m3ti* shcvooth does
not necessarily mean captivity in a foreign land;- and thirdly,
that such mention may he prophetical.
church. TIengstenborg, Kcil, Weiss, Delitzsch, Kay, and Bishop AVordsworth
concur in believing it to be David's. Hengstenbcrg directs attention to the
striking resemblance between ])assages in this psalm and others in Ps. Ix. ;
which are indeed so identical, that we may well conclude them both to have
been written when David "strove with Aram-JIaharaim and with Aram-
Zobah, when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the Valley of Salt twelve
thousand."
Ps. Ix. 1.
0 God, Thou hast cast us uff.
Thou hast scattered us abroad.
Vs. xYiv. 9—11.
But Thou hast cast tis off, and puttest
us to confusion,
And gocst not forth with our armies.
Thou makest us to turn our backs
upon our enemies,
So that they which hate us spoil our
goods.
Thou makest us to be eaten up like
sheep.
And hast scattered us among the
heathen.
verses 5 — 7.
Through Thee will we push down our
enemies :
Through Thy name will we tread
them tinder that rise up against us.
For I will not trust in my bow ;
It is not my sword that will help me :
But it is Thou that savest us from
our enemies,
And puttest them to confusion that
hate us.
^ Bishop Wordsworth, accejjting the arguments of Hengstenbcrg in the
following note as to the meaning of "captivity," ascribes this psalm to
David's time : — " In Ps. Ixx.xiv. tlic psalmist had expressed an intense desire
for restoration to God's favour and presence, and he had prayed to God for
his banished king—' Look on the iace of Thine anointed ! ' In the present
psalm we see that his prayer is granted."
2 Hengstenbcrg, in Ps. xiv. 7, adduces several passages to show that
" captivity " in the Bible is often put for atHictiou. "And the Lord turned
the captivity of Job." Job xlii. 10. "I turn myself to the captivity of
Jacob's tents." Jer. xxx. 18. "I will return to their captivity, the captivity
of Sodom and her daughters." Ez. xvi. 53. And he shows that the words
"cords," "bands," "prisoners," "darkness" are used ill like luauuer to
denote affliction of soul.
verses 11, 12.
0 be Thou our help in trouble ;
For vain is the help of man.
Through God we shall do great acts :
For it is He that will tread down our
enemies.
ANONYMOUS PSALMS. 237
We have now to consider the authorship of those psalms which
bear no name. Some of these we know to have been by David,
from the subject matter contained in them ; others contain extracts
from other psalms by David ; others are attributed to him by the
word of God, as Ps. xcvi., cv., and cvi., which are given in 1 Chron.
xvi. ; while eleven other psalms are attributed to David in the
Septuagint, and several Oriental MSS. Psalm xcvi. is attributed
to David by 8t. Paul. {Heb. iv. 7.) That Ps. x. is by David is
evident from its being a continuation of Ps. ix., as shown by the
alphabetical arrangement. That many of these anonymous psalms
were probably written by David, we have internal evidence to
show. It is in those cases where we find a striking similarity of
form and treatment between such psalms and others which bear the
name of David, and where such similarity has led to their being
placed together. Thus, as Ps. xxxii. ends with the antiphon —
Be glad and rejoice ??i the Lord, 0 ye righteous :
Shout for joy all ye that are true of heart !
we may conclude that the anonymous psalm which follows is also
by David, as it begins with the antiphon —
Shout for joy unto the Lord, 0 ye righteous !
For praise is comely to the true of heart :
thus forming an anadiplosis or epiploce. Again, as in Ps. ciii., by
David, we have —
The days of man are but as grass ;
For he flourisheth as a flower of the field,
we may conclude that the preceding anonymous psalm is also by
him, as we there find —
My heart is smitten down, and withered like grass,
So that I forget to eat my bi'ead.
My days are gone like a shadow
Aud 1 am withered like grass.
This similarity of thought and treatment in adjoinihg psalms has
been pointed out by many commentators. In Delitzsch, an impar-
tial evidence, as he does not deduce the same conclusion, we shall
find several instances of this ; thus leading us to acknowledge some
dozen psalms which appear anonymous to have been Avrilten by
238 ESSAY I.
David ; and this of course leads us to consider it as probable that
others were so likewise.^
1 Thus, of Vs. li. by David, he says — "The same depreciation of the external
saeriiice tliat is expressed in (the anonymous psahn) I's. 1. finds utterance in
Ps. li., whicli supph'mcntstlie former, according as it extends the spiritualizing
of the sacrifice to the oli'eriiig lor sin." In Ps. Ixv. — Ixviii. we have a group
of "psalm-songs." The first and last of this group are by David. Delitzsch
says — "This series, as is universally the case, is arranged according to the
community of i>rominent watchwords. In Ps. Ixv. 2 we read — ' To Thee is
the vow paid,' and in Ps. Ixvi. 13—' I will i)ay Thee my vows.' In Ps. Ixvi.
20 — 'Blessed be Elohim,' and in Ps. Ixvii. 8 — ' Elohim shall bless us.' Like
Ps. Ixv., Ps. Ixvii. also celebrates the blessing upon the cultivation of the
ground. As Ps. Ixv. contemplated the corn and fiuits as still standing in the
fields, so this psalm contemi)lates, as it seems, the harvest as aheady gathered
in, in the light of the redemptive history." " Is it not an admirably delicate
tact with which the collector makes the psalm-song Ps. Ixviii. follow upon
the psalm-song Ps. Ixvii. ? Ps. Ixvii. began with the echo of the benediction
which Moses puts into the mouth of Aaron and his sons ; Ps. Ixviii. with
a repetition of those memorable words in which, at the breaking up of the
camp, he called upon Jahve to advance before Israeh (Num. x. 35.)"
Ps. xcviii., which is anonymous, is almost identical with Ps. xcvi., which we
have shown to be by David. Ps. cii., which is anonymous, is between two
psalms bearing David's name. We have already shown the connexion
l)etween it and the latter psalm, and Delitzsch thus comjiares it with the
former — " Ps. ci. utters the sigh — 'When wilt Thou come unto me?' and
Ps. cii. has — 'Let my prayer come unto Thee.' Ps. ciii., by David, is
followed by another anonymous psalm. Ps. ciii. begins ' Bless, 0 my soul,
Jahve.' With these same words begins the anonymous psalm, Ps. civ. also,
in which God's rule in the kingdom of nature, as there in the kingdom of
grace, is the theme of praise ; and as there the angels are associated with it."
Ps. cvii. is anonymous, and it is_ followed by one by David. Of this latter
psalm Delitzsch says — "The ^115;* in v. 4, and the whole contents of this
psalm, is the echo to the -ll'in of the preceding psalm." Of the group
Ps. cxxi. — cxxv., the first and last and middle one are anonymous. Of
Ps. cxxii. Delitzsch says — "If by 'the mountains' in Ps. cxxi. the mountains
of the Holy Land are to be understood, it is clear for what reason the col-
lector placed this .song of degrees, which begins with the expression of joy
at the ]iilgrimngp to the house of Jahve, and therefore to the holy mountain,
immediately after the preceding .song. By its peace-breathing contents fNo
it touches close upon Ps. cxx.," another anonymous psalm. " Ps. cxxiii.
is joined to tln' pieceding psalm by tJie community of the divine n. me
'Jahve our Go»l. ' " Of Ps. cxxiv. he says— " The .statement 'the stream
had gone over nur soul ' of this fifth song of degrees, coincides with the
statement 'our r.oul is full enough' of the fourth : the two psalms also meet
in the synonymous new formations D''JV^^3 and CilT'T, which also look very
much as though they wore formed in allusion to contemporary history." Of
Ps. cxxv. he says^"The favourite word 'Israel' furnisheil the outward
occasion for annexing this psalm to the preceding. The situation is like
that in Ps. cxxiii. and cxxiv." Of Ps. cxxxiv. he .says — "Thep-salm begins,
like its predeces.sor, with the word ' Behold.' Tliere it directs attention to an
attractiv* phenomenon, here to a duty which springs from the office."
ANONYMOUS PSALMS. 239
There is one psalm, however, cxxxvii., which appears more than
any other to bear the stamp of a later date, by the direct allusion
to the Babylonian captivity. But even this, though highly pro-
bable, and however certain we may all feel in respect of it, is not
conclusive ; for when we consider how prophetical David's psalois
are of our Saviour, is it a great matter that the Babylonian cap-
tivity was also revealed to him ? If Abraham saw Christ nearly
two thousand years before llis advent, is it extraordinary that
David should do so one thousand years nearer to such event ? If
David saw by revelation the doings of Christ one thousand years
before it took place, is it extraordinary that he should foresee the
destruction of Jerusalem which occurred in less than half that period ?
If Isaiah (xxxix.) and Jeremiah (xxv.) prophesied of the Baby-
lonian captivity, and its duration for seventy years, and the return
from that captivity, without being considered by critics, from such
" internal evidence," as having lived after the event, may we not
equally suppose that David "being a prophet,' and "seeing this
before," (Acts ii. 30, 31,) may have prayed to God prophetically for
assistance, may have praised him prophetically for his subsequent
deliverance ? It is satisfactory to find at least one writer in the
present day doing justice to the power of prophecy. The reader
■will see in the note^ what De Burgh writes on this subject.
In Ps. xiv, and liii., both written by David, we find him
saying—
"Who will give salvation unto Israel, out of Sion?
When the Lord turneth the captivity of His people,
Then shall Jacob rejoice,
And Israel shall be glad.
Some German critics, it is true, followed by some English writers,
speak of " internal evidence " as proving that many of the psalms
which bear the name of David were written long after his time.
But leaving aside for the moment David's prophetical claim, we are
1 " As an instance of liow little of the directly prophetical character is
allowed to the Psalms, and how low a view is taken of their inspiration, it is
taken for granted that this psahn (cii. ) could not have been written by David,
because Jerusalem is spoken of as desolate in v. 14 ; and accordingly it, with
the many others in which there are like allusions, is referred, for no other
reason, to other authors, and to the time of the Babylonish captivity ....
And even the mention of the 'Sanctuary' and the 'House of the Lord' in
other psalms has been by some considered conclusive of the same fact,
because the Temple was not erected in David's time ! " (De Burgh, Com-
tnentary on the Book of Psalms, 1860, i. 9.) Although it was only a taber-
nacle before the time of Solomon, we find it spoken of as the " Jt^use of the
Lord " in Josh. vi. 24, and 2 Sam. xii. 20.
240 ESSAY I.
not sure that all these descriptions of the desolation of Jerusalem
and its captivity refer to the Babylonian captivity ; for what can
be more positive on this ground, with the exception of the mention
of Babylon, just referred to, than the following 1 —
Deliver us, 0 Lord our God,
Aud gather us from ainonj^ the heathen ;
Tliat we may give tlianks unto Thy holy name,
Aud make our boast of Thy praise. (Ps. cvi. 47.)
"Who would not attribute this prayer to the period of the Baby-
lonian captivity 1 And yet we find that it was written by David,
when he brought up the ark of the covenant to Mount Zion,
(1 Chron. xv.) So again, when we read —
He delivered Plis strengtli into captivity,
And His glory into tlie enemy's hands :
He gave His people also to the sword.
And He was wroth with His inheritance :
The fire consumed their young men,
And their maidens were not given in marriage :
Their priests were slain with the sword,
And their widows made no lamentations ; (Ps. Ixxviii. 62 — 65 ;)
who would not attribute this terrible picture of captivity for those
who escaped fire and sword, to the same sad occasion ? And yet
we find that it relates to the time of Saul : for God's selection of
David is mentioned afterwards. So again, when we read —
0 be favourable and gracious unto Sion,
Build Thou the walls of Jerusalem ; (Ps. li. 13 ;)
might we not from this " internal evidence " suppose that Jerusalem
had been laid waste by the Babylonians, and that the captive pro-
phet prayed for a return to the Holy Land, and for the rebuilding of
its waste places 1 But may we not equally suppose ^ that David
put up this prayer when he had taken the city of the Jebusites, and
making it the city of his God, called upon God to assist him while
he " built round about, from Millo and inward ] " (2 Sam. v. 9 ;)
which building of the walls occupied David all his life-time ; for
they were not completed till after his death : for '' Solomon built
^ "The jtrajQT Build Thou /hr wall.i of Jrrusnlnn, is not inadmissible in
the mouth of David : since n33 signifies not merely to build up what has
been thrown down, but also to go on and finish building wliat is in the act
of being built ; as in Ps. l}rttxix. 4." Delitzsch, Bib. Com. ii. 142.
DAVIDIC rSALMS. 241
Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father."
(1 Kings xi. 27.)
Carried away by the weight of their supposed "internal evidence,"
these critics find it necessary to dismiss the Superscriptions as being
worthy of no credit, for these superscriptions attribute psalrus to
David which they in their wisdom pronounce emphatically to be
not by him. Thus in the verses which we have quoted from two
psalms, each of which bears the name, of David, —
Who will give salvation unto Israel out of Sion ?
Wlien the Lord turneth the captivity of His pcojilc —
these critics allege that this can refer only to the Babylonian cap-
tivity : but may we not equally suppose it to have been written by
David, wlien we remember that the land of Israel was in subjection
to the Philistines during all the reign of Saul 1 In the second
year of his reign we find him raising, evidently with difficulty,
three thousand men to free his country from its enemies ; but no
sooner did the Philistine trumpet blow, than the Israelitish army
vanished into air, and the people " hid themselves in caves, and in
thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits ; " so that
only six hundred men remained with him, and these six hundred,-
with the exception of Saul and Jonathan, were entirely unarmed.
And though subsequently he threw off the yoke, yet there was
" sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul," and at last,
after nearly forty years' reign, he and three of his sons were slain
in battle, and the whole nation " forsook their cities and fled, and
the Philistines came and dwelt in them." And when, after such
calamity, David on ascending the throne established himself on
every side, so that, instead of being subject to the Philistines, he
annexed their country', together with those of the Ammonites, the
Edomites, the Moabites, the Hagarenes, the Amalekites, and the
Syrians, we may well conceive his adding —
Then shall Jacob rejoice,
And Israel shall he glad.
Again, in the sixty-ninth psalm we read —
For God will save Sion, and build the cities of Judah,
That men may dwell there, and have it in possession.
The i)osterity also of His servants shall inherit it,
And they that love His name shall dwell therein.
Now, not only does this psalm bear the name of David, not only
does St. Peter affirm it to be written by him, (Acts i. IG — 20, re-
ferring to V. 25 of this psalm,) but it contains as many, and as
R
242 ESSAY I.
distinct and detailed prophecies of Christ, as the twenty-second
psalm, which also hears tlio name of David. It is irapossihlo to
conceive of any otlier than David thus prophesying of Christ : and
indeed we ought to be very careful how we do anything to question
the autJKjrship of these prophecies. Sceptics first question the authen-
ticity of some of the books of the New Testament, from alleged
" internal evidence," and then deny the doctrines which they con-
tain. We do not, of course, call these sceptics who have written on
the Psalms of David, for they are all learned, laborious, careful, and
pious Christian men, whose works one cannot read without instruc-
tion, profit, and admiration : but we do think that system dangerous
by which, through the plea of " internal evidence," some of these
writers dismiss the Superscriptions as being worthy of no credit ;
ignore the assertions of Apostles as to the authorship of the Psalms;
divide some psalms into two parts, pretending that David might
indeed have written a portion of such p'^alms, but that somebody
else wrote the other portion ; and affirm that in those psalms which
they acknowledge to have been written by him, where any passage
occurs which seems prophetical of the Captivity, such passage was
added afterwards : and there is no doubt that such method of
handling Holy Scripture is highly suggestive to those who are
sceptics; and we feel no doubt that much of the rationalism
which exists in Germany has arisen from the over-straining of this
so-called " internal evidence."
We have seen that Asaph, whose name appears in the superscrip-
tion of many of the psalms, must be the Asaph whom David made
one of the chief directors of his choir : and we have shown the
high probability that all these psalms were written by David, and
" delivered into the hands of Asaph and his brethren." We must
therefore suppose that the detailed descriptions which we have in
two of these psalms, Ixxiv. and Ixxix., were written prophetical/ y,^
the more especially as some of the particulars are said to accord
more with the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, than with
any other event.^ We have already shown by an examination of
Ps. xliv., which is addressed, " For the sons of Korah," the pro-
bability which exists of attributing that psalm to the author of
Ps. Ix., which we know to be by David : let us now compare
this same psalm, Ix., with one of those just mentioned addressed to
' The Clialdee says of the seventy-ninth psahn that it was "on the destruc-
tion of the liouse of the sanctuary," and that the psalmist "spake by the
spirit of ]>ropliecy." Hammond, Annot. on Ps. Ixxiii.
« Phillips, Ps. in heb. ii. 162.
DAVIDIC PSALMS.
2-13
Asaph, and we shall see ground for supposing that these also were
written by the same person : —
Ps. Ix. 1.
0 God, Thou fuist cast us off,
Thou liast scattered us abroad.
V. 4.
Tliou liast given a banner to such as
fear Thee ;
To he displayed because of the truth.
V. 5.
Therefore shall Thy beloved be de-
livered :
Save with Thy right hand, and hear
me.
Ps. Ixxiv. 1.
Why, 0 God, hast Thou cast us of
for ever !
Why is Thy wrath so liot against the
sheep of Thy pasture !
V. 4.
Thine adver.saries roar in the midst
of Thy congregations :
They ii/t up thHr banners for token.s.
V. 11.
Why withdrawest Thou Thy hand,
even Thy right hand '!
Why withdrawest Thou it not from
Tliy bosom to consume them ? *
So again, if we compare this psalm, Ixxiv. with Ps. xliv., we
shall see a striking similarity between them : —
Ps. xliv. 9, 23—26.
But Thoxi, hast cast its off, and puttest
us to confusion,
And goest not forth with our armies.
Arise, 0 Lord, why sleepest Thou !
Awake, and cast as not off for ever.
Wherefore hidest Thou Thy face, and
forgetlcst orir misery and trouble !
Arise, and help us.
And deliver us for Thy mercy's sake !
Ps. Ixxiv. 1, 22, 23.
Why, 0 God, hast Thou cast its off for
ever !
Why is Thy wrath so hot against tlie
sheep of Thy pasture !
Arise, 0 Go I: maintain Thine own
cause :
Kemember how the foolish man blas-
I)hemeth Thee daily.
Forget not the voice of Thine enemies:
The tumult of them that hate Thee
increaseth more and more.
Thus we see that these three psalms, which bear such a striking re-
semblance to each other, and which we have compared together in
every way, Ps. xliv. with Ps. Ix. ; Ps. Ix. with Ps. Ixxiv; and Ps. xliv.
with Ps Ixxiv. ; and which bear the names of David, Asaph, and
the Sons of Korah ; — must have been written, or rather, were in all
probability Avritten by one and the same person, and that this
psalmist could have been no other than David.
Another of the psalms bearing the name of Asaph, Ixxxiii.,
mentions "Assur," as though it were written after the time of
^ In like manner we might compare the prayer for help in v. 2 of the
former to that of v. 3 of the latter ; and tlie ascription of power ia w.
6 — 8 of the former to what we find in vv. 13—15 of the latter.
R 2
214 ESSAY I.
Sennacherib : but if we examine the psalm we shall find that all
the nations there mentioned were the nations which Pavid himself
subdued, as the Edomites, the Ishmaelites, the Ammonites, the
Moabites, the Amalekites, and the Philistines : and though we find
all these nations mentioned in subsequent history, we do not find
all these at any time combining together against the children of
Israel. Assur may have given secret help to some of these petty
nations in the time of iJavid, which indeed the words "have
holpen " eeem to suppose ; but Assyria was too great a country to
be mentioned in this secondary manner afterwards.
The eighty-fifth psalm commences —
Lord, Thou art bpcome favourable to Thj' land,
Thou hast turned again the captivity of Jacob.
But this psalm is addressed to the Sons of Korah, and therefore
evidently in David's time ; for, independently of what we have
already advanced, it would be preposterous to suppose that twelve
psalms were written by the sons of Korah collectively : and the
restoration from captivity would refer to that which took place im-
mediately after the death of Saul.
We have now, we believe, but three psalms remaining which
speak of the desolation of Sion, and the captivity of her people —
cii., cxxvi., and cxxxvii. The former of these, Ps. cii., has a peculiar
superscription ; and as all the other historical siiperscriptions refer
to David, it is probable that this one does so also : and we have
already seen what De Burgh says of this psalm against those who
deny David to be the author : ^ Hengstenberg also speaks of the
" Davidic character which it bears " throughout : the other two
have no name or superscription, and as they abound in minute
particulars, the latter one especially mentioning Babylon by name,
we are justified in attributing these psalms, if we think fit, to the
Babylonian captivity : but even here we must not be too positive :
for if we make no allowance for metaphor, or poetical license, or
(Oriental hyperbole, many of thes(^ particulars will be found no
exaggeration of the miserable state of the country at the death of
Saul, which we have already depicted. Take for instance the
hundred and twenty -sixth psalm : —
• When the Lord turned the captivity of Sion,
Then were we like unto them that dream :
Then was our mouth filled with lau<^hter,
And our tongue with joy.
' See note, p. 239.
DAVIDIC PSALMS. 245
Then said tlu-y among the heathen —
" The Lord hath done great things for them."
Tlie Lord Jutlk done great things tor us !
Whereof we rejoice.
Moreover, do we not see a striking resemblance between this
passage and that which we have already quoted from Ps. xiv. and
liii., written by David : —
Who will give salvation unto Israel out of Sion ?
Wiien the Lord turneth the captivity of His people,
Tlien shall .Jacob rejoice,
And Israel shall be glad.
But let US carefully guard against expecting to find exact accordance
in historical events with the particulars mentioned in the Psalms,
many of which we know to be prophetical. Who shall explain
the meaning of the gall and vinegar, the piercing of hands and feet,
the parting of garments, and casting lots upon the vesture, the dead
body not being left in the grave, and being InGapable of corruption,
the ascension on high, and receiving gifts for men, and leading
captivity captive, the being a priest for ever after the order of
lUelchisedek/^ If then we tiud so many minute particulars pro-
phesied of Christ, Avhich are incapable of application to any histori-
cal circumstance relating to David or his successor.'^, may we not,
ought we not, to believe that equally minute particulars would be
propliesied of the destruction of Jerusalem, and the captivity of
its people ?
To say nothing of Olshausen and Hupfeld, who do not attribute a
single psalm to David ;^ or of Ewald and others who give him
but fourteen out of the seventy-three which bear his name ; or of
Hitzig who assigns all those after Ps. Ixxii. to the Maccabees,^ let
us examine the chronolouical arraut;ement of one of these German
^ See tlie author's chain of David's prophecy of Christ, in David's Vision.
1872.
2 " If there are any, as St. Augustine saith there are, De Civit. Dei, xvii.
14, which would allow David to be the author of none of those psalms which
were inscribed ipsi David in the dative case, they of all others are most
worthy refuting, there being, no other form of mentioning David in any of
the psalms, but that of '^)'\?, which is by the Latin indifferently rendere
sometimes Fsalnius David, sometimes ipsi David ; who yet, if we will believe
our Saviour, Luke xx. 42, was the author of some of them." — Hammond,
An7wt. Tit. of the Ps.
* Maccabean psalms are contested by Geseuius, Hengstenberg, Havemick,
Keil, Ewald and others.
24<> ESSAY I.
writers of the new scliool, (" Higher Criticism school,") Ewald, wliich
has been given to the Englisli reader by some able writers under the
signature of "Four Friends."^ In this arrangement the superscrip-
tions are ignored, and consequently Mosi^s is ignored as the author
of Ps. xc; and the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul are ignored, who
attribute Ps. xvi., Ixviii. and Ixix. to David; and our Lord Him-
self is ignored in those wonderful prophecies of Him contained in
-Ps. ii., xxii. and Ixix. j^ though conipen.'^ation is supposed to be
made by chapters relating to the Jews' expectation of a Messiah.
It is no wonder then tliat out of the seventy-three p.*alms ascribed
ito David in the superscriptions, and twenty-four addressed to his
1 precentors, only fourteen psalms and three verses from two other
psalms are given to him in this chronological arrangement. If our
readers will take the trouble to compare the chronological arrange-
ments of any two such writers, say of Weiss, Ewald, Hitzig,
Townsend,-'^ Good or Hibbard, they will see how utterly discordant
and unreliable all such arrangements are, and how they necessarily
tend to unsettle God's Holy Word,
Proof by " internal evidence " of later authorship has also been
adduced by reference to the alleged frequent occuirence of Chal-
daisms : but this has been disputed by various writers.* Besides
* The PsalniH chronologically arranged. By Four Friends, 1867. — Although
we object to this which we think rationalistic tendency of the arrangement, we
cannot but admire the care and religious spirit with which this work is written,
the interesting liistorical introiluction to eacli psalm, and esj)ccially tlie
ingenuity with which the alphabetical psalnia are exhibited. For other
attempts at acrostic rendering, see Delitzsch, Commenfar iibcr den Psalter ;
Ewalil, Die Dichler des alien Bundes ; Dr. W. Binnie, The I'sahns ; Dalmaii
Hapstone, The ancient Psalms in appropriate metres.
* If one set of writers den}"^ all reference to our Lord in the Book of
P.salms, and if others were to do tlio .same in the Book of Isaiah, we should
not have much left of ancient propliecy to prove the divinity of our Lord,
notwithstanding that He said — " S(>arcli tlie Scri)itures, for .... they are
they whii.'h testify of Me ;" and "all tilings must be fulfilled whicli were written
in the law of Moses, and in the I'roiihet5, and in tlie Psalms, concerning Me."
* Townsend attributes Ps. cii. to Daniel, quoting as an authority Dan. ix.
27, though what it has to do with the psalm we cannot make out. Neither
can we see what the personal aflliction and misery described in vv. 3 — 11 of
the psalm, or the "shortening of days " in vv. 11 and 23, have to do with the
constant prosperity and regal state of Daniel, who must have been between
eighty and nim^ty years of age when he died. Hengsteiiberg btdieves the
fourth and fiftii books to be in chronological order. Com. iii. ]>. xl.
* " These Chaldaisms consist merely in the substitution of one letter for
another very like it in .shajie, and easily to be mistaken by a transcriber,
particularly by one who had been used to the ("halilue idiom." " The occur-
rence of an apparent Chaldaism in this jisalm (exxii.) has induced some
critics to assign it to a later period. Little dependence, however, is to be
DAVIDIC PSALMS. 247
which, wo must never forget tlie tendency which always exists
among later copyists in transcribing, to make tlie spelling conform-
able to the custom of the day.
Another proof by " internal evidence " of late authorship is
adduced from supposed ruggedncss of style in early productions, as
in those of David, and from a soft flowing one in later. But these
critics forget to mention that this diversity of style occurs in works
by the same autlior, especially in poetry, wliere in one case he wishes
to describe something sad or terrible, and in another something
joyous. If a ruggedness of style characterizes many of David's
j)salnis, what shall we say to the soft, melodious, tender character
ot Ps. xxiii., which by " an almost universal feeling " has been attri-
buted to the sweet psalmist of Israel 1 or why indeed should he be
called the '^ siveet psalmist of Israel," if his compositions are always
of a rugged character 1 So, when we consider the vicissitudes of
David's life, we may well suppose that some of his psalms would
placed upon apparent marks of tliis kind. These indications are very slight
in the Psalms, and may easily be accounted for by the alteration in the tran-
scrijjt of the older Scri|)tures, probably without design, by the later Jews,
in the instance befon; us, however, it appears very evident that tlie supposed
("haldaism is an ancient tliough rarely used Hebrew idiom. It occurs not
only iu the P)ook of Judges .... but in Job .... in Eccles in
f'ant It is not a mere poetical license, but an ancient and established
idiom, as the above passages ought to prove : unquestionably one of the age
of Kolomon." "Dr. Kenuicott, in sjteaking of this psalm, observes that
the internal marks of several of the following jisalms, particularly Vs. cxxiii.
and cxxxvii., will make it probable that this abbreviation is the work of a
later age, and at least as recent as the Captivity : but the same abbreviations
occur in the Books of Judges and of Job." (Jebb, Lit. Transl. 1846, i. 270 ;
ii. 300, 307.)
"The fact, however, that these Chaldaisms, as they are called, occur in
psalms undoubtedly composed by David, and in the earlier books of Scripture,
shows how rash is the criticism which on this ground only would deny to
many psalms his authorsliip, and assign them to a later date." "The use
of the prefix here, (Ps. cxxii. 3, 4,) has been urged as a decisive proof that
tlie Hebrew of this psalm is of a later age than David's ; notwithstanding
the fact that it occurs frequently as early as the Book of Judges . . . . "
— Ps. cxl. 3. "In qualification of the assertion that this .... is an exclu-
sively Chaldee word, it i.s to be observed that it occurs in l^eviticus, chs "
— v. 5. "There is not a worrf," &c. " This occurs before in Ps. xix. 5, in
2 Sam. xxiii. 2, and in Prov. xxiii. 9 : whence not a mere Chaldaism."
— Ver. 20. " Only once besides in this sense, 1 Sam. xxxviii. 16, which, how-
ever, again disjiroves the assertion that it is an exclusively Chaldee word."
(De Burgh, Com. ii. 903, 953-955.) See also liis comment on Ps. cxvi. 7.
I'erowne thinks it possible that "the tendency to Aramaisms is to be regarded
as evidence of a variation merely of dialect, perhaps the dialect of northern
Palestine." Bk. of Ps., Ps. cxxxix.
See Dr. Margoliouth's opinion iu note, p. 277.
248
ESSAY I.
be written in a joyful, some in a trustful, some in a mournful, and
some in a dej'?cted style.^ Besides, if a rough, unpolished style is
a proof of anti<mity, how is it that we find this characteristic in the
writings of Ezokiel, who prophesied in the time of the Captivity ?
Another proof by "internal evidence" of later authorship is
alleged from the supposed resemblance of phrases in certain psalms
to the style of Isaiah, Jeremiah, or later prophets ; but may we not
equally, or rather, far more justly sujipose that such coincidences of
style or phrase prove that these later prophets borrowed from
David,- just as we see that David in his time copied occasionally
from iMoses, and other earlier poets. Take, for instance, the
following : —
Muses' Song.
The Lord is my strength and my
soi'S,
And He is become my salvation.
Thy right hand, 0 Lord, is become
glorious in power :
Thy right hand, () Lord, hath lashed
in piecej) the enemy.
Exod. XV. 2, 6.
David's Psalm.
The Lord is my strength and my
song,
And is become n»y salvation.
The right hand of the Lord doeth
valiantly.
The right hand of the Lord is exalted,
The right hand of the Lord doeth
valiautlj'. Ps. cxviii. 14 — 16.
Deborah's Song.
Lord, when Thou wentest out of Soir,
When Thou wentest out of the field
of Edom,
The earth trembled, and the heavens
drop{)ed,
The clouds also dro]>ped water.
The mountains melted from before
the Lord,
That Sinai from before the Lord God
of Israel. Judges v. 4, 5.
David's Psalm.
0 God, when Thou wentest forth
before the people,
When Thou wentest through the
wilderness,
The eartii shook, the heavens also
dropped, at the presence of God :
Even Sinai itself was moved at the
presence of God, the God of Israel.
P.S. Ixviii. 7, 8.
^ " In the didactic psalms of David we meet with a style differing from that
of his other psalms ; and where the doings of the ungodly are severely
rebuked we find a harsher and more concise mode of expression, and a duller,
heavier tone." (Delitzscdi, Bib. Com. Ps. xlix.) "The same David wlio writes
elsewhere so beautifully, tenderly, and clearly, is able among his manifold
transitions to rise to an elevation at which his words as it were roll along
like rumbling thunder through the gloomy darkness of the clouds, and more
especially where they supplicate, or predict, the judgment of God." {lb. on
Ps. Iviii.)
* See this advocated by Delitzsch, relative to Ps. xxxi. ; and in Ps. Ixxvii.
relative to the supposed priority of Habakkuk. See also Perowne on Ps. Ixxix.
SUPERSCRIPTIONS OF THE PSALMS.
249
Hannah's Song.
He raisuth up the poor out of tlie
(lust,
He littetli up tlie beggar from the
dunghill,
To set them among princes,
And to make tJiera inherit the throne
of glory :
For the pillars of the earth are the
Lord's,
And He hath set the world upou
them. 1 Sam. ii. 8.
David's Psalm.
Who raiseth the poor from the dust.
And liftcth the needy from the
dunghill.
That lie may set him with the
princes.
Even with the princes of His people.
Ps. cxiii. 7, 8.
The earth and all the inhabitants
thereof are dissolved :
I bear up the pillars of it.
Ps. Ixxv 3.
Wandcrivij in the Desert.
When the ark set forward, Moses
said —
Rise up, Lord, and let Thine enemies
be scattered :
Let them also that hate Thee flee
before Thee. Num. x. 35.
David's Psalm.
Let God arise, and let His enemies be
scattered :
Let them also that hate Him flee
before Him ! Ps. Ixviii. 1.
As well might we suppose from this "internal evidence" that
Moses and Deborah and Hannah lived after the time of David !
We have seen that it is the fashion of modern critics, since the
appearance of Vogel's Inscript Psal., to dismiss the Superscriptions
as being worthy of no credit. Let us examine their validity. One
objection is made to their genuineness from the fact that those in
the Septuagint and in some Oriental versions do not agree with
those in the Hebrew ; but equal objection might be made that the
headings in our Eibles, giving the contents of the psalm or chapter,
are not authorized. Hso doubt, later translators ancl editors of God's
Word, as the " Seventy," put new headings, as they thought they
were justified, and sometimes apparently from mere caprice. While
the Seventy ascribe psalms to Haggai and Zechariah, the Chaldee
attributes the eighty-eighth to Abraham ! and in Ps. xcvi., which
has no title in the Hebrew, although the occasion of writing it is
given us by the author of the Book of Chronicles, — the Seventy,
and all the Oriental translators, affixed as title — " When the house
was built after the Captivity — a Song of David." There is no
doubt this psalm was used then, in consequence of its having been
composed by David, and used by him on the occasion of bringing up
the ark to INfount Sion; just as on the death of Judas Maccabeus his
brothers buried him, lamenting over him, " How is the mighty man
fallen! "thus adapting David's lamentation over Saul and Jonathan,
" How are the mighty fallen ! " But this fact shows that the titles
250 ESSAY I.
in the Greek and Oriental versions being written later, are not to be
put in opposition to those of the Hebrew.
Another objection is made to them because they do not always
appear to correspond with the subject-matter of the Psalms : and
accordingly they have been set aside as worthless, and adjudged to
be the comment merely of the compiler. But surely this is not
sound reasoning. Were these headings written by subsequent
annotators, they would have made them lit with the subject of the
psalms : and the desire to find out the occasions when the several
psalms were written would have led them, as it has led many
modern commentators, to fix the occasions, and to put headings to
every psalm : instead of which we find only thirteen such incidents
specified. Moreover, let us look at three such occasions. The third
psalm is said to have been written when David " Hed from Absalom
his son," and on the same occasion was written the seventh psalm,
" when he sang unto the Lord concerning the words of Cush the Ben-
jamite." But if we were to write fresh headings to the Psalms, we
should probably select for this occasion the tlurli/jijVi, where he calls
upon God to plead his cause, and to fight against those that fought
against him, and to punish his adversaries ; where he complains of
the false charges of 8himei, and contrasts his own patience under
injury ; — or the forty-second and forty third, where his enemies
taunt him with " Where is now thy God 1 " — or the sixty-ninth,
where he also complains of the reproaches of the wicked, notwith-
standing his own innocence ; — or the seventy-first, where he calls
upon God to deliver him from the cruel and wicked man, and where
he speaks twice of his own great age ; — or the eiyhty-ninth, where
he speaks of his own abasement, and of the reproaches of his
enemies.
Again, if we were required to select a psalm suitable for the
" dediciition of the house of David," the subject of Ps. xxx., we
should probably select the sixteenth, where he says, " The lines are
fallen unto me in pleasant places : yea, I have a goodly heritage ;"
— or the sixty-first, where he again speaks of having the heritage of
those who fear God's name; — or the hundred and first, "wheie he
lays down rules for the management of his house, and for the
selection of his servants ; — or the hundred and twelfth, where he
shows the blessedness of those who fear the Lord, and how God
giveth to His saints — power, hojiour, riches, blessing, light in dark-
ness, calmness in times of trouble, and everlasting remembrance
after death ; — or the hundred and twenty-first, where he shows liow
God is his keeper and preserver from all trouble ; — or the hundred
and twenty-seventh, where he shows that, "Except the L'ud build
SUPERSCRIPTIONS OF THE PSALMS. 251
the house, their labour is but lost tliat build it," and how all efforts
and all industry are vain without God's help ; — or the hundred and
twenty- eighth, where he describes the domestic blessedness of the
cjodly j — or the hundred and forty -Jifth, where he praises God for all
His goodness, and for His constant providence.
Again the fifty-first psalm is said to have been written " when
Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-
sheba." How natural would it have been for the compiler, had he
written the titles, to give the same title to all the other so-called
" Penitential Psalms."
Now if, in the cases we have mentioned, these three titles had
been given to all these psalms, we should have held, were we to
adopt the reasoning of these critics, that all such titles were
genuine : whereas, from this not being the case, we ought to
conclude that the titles, where they do occur, not being placed
perhaps where we should place them, are for that very reason
more likely to be genuine : for although we are told the occasion
when any such psalm was written, we are not told what were the
feelings and thoughts of the psalmist under such occasion. Critics
might expect to find the actual mention of the names of Doeg, of
Shimei, of Achish, or of Joab, in the psalms which refer to these
several persons, and detailed circumstances connected with them ;
but the divine psalmist, in the midst of his personal suffering,
thinks chiefly of God, and of God's people, and strives to make his
psalm useful to God's church to the latest posterity. He general-
izes his subject therefore, and instead of dwelling on his own
personal events, he allows his heart to soar upwards to God, and
to give expression to thoughts far removed from things of this
life.
Instead therefore of adopting the conclusion of those who hastily
consider that the apparent want of connection between the titles of
several of the psalms and the subject-matter of such psalms is a
proof that such titles were written afterwards, and on insufficient
grounds ; we ought rather, as we say, to conclude that the titles are
for that very reason genuine. But to this negative evidence we
can add some positive evidence ; for one such title we can prove to
have been given by David. It is that of the eighteenth psalm ; for
we find this title given at length in 2 Sam. xxii., a book which is
supposed to have been written by the prophets Gad and Nathan.
We may also assume this to be the case from the Superscription of
Ps. xxxiv., which Hupfeld maintains has been blindly taken from
1 Sam. xxi. 14. But this, as Delitzsch observes, cannot be the
case : " for the psalm does not contain any express reference to that
252 ESSAY I.
incident in Philistia." The compiler, had he added the superscrip-
tion, wouhl never liave thought of this incident, for there is nothing
in the psahu to suggest it : and if he had, ho would have inserted
the name Achish, as given in Samuel ; instead of which he gives the
name Abimelech, the title of the Philistine kings. It is objected,
indeed, that in another case where the psalm is given in duplicate,
(1 Chron. xvi.,) the supposed title of Ps. cvi., "Praise ye the
Lord," does not appear.^ In the hrst place, however, we think it
evident that what we find in the Book of Chronicles was not com-
posed from the three psalms in the Book of Psalms ; for we are told
that " Then on that day David delivered jirst this psalm to thank
the Lord : " but rather that this psalm was subsequently elaborated
by David into the three psalms ; and secondly, that it is not at
all certain that the words " Praise ye the Lord " form a title,
although Phillips asserts it to be the case in all the Hallelujah
psalms.'^ In Ps. cxi., cxii., cxxxv., cxlviii., cxlix., and cl. the
words may form a title, though perhaps they are only an antiphon :
but in some other instances it is quite clear that they form part of
the psalm itself. Thus in Ps, cxvi. we have —
Praise ye the Lord :
Praise ye the Lord, 0 my soul !
and in the following psalm —
Praise ye the Lord :
*D For it is a good thins; to sing psalms unto our God :
^3 For it is a joyful and pleasant thing to sing praises.
But even if we were to give up both these points, and suppose that
the chronicle was written after the psalms, and that the words" Praise
ye the Lord " constituted a title, even then the insertion of such a
title was unnecessary ; for the historical narrative itself states that
David gave this psahu "to thank and to praise the Lord," and the
psalm as there given being composed, as Phillips and others
suppose, of portions of three psalms, " so making together a poem
adapted to the particular occasion," ^ and Ps. cvi. being the last
portion, it would have broken the continuity of the composition, if
the titles (if any) of the two psalms which came last had been
introduced.
We may therefore conclude from the proof of the title of Ps.
xviii., that all the titles are genuine,"* and this conclusion is rendered
' Pliillips, Th^: Psabiis in Ueb. Introd. p. xli.
2 lUitl. ii. 379. ^ Ihid. ii. 3(55.
* See tlie validity of the superscriptions advocated in Tholuck, Trans, ami
Co^n., \). 13.
SUPERSCRIPTIONS OF THE PSALMS. 253
positive by tlic titles which we find in the other books of Scripture.'
Thus we see that it was the rule, to affix a superscription to the
sacred writings ; and finding them therefore so frequently attached
to the Psalms of David, we are not at liberty to discard them.
Why indeed should not ancient poets have put their names at
the top of their compositions, when we cannot take up a modern
serial without seeing the authors' names attached to their pieces
of " poetry " at the bottom ? Some slight weight also must be
attached to the fact of the siiperscription forming part of the
psalm itself in the Hebrew Bibles as is shown by the division
1 As "The words of Nehemiah," "The Proverbs of Solomon, " "These are
also Proverbs of Solomon," " The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the
prophecy," "The words of King Samuel, the propliecy whioli liis mother
tauglit him," "The words of the Preacher, the sou of David, King of Jeru-
salem," " The Song of songs, which is Solomon's," " The vision of Isaiah, the
son of Amos," " The writing of Hezekiah, King of Judah, when he had been
sick, and was recovercnl of his sickness," "The burden of Babylon, which
Isaiah did see," "The year that Ahaz died was this burden," " The burden of
Moab," " The biu"den of Damascus," " The burden of Egypt," " The burden
of the desert of the sea," "The burden of Dumah," "The burden upon
Arabia," "The burden of the valley of vision," " The biu'den of Tyre," " In
that day shall this song be sung in the land' of Judah," " The burden of the
beasts of the earth," "The words of Jeremiah," "The word that came from
Jeremiah to the Lord," (Jer. vii., xi., xviii., xxi., xxvi., xxvii., xxx., xxxii.,
XXXV., xl.,) " The word tJiat came to Jeremiah concerning — " (Jer. xiv.,
XXV., xliv. ,) "now these arc the words of the letter that Jei'emiah the prophet
sent — " (Jer. xxix.,) "The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto
Baruch," (Jer. xlv.,) "The word of the Lord which came to Jeremiah the
prophet against the Gentiles," (Jer. xlvi ,)^" against the Philistines," (Jer.
xlvii.,) "The word that the Lord spake against Babylon," (Jer. 1.,) "The
word of the Lord that came unto Plosea," "The beginning of the word of the
Lord by Hosea," " The word of the Lord that came to Jael," " The words of
Amos," "The vision of Obadiah," "The word of the Lord that came to
Micah," " The burden of Nineveh : the book of the vision of Nahum,"
" The burden which Habakkukthe prophet did see," " A prayer of Habakkuk
the yirophet upon Shigionoth," "The word of the Lord which came unto
Zephaniah," "The burden of the word of the Lord iu the land of Hadrach,"
" The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel," by Zechariah, " The burden
of the word of the Lord to Israel," by Malachi, "The Revelation of Jesus
Christ which God gave unto him :" &c. To these may be added other instances,
as Num. xxi. 17 ; xxiv. 3, 4 ; xxxi. 23, 30 ; Dent. i. 1 ; xxxi. 19, 22, 30 ;
xxxii. 44 ; the headings of many chapters in Ezekiel ; and especially, as con-
nected with our present subject, those passages in the historical books where
David's psalms are referred to ; such as 2 Sam. i. 17 ; xxii. 1 ; xxiii. 1 ;
1 Chron. xvi. 7 : — " and David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and
over Jonathan his son ; " " Then on that day David delivered first this psalm
to thank the Lord ; " "and David spake unto the Lord the words of this song
in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his
enemies, and out of the hand of Saul ; " "These be the last words of David."
254 KSSAY I.
of the verses ; which division is attributed to the Masorites iu tlie
sixth century.^
But it may be said — If we allow the titles or superscriptions to
stand, it is clear that as these superscriptions tell us whicli were
written by David, those which have no superscription were not
written by him. But this does not at all follow, as we have already
seen : for P.s. xcvi. cv. and cvi. bear no superscriptions, and yet
we know from the Book of Chronicles that they were written by
David : and so there is every reason to suppose that others also
which have no superscription were written by him.
How unsatisfactory then is the opinion of these who hold that
the superscriptions were written by the compiler of the Book of
Psalms ! What possible reason could he have for assigning Ps. xc.
to Moses, and Ps. Ixxxviii. to Ueman 1 Why should he assign
several psalms to Jedutliun, and only one to him under his former
name of Ethan ? Wliy, in those which bear the name of Asaph, should
there be no distinction between an earlier and a later Asaph, if, as
these critics suppose, there was an interval of three hundred or five
hundred years between them? Why should particular psalms be as-
signed to the sons of Korah, when this portion of David's choir no
longer existed 1^ Why should he direct some psalms to be sung to
the accompaniment of the sistrum, or of cymbals ; and others to
that of wind instruments ; and others to that of stringed instruments ;
and of these latter why should some be of six strings, others of eight
strings, and others of ten strings 1 Why should he suppose some
to be adapted for instruments the very names of which were unin-
telligible only some two hundred and fifty years after the Captivity,
when tlie Seventy commenced their labours ? Or, more astonishing
still, if, as some suppose, the canon of the Book of P.-^alms was not
completed till the time of the Maccabees, when they allege the
greater number of the psalms were written, how the i\Iaccabean
compiler could have written these Hebrew titles, when the Seventy
had written such very different Greek titles one hundred years
before ! In conclusion we would allege that the titles themselves
furnish both negative and positive evidence of their genuineness ; ,
negative, inasmuch as, if the compiler had prefixed them, he would
have given the title of " the Psalm by David" to Ps. xcvi., cv., and
cvi., which he would know from the Book of Chronicles were written
by him, and he would have given titles to many of the anonymous
psalms, where the subject of the psalm seems to justify it; and
1 TTupfcld and Kichm attribute it to an earlier orijTin.
^ Indeed, Ewald says, " Why tins song has been attributed to the Korahites,
that to Asaph or Ethan, I know not."
DIVISION INTO " FIVE BOOKS." 255
positive, not only from what we liave adduced relative to the title
of Ps. xviii., but from the fict which we shall presently notice, that,
finding the names of Heman and Ethan the Ezrahites attached to
Ps. Ixxxviii. and Ixxxix. he mistook them for the grandsons of
Judah !
We have now to consider the arguments against the reputed
authorshi}) of the Psalms which arise from the supposed division of
the Psalms into " Eive Books." These books, as is well known, are
supposed to terminate at Ps. xli., Ixxii., Ixxxix., cvi., and cl. ; the
four former psalms concluding with a similar doxology : and this
subdivision into five books has been considered a most convincing
proof that the Psalms were written at different times, and by differ-
ent men, and collected together into books at different times.
David's psalms are thought by many to be confined to the first and
second books, from the words with which the second book concludes
— " The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended." The later
books are tho\ight to contain psalms written in the time of Heze-
kiah, of Ezra, and of the Maccabees.-' Supposing this theory correct,
it would f(:»llow that all psalms occurring in the later books, which
bear the name of David in the superscription, would be looked at
with suspicion, cither as having been placed inadvertently in tho^e
later books, or as having false superscriptions. Let us then ex-
amine this supposed division into five hooks. The earliest notice
we have of it is in the Syrian translation, and in Jerome, and
some other of the early fathers.^ The division into five books is
supposed to be in imitation of the Five Books of Moses.^ Some
imagine the collections to have been made at five different times;
others that Ezra or Nehemiah, others that someone in the
time of the Maccabees, after collecting the Pi^alms together, divided
them into five books. It is evident that this opinion has hecn
founded chiefly on the doxolngies at the end of the first four supposed
hooks. It is to these doxologies therefore that we must first direct
our attention.
We have already seen that the doxology at the end of Ps. Ixxii.
forms part of that psalm, and that it cannot be separated from it.'^
This we have deduced from 2 Sam. xxii., 1 — 4, which refers to the
1 The Talmud attriliutes some of the psalms to Adam, Melchizedek, and
Abraham. The eighty-eighth is attributed to Abraham by the Chaldee.
2 Hammond, Paraj^hrase, 1850, Annot. vol. ii ; Jebb, Lit. Trans, ii. 224.
3 The Midrash on Ps. i. 1. Mendelssohn, Pref. 3, .supposes this division to
have been made by David. Hihivy, however, sa.ys this belief in a division
into five books was held but partially among the Jews,
4 See p. 232.
256 ESSAY I.
close of David's life . but if we now examine 1 Chron. xxix. 19, 20,
which refers to the same event, we find a still more striking con-
firmation of this opinion. Vs. IxxXii. begins —
Give the kin^ Thy jndf^cnt, O God,
And Thy righteousiu'ss unto the kind's son.
So here David says — " Give unto Solomon my son a perfect
heart, to keep Thy commandments, Thy testimonies, and Thy
statutes." After which we read — "And David said to all the
congregation, Now bless the Lord your God. And all the con-
gregation blessed the Lord God of their fathers, and bowed down
their heads, and worshipped the Lord :" thus confirming in a most
remarkable manner the connection between the doxology at the end
of Ps.*\xii. and the psalm itself. Eut we have here to observe that
if these doxologies had been added by the compiler when he divided
the Book of Psalms into five books, the doxologies would be found
at the end of each of such psalms. Here, however, we have a line
after the doxology, — " The j^rayers of David the son of Jesse are
ended," and we have seen that this line is intimately connected with
the psalm. The doxology, therefore, in this instance could not have
been added afterwards. Its applicability to the subject-matter of
the psalm has been pointed out, and we now find confirmation of
such opinion by the fact of this line following the doxology.
Another proof of this doxology forming a portion of the psalm
itself occurs in the double epiploce or anadiplosis which is here
observable. The word " name " which appears twice in the pre-
ceding verse, reappears in the doxology ; and the word " blessed "
which appears twice in the preceding verse, once in the form of
Borakh, to bless, and once in the other form of Oshar, to be happy,
is repeated twice in the doxology. This is so common a feature
in the Psalms of David, that we cannot refuse to pay attention to it.
A further confirmation of this ap]iears by compariug this doxology
or antiphon with the concluding antiphon of another psalm on
behalf of Solomon, (xlv.,) in which mention is also made of the
eternal remembrance of God's name. And a further confirmation,
if more be needed, occurs in the fact that if, as is alleged, Ps. Ixxii.,
were written bi/ Solomon, instead of to or for Solomon, and that
" Books " L and II. were collected in his reign, the words '' The
prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended " would have been
placed after Ps. Ixxi. instead of after Ps. Ixxii. which is affirmed to
be by Solomon.^ This reduces the five books to four books.
1 In order to support the theory of the doxologies having been written
subsequently — a theory only too comiuonly accepted in the present day—
"five books" DOXOLOGIKS. 257
The (loxology at the end of Ps. cvi. is proved to be part and
parcel of that psahu, by reference to 1 Cljroii. xvi., wliere we find
the occasion of this psalm being used, with part of the psalm
itself given, including its doxology ; and here also, as in Ps.
Ixxii., we have the doxology followed by another verse or line —
"Praise ye the Lord," corresponding with the first verse, an
arrangement which we find in so many of the " Hallelujah psalms,"
and which therefore cannot be set aside. This proves, as in the
former case, that the doxology was not added afterwards. Perowne,
however, who follows in the opinion of Delitzsch, supposes the
chronicle to be Avritten after the psalm, and considers this extra
line part of the doxology, because we read in the chronicle that
"the people said, Amen, and lyraised the Lorciy ^ That it is not
part of the original doxology appears both from comparing it with
the doxologies at end of Ps. xli., Ixxii., and Ixxxix. ; and from
the account in the Book of Chronicles being evidently historical,
and written from records taken at the time : "and all the people
said. Amen, and praised the Lord." Had the chronicler copied
from the Book of Psalms, he would have given us the whole psalm
as he found it, or at least such portion as he chose to copy ; but if
the author of the psalm composed and elaborated that psalm - from
what was used on that solemn occasion, he could not copy the
words " and all the people praised the Lord," for this would be
adding prose to poetry ; but he threw the recital into the form of
an antiphon, "Praise ye the Lord." To suppose, as these critics
do, that the chronicler described an act, " and they praised the
Delitzsch, finding that the doxology of Ps. Ixxii. does not occnr at the end of
the psalm, where it naturally ought to be, if added, does not hesitate to say —
" The, collector certainly has removed this suhscription (The prayers of David
the son of Jesse .are ended) from its original i)lace close after Ps. Ixxii. 17, by
the interpolation of the heracha, vv. 18, 19, but left it at the same time
untouched." [Bib. Com. 1874, i. 16.) What is this but to found a theory
first, and then to alter Scripture in order to accord with it !
^ "The last verse is merely a doxology added at a time subsequent to the
composition of the psalm, to mark the close of the book .... The chro-
nicler who quotes this verse changes the words ' Let all the people say,
Amen,' into the historic tense — ' And all the people said. Amen, and praised
Jehovah.' " (Perowne, ii. 259.) "The chronicler, in tlie free manner which
characterizes Thucydides or Ltvy in reporting a speech, there reproduces
David's festal hynm .... and he does it in such a way that after lie has
once fallen into the track of Ps. cvi., he also puts into the montli of Da\ad the
beracha which follows that psalm." '(Delitzsch, Bib. Com. i. 15.)
2 Delitzsch rightly states this natural procedure, in speaking of Ps. cxliv.
1, 2, which, according to the Seventy and the Midrash, were the words
addressed to God by David when about to fight Goliath— when he says, " The
psalm has groivn out of tliis utterance of David."
S
2r)8 KSSAY I.
Lord," froiu the words of a psalm wliich luul been written pre-
viously to the event, would be writing history of ])resent actions
fx post facto ; -which, to use language which Perowne in one place
employs towards Ilengstenberg, (ii. 55,) but contrary to his usual
style, would be maintaining a theory "at the risk of any absurdity.'' '
These critics suppose that the first book, containing psalms by
David, was edited by Solomon ; that the second and third were
collected in the time of Hezekiah, who placed those of David
and his contemporaries in the second book, and those of Asaph
and others in tlie third ; and that the fourth and filth collections
were made in the times of Ezra and Xeheniiah, to which were added
other psalms afterwards, "inserted here and there" among the five
books. 2 Delitzsch says — " Even in the time of the Avriter of the
Chronicles, the Psalter was a whole divided into five parts, which
were indicated by these landmarks (the doxologies.) We infer this
from 1 Chron. xvi. 36. From this we see that the Psalter was
already divided into (five) books at that period."^ Perowne says —
" The fact that he has incorporated this verse as well as the pre-
ceding in his psalm, is a proof that already in his time the Psalter
was divided, as at present, (?) into books, the doxology being re-
garded, as an integral portion of the psalm." ■* liut this petitio'
principii is altogether unjustified. Both these writers believe
that some of the psalms are Maccabean. Delitzsch indeed says,
"they can at any rate only be few:" (i. 14:) but that "no age
' Delitzsch in one place is even more invective in his language. The
reasons of those opy>ose(i to him he there calls "miserable attempts," and
" artifices." (See Ps. Ix.wiii. and Ixxix., vol. ii. p. 24, 33.) This, however, is
a solitaiy instance ; and in his Preface is a passage which does honour to
himself and also to his bitter critic Hnpfeld. It is an extract from a lettei*
from the latter : " I have only jnst seen your complaint of my judgment at
the close of my work on the Psalms. The comidaint is so gentle in its tone,
it partakes so little of the bitterness of my verdict, and at the same time
strikes chords that are not yet deadened witl)in me, and which have not yet
forgotten how to bring back the echo of happier times of common research,
and to revive the feeling of gratitude for faithful companionship, that it has
touched my heart and conscience." AVould that such writing and .such
feeling were 7nore common among writers, especially writers on theology ! It
is no doubt right to "lie zealously affected always in a good cause," but it is
also our duty, where we see others taking -what we believe to be a wrong
course, to "restore such in the spirit of nuekness, considering ourselves, lest
we also be tempted." When critics write thus, even when they differ from
us, we may saj' —
If the righteous strike me, [I will regard it as] a kindness :
And if he rebuke me, it shall be as oil upon the head.
= Delitzsch, i. 1.5—19 ; Perowne, 1S70, i. 73—79.
» Bib. Com. i. 15 ; iii. 151. * Book of Psalms, 1S71, ii. 259.
"five books" — DOXOLOGIES. 259
could be regarded as better warranted iu incorporating suuit; of it.-
songs in the Psalter than the Maccabean, the sixty-third week
predicted by Daniel, the week of sulfering bearing in itself the
character of the time of the end :" (ii. 327:) but Perowne says
— " Xotwithstauding the positive and contemptuous manner in
which Dr. Pusey has recently expressed himself on this subject,
[Lectures on Daniel, 5G, 292, »fec.,) i there is not a shadow of proof
that the canon was closed before the Maccabean era." (ii. 73.) ^
Other writers, however, as we have seen, attribute the greater
portion of the Psalter to the Maccabees ; but whether such psalms
were few or many, we cannot suppose that the division into hve
books took place before the canon was completed.^ This division
therefore must have been, according to this supposition, subsequent
to the time of the Maccabees, say B.C. 150 ; whereas ihe Book of
Chronicles is supposed to have been written by Ezra, 300 years
earlier. But even if we throw over this Maccabean theory,'* and
suppose that the latest psalms were written on the return from
exile, and thus make the age of the latest psalms, the supposed
division into five books, and the writing of the Book of Chroni-
cles, to synchronize, even then it is manifestly beginning at the
wrong end to suppose that the record of historical events which
took place in the year 1000 B.C. was written subsequently to the
supposed division into five books more than 500 years afterwards :
for although the history may have been written more than 500
years after the event, it is quite evident that records and mate-
rials must have existed for such history to be written :^ and
we may therefore conclude with certainty from 1 Chron. xvi. 36,
1 Hengsteuberg also argues strongly against the JIaceabean theory, saying —
"While the Maccabees were good soMiers and zealous for the law of their
fathers, they were not men full of the Holy Spirit : not one example of this
sort meets us throughout the whole period. But that the co-ojieration of the
Spirit of God was considered as a necessary mark of a song, we have already
seen. How deeply they were themselves conscious of the absence of this
Spirit a])pears from 1 Jlac. iv. 46 ; ix. 27 ; xiv. 41." [Com. on the Psahns,
Appendix, p. xviii.) He further argues that as the author of the Book of
Maccabees gives us all the speeches of the heroes, we might expect to find the
l)salms or songs written by them, if any such existed. Even Ewald attributes
no psalms to the Maccabean period. See also note 3 in p. 245.
2 Sue also i. 18, 346, and ii. 72—75.
^ Wo might indeed have thought so if we found all the psalms attributed
to David in the ftrst book ; all those of his choir in another, and later ones
afterwards in strict chronological order. But this is not the case.
* A theory not adopted by Ewald, and "Four Friends:" who moreover
acknowledge a subdivision into only four books.
^ Delitzsch acknowledges the former existence of such records. In com-
menting on Ps. cxliv. 1, 2, he says — " In one of the old histories, just as
260 ESSAY T.
that tlie (loxol()r;y at the eu^\ of 1*-. cvi. formed part of the original
composition,^ instead of binii^f wiiiLen atterwards. Moreover, the
compound word, "Hallelujah," or "Praise ye the Lord," constitutes
the usual termination of what are called the "Hallelujah psalms," of
which this is one ; and we therefore require it for part of the
psalm. And the doxology itself, " Blessed be the Lord," must be
considered as an appropriate termination to a psalm which begins
— " 0 give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, and His mercy
endureth for ever." A further proof that Ps. cvi. cannot have
formed the conclusion of a book, appears from the fact which is
attested by those wdio hold to the " Five Books," that Ps. cvi.
and cvii. are too intimately connected with each other to be divided.^
The " tiv^e books " now are reduced to three.
Another of the supposed books ends with Ps. Ixxxix. Now
it is evident that the compiler of the Book of Psalms, finding
the names of Heman and Ethan the Ezrahites attached to Ps.
Ixxxviii. and Ixxxix. (or, if you wish it, he himself attaching the
names to tlieni,) believed them to be the same as the grandsons of
Judah, of those names, and consequently of greater antiquity than
several of these lie at the foundation of our Books of Samuel as sources of
information that are still recoj^nizable, it was intended," &c.
1 Hitzig reffards the songs in the Chronicles as the original, and the respec-
tive parallels in the Psalms as "layers" or " shoots."
2 "We must not be surprised if Ps. cvi. and cvii. arje closely connected,
in spite of the fact that the boundary of the two books lies between them.
The psalms civ.— cvii. really to a certain extent form a tretralogy .... never-
theless the connection of Ps. civ. with cv. — cvii. is by far not so close as that
of these three ])salms among tliemselves. These three anonymous psalms
form a trilogy in the strictest sense : they are a tripartite whole from the liand
of one author. The observation is an old one." And he then gives an extract
from the " HarpfTe Davids mil Tcutschen Saiten bcupannet," a translation of
the I'salms which appeared in Augsburg in 1659. And after long detailed
proofs of correspondence Delitzsch concludes — "Everything therefore fa-
vours the assertion that Ps. cv., cvi. and cvii. are a 'trefoil' — two Hodu
psalms and a Hallelujali psalm in the middle." Delitzsch, Bib. Com. on
Ps. cvii.
" Ps. cvii. .stands in close relationship to Ps. cvi. The similarity of the
l)eginning at once points back to this psalm. Thanks are here given in v. 3
for what was there desired in v. 47. The praise of the JiOrd which was pro-
mised in Ps. cvi. 47 in the case of redemption being vouchsafed, is here pre-
sented to Him after redemption vouschafiid." Ilcngstenberg, Com. on same
psalm.
"There is no reason, as Ewald has observed, why Ps. cvi. should be
separated from Ps. cvii." Perowne, Book of Psalms, in same place.
" Ps. cvi. is so closely connected with Ps. cvii. that neither can be under-
stood apart from the other." Four Friends, The Paulms chronologically
arranged, p 405.
"five books" — DOXOLOGIES. 261
Moses,^ the author of Ps. xc, and therefore placed these three
psalms together, giving the priority to lleman and Ethan, as being
tlie elder. Is it likely, then, after putting these three psalms to-
gether in immediate sequence, that the compiler wouM at the same
time, or indeed anyone after him, separate them by putting two of
them in one book, and the third in another ! This is preposterous :
and indeed we may look upon this as a clear proof not only that
Ezra,- or whoever might be the compiler of tlie Book of P.salms,
did not divide the collection into " five books," but that he did not
write the titles. Instead of writing them, he mistook them, and
finding the name of Ezrahite attached to each of these two names,
and finding these names mentioned in the Book of Chronicles as
the sons of Zerah, he naturally concluded them to be the same
persons, and therefore placed their supposed productions imme-
diately before that assigned to Moses. But independently of this
argument, which we think is unanswerable, let us look at the object
of the doxology, and tlie reason for its insertion. We find that
the first eighteen verses constitute a thanksgiving and song of
praise for God's mercies, and the next nineteen verses a calling
to remembrance God's promises : it was natural therefore after
laying his trouble before God, which the psalmist does in the
following fourteen verses, that he should terminate in praise to
God, believing that the same God who had done so much for him
before, would continue to do so for ever. Another proof that there
can be no separation between these psalms exists in the extraordinary
.'similarity of arrangement in the replicas of Ps. Ixxxviii. and xci.
Thus we get rid of another supposed division : and the alleged
" five books " are now reduced to two.
The customary form of doxology being absent in Ps. cl., there
remains but one instance of it to which to attach any extrinsic
significance : and as the Avhole force of the argument lies in the
fact of the same doxology appearing no fewer than four times, and
as we have shown that in three of these instances the doxology has
no extrinsic value, we cannot but conclude that where we find it in
^ This view, as we have seen, p. 230, was held by Athaiiasius and Eusebius,
and recently by Lightfoot and the author of "The Psalms in chronological
order," who places these two psalms at the beginning of the book. It is true
Ps. Ixxxix. disproves this antiquity : hut it is evident that the antiquity was
believed in by the compiler of the Book of Psalms.
* It seems more probable, however, from 2 Mac. ii. 13, that Nehemiah was
the collector and coTnpiler of the Book of Psalms ; for we read — that Nehe-
miah "foumliiig a library, gathered together the acts of the kings, ami tbo
prophets, and of David."
2C)2 ESSAT I.
P.s. xli., it is to be considered as part and parcel of the psalm
itself. As I'hillips truly says — "What is found at the end of
Ps. xli., Ixxxix., t^'c, is as appropriate for ending the particular
psalm of which it is a part, as it is for ending a book." ^
Thus we see that the fictitious authority attributed to this imagi-
nary division into " five books," from the five books of Moses,
vanishes into thin air. The truth is, we find almost all of David's
p>ahns teriuiiiating with praise to God j as in Ps. civ., " Bless thou
tlie Lord, O my soul. Praise ye the Lord ; " and the thanksgiving to
(lod at tlie end of Ps. xlv. : and accordingly, one writer divides the
P.salter into seven books,^ the two extra books terminating at Ps. cxvii.
and cxxxv., in consequence of their terminations of praise; and so
natural is this praise, that the Church has added its own doxology
to every one of the psalms : why then should we think it anything
peculiar, and foreign to the nature of other psalms, that four of
tl\ese psalms should terminate with the same ascription of praise
to Crod ?
'Phis breaking down of the supposed division into five books is
fmtlier confirmed by some writers, as Ewald and others, dividing the
Book into fan )• parts, by Dr. Forbes dividing it into seven parts, and
by Augustine being first disposed to divide it into ten parts of
fifteen psahns each, and afterwards into three parts of fifty psalms
each. It may be interesting to read his arguments, as a specimen
of the absurd mystical interpretation of some of the Fathers, and of
Augustine in particular ; by means of which they were enabled to
prove anything they pleased. ^
1 The P.ta7m.i in Hehrciv, 1846. Introd. p. xvi.
^ Dr. J. Forbes, Sijmmet. Structure of Scripture, pp. 134, 135.
' " Althougli the arrangement of tlie Psalms, whicli seems to me to contain
the secret of a might}' mystery, hath not yet been revealed unto me, yet, by the
fact that they in all amount to one hundred and lifty, they suggest somewhat
even to u.s who have not as yet ])ierced with the eye ol our mind the light of
their entire arrangement, wliereun we may, without being over bold, so far as
God giveth, be alil(! to speak. Firstly, the number fftcrn, whereof it is a
multiple, .... .sigiiilieth the agreement of the Two Testaments. For in
the former is observed tiie Sabliath, which signifies rest ; in the latter the
J^ord's <lay, which signifieth resurrection. The Sabbath is the seventh day :
but the Lord's day coming after the seventh nnist needs be the eighth ....
Further, seven and eight make fifteen. Of the same numl)er are the psalin.s
which are called 'of the steps,' because that was the number of the ste)is of
the Temple Furthermore, also tlie nwmhar fifty in itself also contaiiuth a
great mystery. Kor it consisteth of a week of weeks, wliirli with the addition
of one as an eightli complete the immher fifty. For seven multiplied by seven
make f irty-nine, whereto one is added to make fifty. And this number fifty
is of .so great a meaning, that it was on the fiftieth day exactly from the Lord's
resurrection the Holy Spirit descended ujwn the disciples. And this seven-
"five books" — ELOHIM AND JEHOVAH. 263
An argument, liowever, in corroboration of this pretended divi-
sion into live books is adduced by Uelitzsch and various, authors,
from the separation of the Jehovah and Elohim psalms, llengsten-
berg, after pointing out this circumstance, sums up by saying —
'* Tlie arrangement, then, is as follows : — The first book contains
the Davidic-Jehovah psalms ; the second the Elohim-psalms of
the singers of David, of the sons of Korah, Ps. xlii. — xlix., of
Asaph, 1., of David himself, li. — Ixxi., and of Solomon, Ixxii ;
the third the Jehovah-psalms of Asaph, Ixxiii. — Ixxxiii., of the
sons of Korah, Ps. Ixxxiv. — Ixxxix."^ This certainly looks at first
sight like a very strong, if not conclusive argument in favour of
the division into five books ; and it is necessary therefore to
examine into the supposed fact. It is pretended that "the first
fold operation is thus mentioned by Isaiah, xi. 2 — ' And the spirit of the
Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the sjiirit
of counsel and oi might, the spirit of knowledge and of tlie fear of the Lord.'
The number one hundred and hfty eontaineth this fifty three times, as though
it were multiplied by the Trinity. Wherefore for this reason, too, we make out
that this number of the Psalms is not unsuitable. For in the number of the
fishes, too, which were caught in the nets, which were let down after the Resur-
rection, by the adding of three to one hundred and lifty, we seem to have a
kind of suggestion given us, into how many j^arts that number ought to be
divided, viz., that it should contain three //^ic5. " [Though of this origin and
meaning he docs not appear quite sure, for he finds "by setting down all the
numbers from 1 to 17 in a column, and adding them together," he arrives at
the same amount, 153, which he thinks "more deep and pleasing."]
"Now in that some have believed that the Psalms are divided into five
books, they have been led by the fact that so often at the end of the psalms
are the words '8o be it, so be it.' But when I endeavoured to make out the
principle of this division, I was not able : for neither are the five parts ei^ual
to one another, either m quantity of contents or yet even in number of psalms,
so as for each to contain thirty. And if each book end with ' So be it, so be
it,' we may reasonably ask why the fifth and last book hath not the same
conclusion ? We, however, following the authority of the canonical Scripture,
where it is said, 'For it is written in the Book of Psalms,' know that there is
but one Book of Psalms." [He then shows that the Book may yet be divided
into parts or portions, and then concludes by saying] — "Whichever then of
these is understood .... this Book of the Psalms in its parts oiffty j)salms
each, if it be questioned by these very divisions of fifties, gives an answer
important, and very worthy of consideration. For it seems to me not without
significance that the Jiftietk is of penitence, the hundredth of mercy and judg-
ment, the huiulred and fiftieth of the praise of God in his saints. For thus
do we advance to an everlasting life of happiness ; first, by condemning our
own sins, then by living upright ; that having condemned our ill life, and
lived a good life, we may attain to everlasting life. For it is written — ' More-
over whom ile did predestinate, them He also called ; and whom He called,
them He also jiistifi/'d ; and whom He justified, them He also glorified.' But
the three which remain are wrought in us, calling, justifying, glorifying." —
{On the Fsalms, Ps. cl.) ^ Com. iii. p. xliv.
264 ESSAY I.
Look contains the Davidic-Jeliovali psalms." IIow is it, then,
that the Jehovah-psahns, Ixxxvi. in the third book, ci. — ciii. in
the fourtli book, and sixteen such psahns in the fifth book, all
by David, are not included in the first book? Again, if "the
second book contains the Elohim-psalms of the singers of David,
and of David himself,' how is it that David's Elohim-psalm cviii.
in the fifth book, and the eleven Elohim-psalms of Asaph ^ in the
third book, were not also included in the second book? The
Elohim-psalms, instead of being confined to book ii., Ps. xlii. —
Ixxii., as the five-book theory would require, extend more than
half-way into the third book, consisting of Ps. xlii. — Ixxxiv., as
stated by Delitzsch — "There are in all forty-four Elohim-psalms,
xlii. — Ixxxiv. They form the middle portion of the Psalter, and
have on their right forty-one, and on their left sixty-five Jahve-
psalnis." " Thus Delitzsch, though advocating the division into
five books, practically divides the Psalter into three parts, and
this no doubt, as we shall see further j^resently, forms a key for
the classification by Xehemiah or Ezra. The argument, therefore,
of five books based on the distinction of the Elohistic and Jehovah
l)salms, breaks down. But it has been argued that a striking
confirmation of the validity of the doxologies as marking the divi-
sion into five books, exists in the fact that the doxology at the end
of the second book differs from the others in the circumstance
that "it is more full-toned than that of the first book, and God
is intentionally here called ' The Lord ELOHIJI, the God of Israel'
because the second book contains none but Elohim-psalms ; and
not, as there, ' The Lord, the God of Israel.' "^ But Delitzsch has
already shown that the third book also is chielly composed of
Elohim-psalins, and therefore, had there been this significance in
tlie introduction of the name Ehihim, it would have been inserted
also in the doxology at the end of the third book ; and, indeed,
Hengstenberg does not fail to point out that the absence of this
name at the end of the third book shoidd, according to Delitzsch's
argument, be considered as a proof that the third book consists ex-
clusively of Jehovah-psalms ■* : which we see it does not.
But though the arrangement of Elohistic and Jehovah-psalms
does not support the pretended division into five books, it may
1 Hengstenberg, carried away by tlie force of tlieorj', endeavours, though in
vain, to make out thut these eleven jisahns of Asaph are Jehovah-psalms, and
not Klohistii! : lor tlic name of (iod occurs in tlicm e.xactly twice as many
times as tliat of Jehovali. Sec Com. iii. p. xlv.
» Bih. Com. i. 19, •>•!.
3 Dehtzsch, ii. 306. •• Com. 1851, iii. p. .vliv.
"five books" ELOHIM AND JEHOVAH. 265
yet be supposed to throw some light on the reputed ago and
authorship of the Psalms ; as it wouhl seem, say these writers, to
indicate tliat in the early psalmody David made use of the name
Jehovah ; that Asaph and some of the sons of Korah at a later age
made use of the name God, (Elohim,) while others of the descend-
ants of Korah, and other unknown psalmists at a still later age, went
back again to the name Jehovah. Neither, however, can this be
admitted : for while the great bulk of David's psalms are Jehovistic,
there are eighteen of his which are Elohistic ; of those of the sons
of Korah there are eight Elohistic and four Jehovistic ; and of those
of Asaph eleven are Elohistic and one Jehovistic. The truth is that
this distinction of Jehovistic and Elohistic psalms is imaginary; for
1. Ill Book i. the name Jdiovali occurs 277 times, aud God G3 times.
o \ M ''• .. „ 40 „ 216 „
I ,, iii. up to Ps. Ixxxiv. ,, 18 ,, 68 ,,
I ,, ,, from Ps. Ixxxv. ,, 39 ,, 12 „
3. \ „ iv. „ „ 112 „ 25 „
( „ V. „ „ 273 „ 39 „
Thus we see that in the whole T'.ook of Psalms the name Jah
or Jehovah occurs about seven hundred and sixty times, and the
name /i7, Elohe, or Elohim about four hundred and twenty times ;
and that the Psalmist appears to use one or the other as the occasion
required, sometimes addressing God as the universal GOD, the God
of Sabaoth, the God of hosts, the God of all the earth ; sometimes
and more particularly the God of Israel, JEHOVAH, "which was, and
is, and is to come :" sometimes the absolute title of God is made
personal by addressing Him as vii; God, or our God ; sometimes, and
very often, the two titles are joined together, to show in one case
that the God of the world is the Lord Jehovah, the God of Israel ;
in the other that the God of Israel is GOD, THE GOD. The same
may be observed in other books of the Old Testament. Thus in
the Book of Proverbs the name Jehovah is said to occur 59 times
and Elohim G times ; in the Book of Ezra, Jehovah 37 times and
Elohim 97 times ; and in Nehemiah, Jehovah 17 times and Elohim
74 times. ^ While therefore a distinction was evidently made by the
collector of the Book of Psalms, it is not at all clear but that the
words God and Jehovah were used indifferently by the Psalmist ;
sometimes indeed the two appellations are interchanged without
apparently any reason except to avoid tautology. Thus in Psalm x.
we have in one place, " The wicked despiseth the Lord !" and shortly
afterwards we have in the same psalm, " AVherefore should the
wicked despise God?" -'^gain, in the same psalm we have, "Arise,
1 Bishop Browne, The Pentateuch, and Elohim Psalms, second edition, p. 50.
266 ESSAY I,
O Lord ! Lift up Thine hand, 0 God !" Similar examples occur
all through the Book of Psalms : — ,
Arise, 0 Lord !
Save me, O my God ! (Ps. iii.)
As for God, His way is perfect :*
Tlio word of the Lord is tried. (Ps. xviii.)
Unto Thee, O Lord, will I lift up my soul :
My God, 1 have put my trust in Thee. (Ps. xxv.)
God is gone up with a shout,
The Lord with the sound of the triimjjet. (Ps. xlvii.)
The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken. (Ps. 1.)
Beliold, God is my helper :
The Lord is with them that ujihold my soul. (Ps. liv.)
I will call upon God,
And the Lord will save me, (Ps. Iv.)
I will praise God, because of His word,
1 will praise the Lord, because of His word. (Ps. Ivi.)
Break their teeth in their mouths, 0 God :
Smite the jaw-bones of the young lions, U Lord. (Ps. Iviii.)
Power belongeth unto God :
And to Thee, 0 Lord, belongeth mercy. (Ps. Ixii.)
.... The Lord will not hear me :
But God hath heard me. (Ps. Ixvi.)
Bless ye God in the congregations,
P>en the Lord, ye that are of the fountain of Lsrael.
Sing unto God, O ye kingdoms of the earth.
Sing psalms unto the Lord. (Ps. Ixviii. )
I make my prayer unto Thee, 0 Lord, in an acceptable time :
Hear me, 0 God, in the multitude of Thy mercy. (Ps. Ixix.)
Haste Thee, 0 God, to deliver me :
Haste Thee, O Lord, to my help.
Haste Thee unto me, 0 God !
Tarry not, 0 Lord ! (Ps. Ixx.)
.... with my voice unto God, and He gave ear unto me :
In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord. (Ps. Ixxvii.)
Thou art God alone :
Teach me Thy way, 0 Lord. (Ps. Ixxxvi.)
Who among the gods shall be likened unto the Lord ?
God is to be feared greatly in the congregation of the saints. (Ps. Ixxiix.)
0 give thanks to the God of gods :
0 give thanks to the Lord of lords. (Ps. cxxxvi. )
Praise ye the Lord !
Praise God in His sanctuary. (Ps. cL) ^
' JLany otlier instances might be quoted, as Ps. xviii. 6 ; xxxi. 14; xxxviii.
21 ; xlvL 11 ; xlviii. 1, 8 ; IxviiL 4 ; Ixxxiv. 2 ; xci. 2 ; xciv. 22 ; civ. 33 ;
"FIVF. books" ELOIIIM AND JEHOVAH. 267
It is impossible that in these instances any distinction can be
liere intended, beyond that M'hich we liave just indicated. Here,
however, it is necessary to explain how it is that according to the
above table we assei't the name Cod to appear sixty-four times in
the fourth and fifth books, whereas Deliizsch makes it to appear
but once in the fifth book, viz. in Ps. cxliv., and not once in
the fourth book;^ and this statement is quoted by Perowne ; ^
while Hen^stenberg, more correctly, allows seven mentionings
of the name in the fifth book ; '^ he being followed by Bishop
Wordsworth : * none of these writers, however, reckoning the
occurrence of the name in Ps. c. of the fourth book, and in the
title of Ps. xc. in the same book. This divergence arises from
Delitzsch distinguishing the full name of Elohim from the abbrevia-
tions of such name. It is necessary fur us therefore to make a
further examination of the Psalter, in order to ascertain whether
anything can be gathered from the recurrence of this name.
Accordingly we find that the name Elohim, as distinguished from
its abbreviatio7is El and Elolie, occurs as ft)llo\vs : —
1. In Book i. tlie full name of Elohim occurs 13 times.
2 \ „ ii- „ ,. 167 „
\ ,, iii. to Ps. Ixxxiv. ,, 40 ,,
I ,, ,, from Ts. Ixxxv. ,, 3 ,,
In the whole Tsalter 2325 ^^
From this we see not only that the compiler divided the Book of
Psalms into three divisions, i. — xli. ; xlii. — Ixxxiv. ; and Ixxxv. —
cl. ; but also that the first of these divisions contained the Je-
hovistic-Elohim psalms, the second the Elohistic-Jehovah psalms,
and the third the Jehovah psalms : and this view is still further
strengthened if we suppose that Ps. cviii., which contains the full
name of Elohim six times, fell into the fifth book inadvertently, as
it ought to have followed Ps. Ix. in the second book, which was
written on the occasion when "Joab smote of Edom in the Valley
of Salt twelve thousand." If then we take out this psalm from
the fifth book, there will remain but three occasions in which the
cxvi. 5 ; cxviii. 28 ; cxxxv. 2 ; cxlvi. 2 ; cxlvii. 1, 7, 12 ; and cl. 1. These
all occur in the same verse ; but the list might be very greatly enlarged if
adjoining verses were quoted.
■* mb. Com. i. 22. 2 Book of rsalms, i. 74.
' Com. iii. p. xl. •* Book of Psalms 1870, p. x.
* El occurs about 70 times, and Elohe 120 times.
268 ESSAY I.
full name of Elohiru is niontioiied in the latter part of the third
book, one in the fourth, besides that in the title of Ps. xc, and one
in the fifth, making but six in almost half of the Book of Psalms,
a clear proof of intention in the grouping of the psalms together;
and that this intention was not to attempt a chronological arrange-
ment, or division of authors, but simply to classify the psalms
according to some given principle, whether of subject or treatment :
and we must perceive, from what we have shown above, that the
carrying out of this principle is too perfect to allow us for one
moment to suppose that the "live books" were collected together and
compiled, as many suppose, at five dilferent eras of Jewisli history.
Thus we see that, as the psalms were written on different occa-
sions and on separate rolls, the collector of tliem who compiled the
Book of Psalms bestowed the greatest care in the sorting and
arranging his materials, and that from the awe and solemnity with
which God sometimes revealed His name in Scripture, one of the
first things would be the counting of the names of God, and placing
together those psalms in which the same name of God appeared
most frequently. Other methods of classification would be the
placing those together which begin in the same manner, or in which
any peculiar expression occurs, or which refer to the same graces,
as that of patience under injuries, or to the same occasions; and
accordingly commentator? have pointed out numerous instances of
what they believe to be "double psalms," or "pairs of psalms."
Hengstenborg adduces five different motives for grouping such
psalms together.^ Not to mention minor particulars which led to
this grouping, we have large divisions of the " Songs of degrees,"
and the " Hallelujah psalms," the " Hodu psalms," and " Psalm-
songs ;" while most of those bearing the name of Asaph are groupeil
together, as are also most of those with the name of the sons of
Korah. Thus it happens that Ps. Ixxii., which ought to be at the
end of the psalms of David, is placed in the middle of the collection,
the compiler evidently thinking less of chronological arrangement
than of casting the collection into a perfect whole, beginning Avith
introductory psalms, with morning and evening hymns, and ter-
minating with ascriptions of praise to God, jilacing in the middle,
and sorting according to the best of his judgment, all the other
psalms, whether lyric or didactic, whether of prayer or praise,
whether historical or personal, whether of meditation or of instruc-
tion, whether of con)plaint or rejoicing.
^ Com. iii. p. xlvi. — xlix. See also Jebb, Lit. Trav-tl. ii. Diss. iii. ;
Perowne, Book of r.<<ahns, i. 7i* ; but iiarticularly Delitzsrh, i. 22 ; and in Iiis
commcntaiy to each psahn.
OHnONOLOGICAL A,RRANGEMi:NT. 209
But tliouffh we have disposed of the fij(ineiit of the division
into five books ; even if we were to admit its reality, we shouhl be
no better able to discover any evidence therefrom as to thu reputed
authorship of the Psalms : for if the reader will only take the
trouble (which the author has done for his own instruction) of
exhibiting in parallel columns the chronological arrangements of
those who have thus written on the Psalms, he will see at once
how conflicting are the views of such writers, and how hopeless is
the task of endeavouring to establish an exact chronological
arrangement of them. Let us take one example from the chrono-
logical arrangement of " Four Friends :" —
"In these psalms (xlii. — xliii., Ixxxiv.), the language is that of
the captivity. Tlie terrible blow had come at last : the king and
the nobles were carried away to ]>abylon. Jeremiah and Ezekiel
abound with expressions which indicate the poignancy of the national
anguish at this overwhelming calamity. The last of David's line,
the lion cub of the house of Judah" [They then quote from
Stanley's Lectures on the Jeivish Church, 2nd series, p. 541, as
follows :] " was cast away like a broken and despised vessel ;
(Jer. xxii. 24, 28 ;) the voice of the young lion (Ezek. xix. 3-6)
should no more "be heard on the mountains of Israel ; the topmost
and tenderest shoot of the royal cedar tree (Ezek. xvii. 4) had been
plucked off by the eagle of the East, and planted far away in the
merchant city of Euphrates. From the top of Lebanon, from the
heights of Bashan, from the ridges of Abarim, the widowed country
shrieked aloud, as she saw the train of her captive king and
nobles disappearing in the distant East. From the heights of
Hermon, from the top of Mizar, it is no improbable conjecture that
the departing king poured forth his exquisitely plaintive song, in
which, from the deep disquietude of his heart, he longs after the
presence of God in the Temple, and pleads his cause against the
impious nation, the treacherous and unjust man, who in spite of
plighted laith (Ps. xliii. 1, 2; Joseph. yl?i^ x. 9) had torn him
away from his l)eloved home."
This is beautiful writing : but is it true 1 Let us hear what holy
Scripture says of this same man, this holy man, this injured man,
this loving man !
It is sad when we find the children of good men turning out evil;
a result frequently arising from the want of restraint on the part of
their parents. With the example of Aaron and his two sons, but
especially of Eli and his children, before his eyes, one wonders to
see the sons of Samuel turning out evil. Here we have another
sad example, and one entailing the greatest misfortune to the land,
270
ESSAY I.
arising from the mnnner in which the sous of good King Josiah
were brought up. Let us give liis pedigree : —
Zfbiulth = Josiali = Haniutal
b. 649
k. 641
d. 610
Eliakini
Jehoiakim
l>. 635
L 610,
d. 599 on his
way to Babj'ki
Coniah =
Jeconiah
Jelioiachin
b. 607
L 599
reigned 3 nionllu
taken cajitive
to Babylon.
Xeliuwlita
Slialluiii '
.Toliainiiiu
Jelioaliaz
b. 623
k. 610
reigned 3 months
taken captive
to Egjpt.
Zedekiah
Sliealtiel = Several other
tjalathiel I SOUS.
Mattaniah
Zedekiah
b. 620
k. 599,
taken ciip-
tive to
Balndon
588.
r
Sons all
slain.
f
Zorahahel
Zerubliahel
returned to
Jerusalem.
By this we see how immediately connected with Josiah were the
last lour kings of Jiidah, With the exception of a grandson, who
^ The compiler of the genealogies in the Book of Chronicles niake^ Shallum
tlie fourth son of .Tosiah ; Zedekiah the brother of Coniah, instead of being his
uncle ; and Zerubbabel the grandson of Coniah by Pedaiah, instead of by
Shealtiel. In one respect, however, he ajiitoars to be right in making Coniah
eight years old when he ascended the throne, instead of eighteen, as stated by
the chronicler of the Book of Kings. It is curious, moreover, to lind that
tliough Eliakim was born two years before Shallum, ho did not succeed his
father. This is explained by the fact mentioned by the chronicler that "the
people of the laml t(j(>k Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in hiu
father's stead in Jerusalem."
CHRONOLOGICAL ARRANGEMENT. 271
reigned but three months, they were all the sons of Josiah. They
all bore names compounded from the awful name of GOD himself,
and signifying HIS grace, HIS possession, HIS arising, HIS strength,
HIS steadfastness, HIS justice ; names, alas, which betokened their
father's piety, rather than their own deserving. Being the children of
such a parent, God had promised them, if they would follow the
example of their parent, — " If ye do this thing indeed, then shall
there enter in by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the
throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses ; he, and his
servants, and his people. But if ye will not hear these words,
then shall this house become a desolation." How did they accef)t
God's oifer 1 Of the eldest, Jehoahaz, we read that he and his
people forsook the covenant of the Lord their God, and worshipped
other gods, and served tl^em, (Jer. xxii. 9,) and that —
He did that which was evil in the dght of the Lord,
According to all that hisfatJiers had done. 2 Kings xxiii. 32.
Of his elder brother, Jehoiakim, we read that he was guilty of
all manner of unrighteousness to God, and of injustice to man ;
that he robbed the poor, and oppressed his neighboiir ; that he
rejoiced in deeds of violence and in shedding of innocent blood ;
that he defied God's threaten ings, and scoffed at His pleadings ;
that he burnt the word of God in defiance of the Most High, and
that when God's judgments were about to fall upon the land, he
built himself a palace, and lined it with cedar, and painted it with
vermilion, so that —
" Tlie stone cried out from the wall,
And the beam out of the timber did answer it ;"
so that the mournful dirge is repeated of him —
And he did that which urns evil in the sight of the Lord,
According to all that his fathers had done.
2 Kings xxiii. 37 ; 2 Chron. xxxvi. 5.
8o great indeed was his wickedness that, like wicked Jezebel, his
dead body was denied burial, and was cast into the highway.
"Therefore, thus saith the Lord concerning Jehoiakim, the son of
Josiah, king of Judah —
They shall not lament for him, saying — ■
" Ah ! my brother ! " or " Ah ! sister ! "
They shall not- lament for him saying —
" Ah ! Loiti ! " or "Ah ! his glory 1 "
He shall be buried with the burial of an ass,
Drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.
Jer. xxii. 13—19 ; xxxvi. 24, 30, 31.
272 ESSAY I.
Jecouiah, or Jehoiachiii, tlie next king, is likened to a " despised
broken idol," a " vessel -wherein is no pleasure ;" (Jer. xxii. I^S ;)
and of him again we bear the mournful dirge —
And lie. did that 2chich was evil in tlie sight nf fJic Lord,
According to all that Msfatlier had done. 2 Kings xxiv. 9.
Of Zedekiah, the last king, who was as weak as be was wicked,
who broke faith with the poor of his people in refusing to enfran-
chise them in the seventh year, we are told that be "hardened bis
heart from turning unto the Lord God of Israel;" (2 Chron. xxxvi.
13;) so that, notwithstanding that God pleaded with bim also,
even as it were up to the last moment, (Jer. xxi. 12 — 14,) and
would have heard bim, if be bad confessed bis sins, even as be
heard wicked Ahab, (1 Kings xxi. 27 — 29,) and wicked Manasseb,
(2 Chron. xxxiii. 12, 13,) and remitted their punishment ; but all
in vain : we bear the dirge, ^ repeated for the last time —
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord,
According to all that Jehoiakim had done.
And here we may remark that in the last two cases it is no longer
said "according to all that his fathers had done," referring especially
to IManasseb, but according to all that ^'■his father," or "Jehoiakim,"
bad done : thus showing that their wickedness, as wickedness
always does, bad gone on increasing, " until, at length, the wrath
of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy."
(2 Cbron. xxxvi. 14 — 16 ; Jer. xxii. 9.)
These are the last kings of Judab : they were all captive kings.
Which of them is the pious king whom these writers delight to
honour 1 Let them take their choice.^ And now let anyone read
what the talented writer referred to justly styles that " exquisitely
plaintive song" (xlii.) which King Jehoiakim is supposed to have
written ; beginning —
As the hart longeth after the water-brooks,
So longeth my soul after tiieb:, 0 God !
My soul is athirst for cod, for the living God !
When shall I come to appear before God ?
^ Compare the dirge in tlie seventy-eighth psalm —
" But for all this they sinned yet more,
And believed not His wondrous works."
^ Ewald ascribes the forty-second psalm to Jelioiakim, and the eighty-fourth
to Jehoiaehin ! The reader will understand iVom v. 9 of this latter psalm,
" Look upon the face of thine anointed," that it was necessary to find a king
a.s the author of this psalm.
"internal evidence." 273
Or that otlier equally beautiful one (Ixxxiv.) which they ascribe to
his son Jehoiachin —
How lovely are Thy tabernacles, 0 Lord of hosts !
My soul hath a desire and longing for the courts of the Lord,
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God !
And he need not be a Solomon to declare who is the author of
them. While the forty-second and forty-third psalms are ascribed
by these writers to the infamous Jehoiakim, and the forty-fourth to
the "despised broken idol" Jehoiachin, the forty-fifth is supposed
by one critic ^ to have been written in honour of the marriage of
Ahab (of whom it is written that "there was none like unto Ahab,
which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the
Lord") with " wicked Jezebel !" and by another ^ — on the occasion
of the marriage of Jehoram, king of Judah (who murdered all
his brothers and many of the princes of Israel, (Judah,) 2 Chron.
xxi. 4) with Athaliah, the wicked daughter of wicked Ahab and
wicked Jezebel, who murdered all her grandchildren! (2 Kings
xi. 1 .) So much for the application of " internal evidence ! "
We have spoken rather depreciatingly of "internal evidence," as
thus addiiced in reference to the authorship of the Psalms. Let it not
be supposed that we disregard internal evidence : it would be foolish
in anyone to do so on any subject : and we ourselves have made con-
siderable use of internal evidence in the foregoing. essay : but what
w^e object to is that such evidence, as it is called, which is often no
evidence at all, but mere conjecture, is pushed beyond its limits.
In almost every such case the proper language would be — from this
or that circumstance toe may suppose, or we may conchide, or it is
])robafjle, or an argiiment may he drauni. An instance of this per-
version of " internal evidence " occurs in relation to Numb. vi.
21 — 26, which from its resemblance to Ps. Ixxvii. 1, is supposed by
Colenso to have been "probably written by a disciple of Samuel,
contemporary with David, who first introduced the name of
Jehovah ! " And from such evidence, and from the number of
times that the names of God — Elohim and Jehovah — occur in
the Pentateuch, he comes to the conclusion that the first four
books and the Book of Joshua were written by Samuel and his
disciples, and that the Book of Deuteronomy was written pro-
bably by Jeremiah ! It has been said that " with numbers we
can prove anything," and certainly with "internal evidence" used
in this manner we can prove whatever we please. Another instance
is afforded us by Delitzsch, who, fancying he sees a strong resem-
1 Hitzig. 2 Delitzsch.
274 ESSAY I.
blance between Ps. Ixxxviii., wliich bears the name of Heman,
and the Book of Job, " both as regards linguistic usage and
single thoughts, and also the .sufForing condition of the poet, and
the whole manner in which this finds expression," concludes that
the Book of Job was written by Heman, who with Ethan he sup-
poses " belonged to the wise men of the first rank at the court of
Solomon!"^ Sometimes indeed this "internal evidence" is con-
futed by some passage in the psalm itself: but in such cases we are
led to suppose that there has been "an addition by a later hand,"
that it is a " liturgical addition," that " a portion of another psalm
has slipped in," that there is " a mutilation by loss," " a transposi-
tion of the text," an insertion of "a fragment belonging to some other
psalm, and here altogether out of place." With these liberties taken
with the text, and the superscriptions cast aside, we can indeed prove
anything we please.^ Again, it is strange when critics have sought
so eagerly for ''internal evidence," that they should have limited
their inquiries to material facts, to matters of history, to ruggedness
of style, or to a soft and flowing one ; and should have taken no care
to examine the external evidence of prophecy or revelation, or the
internal evidence of piety. The result of this neglect has been that
writers have got more and more lost in the mazes of uncertainty,
till at last the psalms of the " sweet psalmist of Israel," the " man
after God's own heart," are attributed to perhaps the most wicked
king of the house of Judah, who was buried wath the burial of an
ass ; or to his son, who Avas likened to a despised broken idol ; or
to the miserable and wicked last king, whose eyes were put out
for his rebellion against the King of Babylon, and for his apostasy
towards God ! We cannot, indeed, take up any modern exposition
of the Psalms without seeing how every writer has felt the diffi-
culty of determining who are the writers of the several psalms :
for no two writers agree. ^ In treating of Ps. cxli. Peiv vne writes :
1 Bih. Com. iii. 23, 24.
^ Dulitz.sch points out an amusing instance of one of these criticisms.
" Bottcher transposes tlie verses in the alpliabetical Ps. cxi., ;ind corrects the
initial word of anotlier, Ps. cxii. ; in tlie warmth of liis critical zeal he runs
against tlic boundary posts of tlie letters marking the order, without observinjj;
it." Bib. Com. ii. 197. And of another critic, Hitzig, he says, "only liis
clairvoyant-like historical discernment is able " to fill up the ?iw?i-strophe of
the alphabetical Ps. cxlv. with v. 6 of Ps. cxli. II). iii. 388.
* Thus with regard to Ps. xlii. — xliii, Delitzsch writes — "What a variegated
pattern card of hypotheses modern criticism opens out in connection with this
psalm ! Vaihinger regards it as a song composed by one of the Lcvitcs, who
was banished by Athaliah. Ewald thinks that King Jeconiah, who was
carried away to Babylon, may have composed this psalm, and in fact when
(and this he infers from the psalm itself) ou the journey to Babylon, he may
"internal evidence." 275
" It is curious that whilst I)e Wette, describing; the psalm as ' a
very original, and therefore difficult psalm,' holds it to be one of
tho oldest in the collection, Maurer, almost on the same grounds,
sets it down as belonging to a comparatively late period."
The sixty-eighth psalm, however, forms the most extraordinary
instance. lieuss wrote a book — Der (wht-inid-sechzigste Psalm, ein
Detikmal cA-egctisclicr Xoth nnd Kutist zu Eliren. unaer (janzen Zunft,
Jena, IS.")! — in which he collects and exhibits the opinions of no
fewer than 400 rival interpreters, and which Hupfeld describes as
"written with much humour, full of points and antitheses in the
grouping, and very amusing to read." Perowne says : — " There is
the greatest difference of opinion both as to the occasion for which,
and the period at which the psalm was written : some, as Gesenius,
Ewald, Hupfeld, Olshausen, lieuss, regarding it as one of the later,
or even of the very latest of Hebrew poems ; and others, as Bottcher,
De Wette, Hitzig, classing it with the very earliest. One set of
critics sees in it every evidence of antiquity and originality :
another sees in it every mark of a late age, and a great absence of
originality." — Booh of Psalms, I. 498, 499. What weight indeed
can be attached to criticism thus uncontrolled, when we tind writers
like Hitzig, Von Lengerke, and Olshausen ascribing the greater part
of the Psalter to the Maccabees : viz., all the psalms in what are
called the third, fourtli, and fifth books, and many of those in the
first and second ! We have seen what are the consequences of this
disagreement : how that not merely the psalms which bear no
superscription are supposed to be written at a later time, but that
many of the psalms which bear the name of David are declared to
be written by someone else ; till at length, as with Hitzig, not one
psalm remains for the author of the Book of Psalms, the declara-
tions of our Lord and of His apostles notwithstanding ! Let us
then, seeing how possible it is that all the psalms, with perhaps
some few exceptions, were written by David, ascribe them, if only
have been detuined just a night in the vicinity of Ilcrmon. Reuss (Nouvelle
Revue de Theologie, 1858) prefers to suppose it is one of those who were
carried off witli Jeconiah (among whom there were also priests, as Ezekiel).
Hitzig, however, is no less decisive in his view that the author is a priest who
was carried olf in the direction of Syria at the time of the wars of the
Seleucida; and Ptolemies, probably Onias III., high priest from 199 B.C., [whom
he regards as] the collector of the Second Book of Psalms, and whom the
Egyptians under the general Skopas carried away to the citadel of Pancas.
Olshausen even here, as usual, makes Antiochus Epiphanes his watchword."
To these may be added Paulus, who, with De Wette, ascribes it to the time of
Jeroboam. It has been well said by Maurer — " Quserendo elegantissimi car-
minis scriptore frustra se fatigant interpretes. "
T 2
27G ESSAY I.
for couvenicnco, if only for usefulness of devotion, to liira •whose
name they bear when considered collectively. "We may infer from
the fiict of Ps. xcvi., cv., and cvi., bearing no titles, notwithstand-
ing tlie statement in the Book of Chronicles of David's being the
author, and from what we have already said, that Nehemiah, or
the compiler of the Book of Psalms, by not putting a title to these
particular psalms, believed that David was the author of all of
them ; from the fact of there being no division into books in the
Septuagint and the Chaldee, we may conclude that the authors of
these translations looked upon the whole as one book ; from Luke
XX. 42, and Acts i. 20, we may assume that our Lord and St. Peter
knew of no such division ; while from 2 Mac. ii. L3, and Heb. iv.
7, we may infer that from the time of the Maccabees to the Chris-
tian era the whole collection went by the name of David ; ^ " saying
in David," as St. Paul wiites. It is not extraordinary, therefore,
that we find Origen, Ambrose, Chrysostora, Theodoret, Augustine,
and Cassiodorus ascribing the whole collection to David, or that the
framers of our Liturgy have done so, who call the book collectively
" The Psalms of David," or that Chrysostom and the early Church
should call the Psalter " David," or that the ^Ethiopic Psalter
should conclude with "David is ended ; " or that the Syriac trans-
lations should call it .;, j^-iin l^Jiilib t.-cj> |>"ciiC).i^* j-D^o •:•
"The Psalms of David the King and Prophet."
In conclusion, then, we would say, that though, were we writing
a history of David, we should be extremely desirous to ascertain
the occasion when each ])salm was written, so as to place them all
in chronological arrangement ; and thereby investigate the character
of David ; showing how it was influenced and matured by the
chequered circumstances of his life, and how these circumstances
wrought in him a higher and more chastened expression of holiness :
yet, considej'ing that the Psalms, like all the Scriptures, are written
for our instruction and comfort in Divine things, and not to teach
us history ; just as we find that Holy Scripture does not teach us
astronomy, or geology, or genealogy, or national annals, when un-
connected with the history of God's Church, even when these sub-
jects are referred to ; let us endeavour to receive them as the WORD
OF GOD, written for ourselves, and not perplex ourselves about so
comparative} )j unimportant a thing as chronological arrangement. It
has pleased God that the Book of Psalms has come down to us
^ RaWii Meir in the Talmud, Pesachim 117a, and two modem commentators,
Klauss, 1832, and Randegger, 1841, attribute the whole collection to David.
(Delitzsch, i. 51.)
CONCLUSION. 1 1 i
in its present state, tlie penitential psalms and tlie psalms of re-
joicing being mixed together, so that we may more frequently mourn
for our sins, more frequently rejoice in God's mercy. Let us, then,
rather think of the application of the psalms to ourselves, than be
owr-curious to find out the particular occasions when they were
written ; lest onr minds should be so engrossed with applying every
circumstance in the psalms to these historical particulars, that we
fail in deriving any benefit to our own souls. But while we avoid
being over-curious, we are justified in forming and encouraged to
have a positive idea of the authorship of the psalms, in order that
we may have a more confident conception of their divine inspiration,
Uur Lord, in quoting them, said: — "David himself says in the Book
of Psalms ; " and St. Paul also says : — " Wherefore he (David) says
also in another psalm." It is therefore from a fear lest the belief
in the Divine inspiration of Scripture be weakened by such over-
curious research, that we protest against the system of chronological
arrangement of these critics, on reading which one is led to doubt
that any of the psalms were written by David : for if they reject
most of those which bear his name, how are we sure that they may
not be mistaken in the attribution to him of those which remain 1 ^
1 We may judgo of what tlie Jews thought on this suhject, by the fable
which we read ia the Midrash on Ps. iii. where we are tokl that when Joahua
]'cn Levi was endeavouring to put the Psalms in order, a voiee from iieaven
eried out to him — "Arouse not the slumberer ! " i.e. Disturb not David!
(Delitzsch, i. 17.)
Note to Page 247, too late for insert ion : — "As far as the structure of the
Hebrew language is concerned, we are unable to trace, with any minntcness, its
various transitions. The poems of David, of Isaiah, of Jeremiah, or Habakivuk,
are not in this way so broadh' distinguished from earlier compositions, as we
find to be the case in the dates of merely human songs. It is slieer ignorance
of this circumstance which made some rash Biblical critics hazard certain
theories respecting the dates and authorship of some portions of the Bible.
The German philogists, and their British disciples, reason on unsafe premises.
It is this ignorance Mhich betrayed some of tiie former, and misled .'■ome of
the latter, to i)ropound the preposterous idea tliat the Books of Closes, Isaiah,
Daniel, were penned by various writers who flourished at different periods iu
the annals of the Jewish Church, than those believed in." — The Poetry of the
Hebrew Pentateuch. By Dr. Moses Margoliouth, 1871.
ESSAY II.
ON THE EXTERNAL FOE]\r OF HEBREW POETRY AS
EXHIBITED IN THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
II.
ON THE EXTERNAL FORM OF HERREW POETRY AS EXHIBITED
IN THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
I. HE IlebrcAV Poetry differs from that of other nations in its
possessing neither rhyme nor metre. This assertion must startle
an ordinary reader, who would he unable to understand how that
could be poetry which is wanting in these two qualifications, at
least the latter ; no less than a classic student, who would deny
that to be poetry which is incapable of being scanned. After the
dispersion of the Jews consequent upon the destruction of Jeru-
salem, less attention was gradually given to Hebrew literature, and
those who studied the Sacred Books were mostly ignorant that any
portion of the text was written in a poetic form, the Rolls being
written in continuous lines, instead of having the lines separated
as in modern poetry. Of the Sacred MSS. which have come down
to us, two-thirds are written in continuous lines, like prose ; and
sometimes indeed with all the letters joined together;^ though
some of these, which have the INIasoretic points, have the lines
indicated by accents.^ These Masoretic copies, as well as those
which are written stichometrically, appear to be more recent than
the others. Were it otherwise, were they more ancient, we should
then be in no doubt as to the dividing or pointing of the lines in
our translations : all that we should have to do would be to follow
the Masoretic divisions. 15ut as such divisions are no part of the
original Hebrew, we cannot be sure that they always correspond
^ Le Clerc says, ' ' In codicibus antiquissimis Hebraicis Judfei fateutur,
voces nullis interstitiis sejunctas, nee ullis interpiinctionibus separatas esse ;
aut saltern, quani pliirimas ita conjunctas, quasi essent una vox." Kennicot,
Dissert. Gencralis, § 124.
^ Dr. Schiller-Szinessy observes that in the "Prideaux Pentateuch" belonging
to the Society of Biblical Archteolojry, "between verse and verse there is
generally a somewhat wider space left than between word and word."
282 ESSAY II.
with the original poetry. Any attempt, therefore, to print the
transUilion in a poetic form must be attended witli great uncer-
tainty, and regarded as a mere tentative elfort, and only looked
upon as authoritative Avhen most simple and most evident, and
most resembling those instances which we have in the Alphabetical
Psalms, where the initial letters leave no doubt as to the beginning
and end of each line. Though the Hebrew rolls were written in
the form of continuous prose, it is evident that the Jews knew
that some portions were poetical, for Josephus so speaks of them
in his " Jewish Antiquities." Like Josephus, Philo-Judaius,
Origen, Eusebius, Isidore, and other fathers of the Church, thought
the poetry was written in classic metre, as the hexameter and
pentameter. Jerome, however, seems to have noted the existence
of parallelism in the Book of Psalms ; for his translation, which
was executed in the fourth century, is written stichometrically, or
in lines.
Delitzsch observes that — "There is no Hebrew MS. which could
have formed the basis of the arrangement of the Psalms in stichs :
those which we possess only break the IMasoretic verse — if the
space of the line admits of it — for ease of writing into two halves,
without even regarding the general injunction. . . . that the breaks
are to be regulated by the beginnings of the verses and the two
great pausal accents. Nowhere in the MSS. which divide and
break up the words most capriciously, is there to be seen any trace
of the recognition of those old Q^p^DD ^eing preserved. These were
not merely lines determined by the space, as were chiefly also the
(TTtxoi or €7rT], according to the numT)er of which the compass (jf
Greek Avords was recorded, but lines determined by the sense, kwXu
(Suidas : KwXoy u dTTr}pTirTf.ikvr]y 'irrniav e^wi' ori'^ot) as Jerome wrote
his Lalin translation of the Old Testament alter the model of the
Greek and Pu)man orators, {e.g. the MSS. of Demosthenes,) per
cola et co7nmata, i.e. in lines breaking off according to the sense."
{Bib. Com. 1, 27, 28.) The result is that none of the Hebrew
MSS. po.ssess any absolute authority fur the division of the lines :
they difler from each other in the pointing, and this pointing is
often not merely capricious, but evidently false, and opposed alike
to parallelism and construction. All that we can conclude from
these MSS., whether written stichometrically or divided by the
Masoretic accents, is that the early copyists perceived that what
they were copying was poetry, and that they tried, though often in
vain, to arrange it as such. It follows, therefore, that, however
the original was written, as the earliest copies are written con-
tinuously, and the later ones only occasionally written stichouietri-
ESSAY II. 283
cally, but never agreeing in the division of the lines, it is hopeless
to expect that we shall ever discover with absolute certainty,
having neither metre nor rhyme to assist us, what was the original
division of the verse ; and tliat we can only arrive at an api)roxi-
mate realization of tlie original disposition and arrangement, by the
study and comparison of successive eiforts to restore sucli arrange-
ment. Every fresh attempt, therefore, to exhibit the arrangement
of the Hebrew poetry should be based, not upon the writer's
caprice or imagination, but upon a careful examination of all pre-
vious efforts, to see whether in some instances the writer's arrange-
ment, instead of being an improvement on former essays, may not
be a falling back from what has been already done.
The revival of the study of Hebrew literature took place imme-
diately after the discovery of printing in the fifteenth century,
when several editions of the Hebrew Scriptures were published by
learned Jews, in which the poetical parts of Scripture were distin-
guished from the prosaic portions. In the sixteenth century, liabbi
Azarias noted the existence of parallelism in the Hebrew poetry;
and a few years after him, in 1560, Professor Morell, of Paris, pub-
lished the first and second psalms in the form of verse. In the
seventeenth century, Gomarus in 1637, Meibonius in 1674, and
others, thought to improve upon the writers of the preceding cen-
tur}', by discovering that Hebrew poetry resembled that of the
Greeks and llomans in the arrangement of its metre — a conceit
which was still further improved upon towards the end of the
century and the beginning of the next, by Le Clerc, Garofalo, and
Pourmont. who pretended to discover the existence of rhyme also.
Bishop Hare, towards the middle of the eighteenth century, in-
veighed against these fancies, though he still thought that Hebrew
poetry contained some of the Greek measures. Put it was not till
1763 that parallelism was reasserted to be the sole base of the
Hebrew poetry. In this year. Dr., afterwards Bishop, Lowth
brought out his Prwlectiones, '' Lectures on the Sacred Poetry of
the Hebrews," in which he divides this parallelism into three
kinds : 1, — Synonymous : when the several lines express the same
sense, as in Ps. i. v, 1 : —
• Blessed is the man tliat walketli not in tlic counsel of tlie ungodly ;
That standeth not in tlie way of sinners ;
And tliat sitteth not in tlie seat of the scornful.
2, — Antithetic : when the lines are contrasted with, or op^iosed to
each other, as in v. 7 : —
For the IjOrd knoweth the way of the righteous ;
But the way of tlie ungodly shall peri.sh.
284 ESSAY II.
3, — Synthetic : Avhen tliere is a diversify of figure, but a similarity
of construction and .signilication, as in v. 4 : —
His leaf also shall not wither ;
And look, whatsoever he doeth, it shall prosper.
These three varieties of Bishop Lowth may for our present purpose
he united under one class wliich we will cull direct or regular. The
opposite to this is the inverted, as in v. 2 : —
But whose delight is in the law of tlie Lord,
And in His law doth he exercise himself day and night ;
which would be converted into a direct parallelism by reading —
Anil who exercises himself day and night in His law.
But though this principle of parallelism forms the general cha-
racteristic, it will be freijueatly found to fail, as in v. 3, where no
parallelism whatever can be detected : —
And he shall be like a tree planted hy the water-side, that will bring
forth his fruit in due season.
It is evident that this verse, standing in the middle of other verses
in the psalm, all of which are divisible into two lines which are
parallel with each other in one of the above-mentioned ways, must
also be divided into two lines, though its parts run only in con-
tinuation of each other, as in ordinary prose : —
And he shall be like a tree planted by the water-side,
That will bring forth his fruit in due season.
It follows that the verse, though not appearing to conform to the
law of parallelism, must be judged to be poetical, because it is in the
midst of other verses which we know to be such ; provided that
the verse from its structure is capable of division into two lines,
and that these lines correspond with the lines of the other verses.
Indeed, it is generally admitted in poetry that the occasional intro-
duction of a less artiiicial form of composition gives greater force
and value to those parts which are more studied, as well as greater
variety. Sometimes, however, the verse appears incapable of sub-
division into two lines, and exhibits an apparent want of corre-
spondence and apposition with those adjoining it, in all of which
we find parallelism to be evident, while in this particular verse we
see only harshness and incongruity ; but on more carefully examin-
ing any such verse, we shall invariably find that its suporlluous
part disposes of itself in one or other of the following ways : either,
ESSAY TI, 285
it is capable of subdivision into two lines, however short ; or we
may indent it, so as to form the conimenccment or the conchision
of a paragraph ; or we shall find that what appears as the super-
fluous part of one verse ties in with the superabundant part of the
following verse, so that what is divided into two verses in our
Bibles, ought to have been divided into three verses.
Wo will first consider some instances in which the line is capable
of division into two short lines ; and we will begin by adducing an
instance where we have undoubted authority for such short lines.
It is in Ps. XXV., where the lines are marked by the letters of the
alphabet : —
n Lead me in Thy truth,
1 And teach mo.
And in another alphabetical psalm it appears equally evident ; for
in the thirty-fourth psalm we find each letter of the alphabet
occupying a distich ; and therefore each of the following letters
should do so also : — •
n Tliey had an eye unto Ilim,
And were lightened ;
1 And tlieir faces
Were not ashamed.
These short lines are, however, generally used when it is desired to
give peculiar solemnity to some word, as, for example, to the name
of God :—
And upon tlie harp will I c;iYe thanks unto Thee,
0 GOD, MY God ! (Ps. xliii. 4.)
— Thine altars, 0 Lord of hosts,
My KING and my god ! (Ps. Ixxxiv. 3.)
Be ye sm-e that the Lord
HE IS GOP ! (Ps. c. 3.)
The name of God in such instances becomes invested with peculiar
awe and reverence ; and there is no doubt that, however dispro-
portioned a short line may appear to the eye, as connected with a
long line ; to the ear, the slow and reverend manner w^ith which
the name of God in such instances would be pronounced, would be
considered as a sufficient equivalent.
When the line is incapable of thus forming a distich, it may be
found to commence a paragraph : —
Arise, 0 Lord !
Let not TTian have the upper hand :
Let the heathen be judged in Thy sight. (Ps. ix. 19.)
286 ESSAY II.
Arise, 0 Lord !
Lift up Tiiiue liaml :
Forget not the poor. (Ps. x. 13.)
The Lonl liveth !
And blessed he my Rock,
And praised he the God of my salvation. (Ps. rviii. 47.)
But unto the ungodly said God —
" Why dost thou preath Jly laws,
" And' takest My covenant in thy mouth ? " (Ps. 1. 16.)
But the king shall rejoice in God :
All they also that swear hy Him shall he commended :
But the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.
(Ps. Ixiii. 12.)
But as for me,
I make my prayer unto Thee, 0 Lord,
In an acceptable time. (Ps. Ixix. 13.)
And many other instances.
But the greatest number of examples of this kind occur in the
beginning of psalms, where the line forms a kind of title, or proem,
among which may be mentioned the following : —
Blessed is the man
) That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,
I That standcth not in the way of sinners,
LAikI that sitteth not in tho seat of the scornful. (Ps. i.)
In the Lord put I my trust !
How say ye then to my soul —
' Flee as a bird to your hill !" (Ps. xi.)
Help me, 0 Lord !
For there is Jiot one godly man left !
For tho faithful are minished from among the children of men.
(Ps. xii.)
I will magnify Thee, 0 Lord !
For Thou hast .set me up,
And hast not made my foes to triumph over me. (Ps. xxx.)
In Thee, 0 Lord, have I put my trust !
Let me never be put to confusion ;
Deliver me in Thy righteousness. (Ps. xxxi.)
Blessed is ho tliat considcreth the jioor.
The Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble :
The Lord will preserve lujn aTid keep him alive. (Ps. xli.)
Judge me, 0 God !
And i)lead my cause against an ungodly people :
O deliver me from the deceitful and wicked man. (Ps. xlii.)
ESSAY II. 287
Ef! nioivifnl unto mc, 0 Goil !
For man f^oeth ahout to devour mc :
He is daily li^'litiii!,' and troubling me.
Mine eiu'iuies strive daily to devour me ;
For there ui'e many that light proudly against me. (Ps. Ivi.)
Hoar, 0 Thou She]>her(l of Israel !
Thou that leadest Joseph like a sliecp,
Thou that dwellest between the cherubim, shine forth I
(Ps. Ixxx.)
How beloved are Thy tabernatdes, 0 Lord of hosts!
My soul hath a desire and a longing for the courts of the Lord !
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God ! (Ps. Ixxxiv.)
The Lord is King I
Let the earth rejoice,
Let the multitude of the isles bo glad thereof ! (Ps. xcvii.)
The Lord saitl unto my Lord-
" vSit Thou on My right hand,
" Until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool." (Ps. ex.)
I was glad when they said unto me —
" Tjct us go into the house of the Lord,
" Our feet shall stand in thy gates, 0 Jerusalem." (Ps. cxxii.)
Blessed be the Lord my strength !
"Who teacheth my hands to war,
And my lingers to fight. (Ps. cxliv.)
Praise ye the Lord !
For it is a good thing to sing praises unto our God,
For it is a joyful and pleasant thing to sing praises. (Ps. cxlvii.)
Sometimes tlie supernumerary verso forms a striking termination : —
I will be glad and rejoice in Thee :
Yea, my songs will 1 make of Thy name,
0 Thou Most Highest ! (Ps. ix. 2.)
He will convert my soul,
He will bring me forth into the paths of righteousness,
For His name's sake. (Ps. xxiii. 3.)
Thou sufferedst men to ride over our heads ;
We went through tire and water ;
And Thou broughtcst us out into a wealthy place. (Ps. Ixvi. 11.)
More mighty than the voices of many waters.
More mighty than the waves of the sea,
Is Jehovah in the highest ! (Ps. xciii. 5.)
'2iiii ESSAY H.
Oonfomidi'd he all tlioy that worship caivcil images,
That (Ifliglit ill vain '^oiU :
Worshi]> llim all ye f,'o(ls !
Sioii licanl (if it, and rejoiced,
And the dauf,diters of Judah were glad,
Because of Thy judgments, 0 Lord ! (Ps. xcvii. 7, 8.)
And so in many other instances.
The last way in which the supernumerary line is disposed of is
by connecting it with the supernumerary line of another verse.
This is done in two ways : hy connecting it with the first line of
the following verse, thus forming an anadiplosis : —
Lift np your heads, 0 ye gates ;
And Tu' ye lift up, ye everlasting doors ;
And the King of Glory shall come in !
" Who is this King of Glory ? "
It is the Lord, strong and mighty !
It is the Lord, mighty in battle ! (Ps. xxiv. 7, 8 ; and also 9, 10.)
or, which is more common, hy connecting it with the corresponding
line of the following verse : —
The earth tremhled, and was troubled ;
The foundations of the mountains shook and were removed ;
I'ecause He was wrotli !
There went a .smoke out of His nostrils.
And a consuming fire out of His mouth.
So that coals were kindled at it.
At the brightness of His ]ircscnce
There issued from his thiek clouds
Hailstones and coals of fire.
The Lord tliundered out of heaven,
And the Highest gave His thunder.
Hailstones and coals of fire. (Ps. xviii. 7, 8 ; 12, 13.)
But the most heautiful example of this description occurs in Ps.
Ixx., Avliich will be exhibited presently.
Of conr.se it is not necessary to speak of triplets, the occasional
use of which gives great beauty to the composition.
'The voice of the Lord is upon the waters,
The God of glory commandeth the thunder,
The Lord is upon many waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful,
^ The voice of the Lonl is hill of majesty.
The voice of the Lord brcaketh the cedar trees.
The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire,
'i'ho voice of the Lord .shnkcth the wilderness,
.The Lord shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh. (Ps. xxi.x. 3 — 8.)
ESSAY II. 289
That walkotli not in tlm counsel of the ungodly,
That staiiilctli not in the way of sinners,
And that sittuth not iu the seat of tlic scornful. (Ps. i. 1.)
Let destruction come upon him unawares,
Let his net which he hath hid catch himself,
And let him fall into his own destruction. (Ps. xxxv. 8.)
He imagineth mischief upon his bed,
He hath set himself in no good way,
He doth not abhor anything that is evil. (Ps. xxxvi. 4. )
Let not the water-flood drown me.
And let not the deej) swallow me up,
And let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. (Ps. Ixix. 16.)
The waters saw Thee, 0 God !
The waters saw Thee, and were afraid :
The depths also were troubled.
The clouds poured out water.
The air thundered.
And Thine arrows were discharged.
The voice of Thy thunder was heard round about.
The lightnings shone upon the ground.
The earth was moved and shook withal.
Thy way is in the sea.
Thy jMths in the gi-eat waters.
And Thy footsteps are not known. (Ps. Ixxvii. 16 — 19.)
The floods have lifted, 0 Lord,
The floods have lifted their voice,
The floods lift up their waves ! (Ps. xciii. 4.)
The right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass.
The right hantl of the Ijord hath the preeminence,
The right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty tilings to pass.
(Ps. cxviii. 16.)
Sihon, King of the Amorites,
And ()g, the King of Basan,
And all the kingdoms of Canaan. (Ps. cxxxv. 11.)
I remember the time past,
I muse upon all Thy works,
I exercise myself in the works of Thy hands. (Ps. cxliii. 5.)
In one case we find a double triplet : —
How long wilt Thou forget me, 0 Lord !
For ever ?
How long wilt Thou hide Thy face from me !
How long shall I seek counsel in my soul,
And be so vexed in my heart !
How long shall mine enemy triumph over me ! (P.s. xiii. 1,2.)
U
290 ESSAY II.
From all this it will bo evident that a third line, as it appears
ill modern translations following the Masoretic division of the
verses in our Bibles, is inadmissible, unless it can be disposed of
in one of these methods : either in forming a triplet, or as the
commencement or termination of a distich. Want of attention in
this respect has caused the parallelism to be frequently obscured.
Thus, in Ps. Ixvi., owing to three lines being placed together in the
beginning, we have in v. 3 : —
Say unto God — How ti'iii))le Tlion art in 'I'liy works :
Through the gi'catness of Thy power shall Thine enemies submit them-
selves unto Thee,
which gives no connection : but if we make use of the third line
we restore the parallelism and restore the sense : —
Make His praise to he glorious !
Say unto God — How wonderful are Thy works !
Thine enemies shall submit through the greatness of Thy power :
All the earth shall worship Thee.
Starting from this principle, that a single or odd line is in-
admissible, it becomes nccessaiy, if we wish to exhibit the paral-
lelism- of the original, to disregard the division of the Psalms
into verses, whether as respects the division exhibited in the
Hebrew, or that of our Bible version, or that of our Prayer-book
version. In our Paragraph Bible it will be found that there are
sixteen verses which contain but one line each ; 340 which contain
three lines each ; and three which contain five lines each : thus
making 359 odd lines. Thirty-six of these are portions of triplets ;
so that there still remain 323 odd lines which ouffht to have been
accounted for, and which the reader will find disposed of in the
accompanying exposition. The reader can compare Ps. lix. as here
given with the psalm as exhibited in the Paragraph Bible, which
contains nine verses of three lines each.
Hitherto Ave have considered Hebrew parallelism as affecting
the two hemistichs of any single verse ; but we must now enlarge
our notion of this parallelism, and consider it as capable of
extending to adjoining verses, or even to distant verses, as in the
epa7io(los.
Sometimes the parallelism is alternate; and sometimes introverted.
The alternate parallelism is almost as frequent as the regular or
direct. It forms a quatrain, of which sometimes only two lines
correspond, but sometimes tlie other two also. In most instances
this correspondence is visible in our translation.
ESSAY II. 291
Have mercy upon me, 0 Lord,
For I am weak :
Heal me, O Lord,
For my bones are vexed. (Ps. vi. 2. )
The Lord lookctli down from heaven ;
He beholdcth all the children of men :
From the habitation of His dwellinj^
He consideretli all them that dwell on the earth. (Ps. xx.xiii. 1.3.)
Except the Lord build the house.
The builders have but toiled in vain !
Except the Lord keep the city,
Tlie watchman waketh but in vain ! (Ps. cxxvii. 1, 2.)
Thy wife shall be as the fruitful vine
Upon the walls of thy house ;
Thy children like the olive branches
Kound about thy table. (Ps. cxxviii. 3, 4.)
But in other instances it has not "been sufficiently noticed by our
translators, though evident enough in the original : —
When the wii:;ked came upon me
To eat up my flesh :
Even mine enemies and my foes,
They stumbled and fell. (Ps. xxvii. 2.)
He that walketh in the path of weeping.
Hearing forth good seed ;
Shall come back in the path of rejoicing.
Bearing his sheaves with him. (Ps. cxxvi. 7. )
Sometimes the two lines are not equal, hut one line is shorter than
the other. It is called " a half-brick upon a brick, and a brick upon
ahaifbrick." ^n^^ ur'^j; nnh^ n^ih ^irbv nn^s-
The nineteenth psalm affords a specimen : —
The law of the Lord is perfect.
Converting the soul :
The testimony of the Lord is s\ire,
Giving wisdom itnto the simple.
The statutes of the Lord are right,
Rejoicing the heart :
TIk; conmiandment of the Lord is pure,
(Jiving light unto the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean.
Enduring for ever :
The judgments of the Lord are true.
And righteous altogether.
The alternate parallelism is not confined to occasional verses, but
frequently, as in the above instance, is exhibited in a long series,
u3
2i)L' ESSAY II.
and with considerable beauty. A portion of a psalm is composed
in direct parallolisni, and tlien changes to alternnte parallelism, and
then perhaps chan<jes back again to direct parallelism. Ps. xix.,
xxvii., xl., xliv., Iviii., Ixxviii., cv., cix., and cxviii. are thus
written ; while Ps. xv., ci., and cxxxvi. arc written entirely in
alternate parallelism.
But the alternate parallelism is not confined to quatrains: the
following example exhibits a hexastich : —
He lieth in ambush in tlie streets ;
In his secret places doth he murder the innocent :
His eyes are set against tliose who are troubled in lieart.
He lieth in amlmsh in secret places, as a lion in liis lair :
He lieth in ambush to catch the afflicted :
He catcheth the afllictcd, and draweth him into his net.
(Ps. X. 8. 9.)
And the following a double quatrain, or octostich : —
The sea saw that, and fled :
Jordan was driven back,
The mountains skipjjcd like rams,
And the little hills like young sheep.
What ailed thee, O sea, that thou flcddest.
And thou, Jordan, that thou wnst driven back ?
Ye mountains tliat ye skipped like rams,
And ye little hills like young sheep ? (Ps. cxiv. 3 — 6.)
We now come to the introverted parallelism. This frequently
appears as a quatrain ; of which sometimes only two lines cor-
respond ; sometimes the other two also : —
The Lord himself is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup ;
Thou shalt maintain my lot.
The lot is fallen unto me in a fair ground,
Yea, I have a goodly heritage. (Ps. xvi. 6, 7.)
Thou shalt make them like a fiery oven
In the time of Thy wrath :
The Lord shall destroy them in His anger.
And the fire shall consume them. (Ps. xxi. 9.)
Give them according to their deeds.
According to the wickedness of their own inventions :
According to the work of their hands give them :
Pay them that they have deserved. (Ps. xxviii. 4, 5.)
Then the waters had drownied us,
The stream had gone over our soul :
Then there had gone over our soul
Even the deep waters of the proud. (Ps. cxxiv. 3, 4.)
ESSAY II. '2i)3
Very frequently it is difficult to tell whether the parallelism is to
be treated as inverted or introverted ; that is to say, whether it is
intended as a distich or as a tetrastich or quatrain : the rule appears
to be, that when too long for a distich it is to be made a quatrain ;
as in the foregoing instances : and when too short for a quatrain,
unless very emphatic, it is to form a distich : but in reading these a
slight ctesura should bo made use of, in the places where the division
would bo were the distich converted into a quatrain ; —
There have siuTouiided me | many bulls :
Mighty bulls of i>a.sau | compass me about. (Ps. xxii. 12. )
I will give thanks unto the Lord | at all times :
Continually | shall His praise be in my mouth.
The Lord is nigh | unto them that are of a contrite heart :
And such as be of an hunilile spirit | He will sa\e.
(Ps. xxxiv. 1, 18.)
Misfortune shall slay | the ungodly :
And they that hate the righteous | shall be desolate.
The Lord delivereth | the souls of His servants :
And all they that trust in Him | shall not be destitute.
(Ps. xxxiv. 1, 18, 21, 22.)
Whoso dwelleth | under the defence of the Most High,
Under the shadow of the Almighty | he shall abide. (Ps. xci. 1.)
For the Lord will not fail | His people ;
And his inheritance | He will not forsake. (Ps. xci v. 14.)
But though the introverted parallelism is sometimes too short to
form a quatrain, as in the foregoing examples of inverted parallelism,
in some cases it is much longer, and then forms an Upa/iodos, as in
the following hexastichs : —
Behold he travaileth with iniquity :
He hath conceived mischief, and brought forth ungodliness.
He made a pit, and digged it :
And he hath fallen himself into the pit which he hath made.
His mischief sliall return upon his own head,
And his violence shall come upou his own pate. (Ps. vii. 14 — 16.)
Thou hast relniked the heathen,
Tiiou hast destroyed the ungodly :
Thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.
The destructions of the enemy are ended lor ever.
Their cities are destroyed.
Their memorial is perished with them. (Ps. ix.6, 7.)
294 ESSAY II.
TIio unn;oiily have drawn out the sword,
And liiive bont their l)ow,
To cast down tlie poor and needy,
To shi}' sui'h as are nl' a rii^lit eonvorsation.
Their sword shall go through their own heart.
And their bow shall be broken. (Ps. xxxvii. 14, 15.)
Turn us then, 0 God our Saviour !
And let Thine anger cease from us.
Wilt Thou be angry witli us for ever !
Wilt Tliou streteh out Thy wrath from generation to generatiou !
Wilt 'i'hou not turn again and quicken us.
That Thy people may rejoice in Thee ! (Ps. Ixxxv. 4 — 6.)
Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling-place,
From generation to generation.
Before the mountains were brought forth.
Or ever the earth and the world were made,
Even from everlasting to everlasting,
Thou art god ! (Ps. xc. 1, 2.)
The Lord hath declared His salvation.
In the sight of the heathen
H(! hath revealed His righteousness.
Ho hath remembered His mercy and truth
Towards the house of Israel :
All the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God.
Shout aloud unto the Lord, all ye lands !
Break forth, sing joyfully, sing psalms.
Sing psalms unto the Lord upon the harp.
With harp, and witli nielodj' of psalm :
With trumjjets also, and with melody of cornet.
Shout aloud unto the Lord the King ! (Ps. xcviii. 2 — 6. )
Unto Thee lift I up mine eyes,
O Thou that dwellest in the heavens !
Behold, even as the eyes of servants
Look unto the hand of their masters,
And the eyes of a maiden
Unto the hand of her mistress.
Even so our eyes wiiit upon the Lord our God,
Until He have mercy upon us. (Ps. cxxiii. 1, 2.)
The idols of the heathen are but silver and gold,
Th(! work of tiie hands of man !
They have mouths, and yet they speak not ;
They liave eyes, :uid yet they see not ;
They have ears, and yet tliey hear not ;
Neither is there a)iy breath in tlieir mouths.
They that make them are like unto them ;
An I so are all such as put their trust in them. (Ps. cxxxv. 15 — 18.)
ESSAY ir. 295
But in many cases tlie epanodos is octostich, decasticli, or even
longer : —
Thou hast mightily delivered Thy people,
Even the sons of Jacob and Joseph.
The waters saw Thee, 0 God !
The waters saw Thee, and were afraid ;
The depths also were troubled.
The elouds poured out water,
The air tlniiidered.
And Thine arrows were discharged.
The noise of Tliy thunder was heard round about,
The lightnings shone upon the giouiid.
The eai'tli was troubled, and shook witlial.
Thy way is in tlie sea, and Thy paths in the great waters,
And Tliy footsteps are not known ! ^
Thou leddest Thy people, like sheep.
By the hands of Moses and Aaron. (Ps. Ixxvii. 15 — 20.)
Lastly, on referring to Ps. xxix. and Ixvii. in the text, the reader
will see that in some instances the whole psalm is composed as an
epanodos : the former of these examples being also composed in
triplets. That this attention given to the ejKUiodos is of use, is
evident from Ps. Ixxx. where it enables us to understand the mean-
ing of the terms " branch," "man of Thy right hand," and "son of
man," which have led some commentators astray. It is by means
of the ejianodos also that we are able in some cases to explain
metaphors, and to. determine the correct meaning of some disputed
word. See note on the word A'aim, translated" unicorn," in Ps. xxii.
In treating of parallelism, we must not omit to notice a kind of
double parallelism evident in many of the psalms : the same line
being connected wi1h two other lines ; so that it is sometimes diffi-
cult to tell with which it should be joined. This ambiguity imparts
a more pleasing character, and greater richness to the composition,
though it necessarily creates a great difficulty and uncertainty as to
the kind of parallelism intended. The following examples will suffice
as an illustration. The first is from the seventy-second Psalm : —
Give T\\y judgments, 0 Lord, unto the king.
And Thy rinlttcoiisncss unto the king's son :
Let him rule Thij people with righteousness,
And Thy poor icith judgment.
Or it may be read thus : —
Give Thy judgments, O Lord, unto the king.
And Thy righteousness unto the king's son
Let him rule Thy people with righteousness,
And Thy poor with judgment.
^ This example is the more remarkable, that it is at the same time composed
in triplets. See p. 289.
296 ESSAY II.
Or if wc take in the next verse, it may read thus : —
Give Thy jiulgments, 0 Lord, unto the king,
And Thy riijlilroHsncss unto the kings son :
Let him rule Thy people with righteousness,
And Thy poor with judgment.
Let the vwuntain'i bring peace unto Thy people,
Aud the hills righteousness.
The next is from the hundred and twenty-first psahii :—
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills
From whence comoth my help :
My help conieth even from the Lord
Who made heaven and earth ;
Or—
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills
From whence cometh my help :
My help cometh even from the Lord
Who made heaven and earth.
Again, in the same psalm : —
He M'ill not .sulfcr thy foot to be moved,
He that kcejuih thee will not slumber.
Behold, He will not slumher.
And M'ill not slcc}!, that keepeth Lsrael..
The Lord is thy keeper :
The Lord is thy defence upon thy right hand.
Or—
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved.
He that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Beliold, He will i\c\t\\QV slumher, nor sleep,
Tiiat keejieth Israel.
The Lord is thy keepei'.
The Lord is thy defence upon thy right hand.
Or—
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved,
He that kt'cpitii tliee will not slumber.
Behold, He will neither slumber, nor sleep,
That keepeth Israel.
The Lord is thy keeper ;
The Lord is thy defence upon thy right hand.
Or—
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved.
He that keepe/h thee will not slumber.
Behold, He will not slumber.
And will not sleep that keepeth Israel.
ESSAY II. 297
Again, in the liuiulred and ninth psahn, wliere, from the "words " In
return I'or my k)vo," wo may either put as parallel the first and third
lines, the first and fourth lines, or the third and fourth —
In return for my lovo tliey are my adversaries :
But I betake myself unto prayer.
And tliey have rewardeil me evil, in return for good,
And hatred, in return I'or love.
If the reader -will now further compare the two renderings of
Ps. xxix,, the rendering of verses IG — 21 of Ps. xl., as given in
the rendering of that psahn in its proper place, and as these same
words appear in Ps. Ixx., where they constitute an entire psalm ;
if he will compare the two arrangements of Ps. Ixvii.; as also
Ps. Ixxvii., as given in pages 289 and 295 ; he will perceive
how the same psalm may be exhibited in totally different ways, and
yet how each manner may exhibit a peculiar elegance.
From these examples we may see how very difficult it is to
determine in all cases what are the corresponding lines ; and from
this very difficulty perhaps we may perceive why the Hebrew
poetry was written continuously like prose, the division of the lines
being left to the skill and appreciation of the reader.
The importance of the study of parallelism cannot be too
strongly insisted on : for many instances will occur where the true
meaning of obscnre passages may be discovered by this means.
Thou Last rebuked the heathen,
Thou hast destroyed the ungodly.
Thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.
Tlie destructions of the wicked are ended for ever.
Their cities are destroyed ;
Their memorial is perished with them. (Ps. ix. 5, 6.)
Have mercy upon me, 0 Lord !
Consider the alllietion which 1 suffer of them that hate me ;
0 Thou that liftest me up from the gates of death.
That I may show all Thy praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion.
(Ps. ix. 13, 14.)
Into Thy hands I commend my spirit :
For THOU hast redeemed m«.
0 bord, Thou God of truth,
Thou hatest all them that adhere to lying idols. (Ps. xxxi. 5, 6.
But in my adversity they rejoiced and gathered together ;
The altjects gathered against me :
And though I regarded not,
They tore at me, and refrained not. (Ps. xxxv. 15.)
298 ESSAY II.
Lord, let mc know my end,
And the nunil>er of ni}' days ; '
That I may know wliat it is,
And when 1 shall be called hence. (Ps. xxxix. 4.)
Or ever the sticks make the pot to boil.
So, fed by Thy wratli, let them consume away. (Ps. Iviii. 9.)
For a thousand years
Are in Thy sight but as a day !
As yesterday wluui it is ]>ast.
And as a watch in the night !
Thou scatterest tliem — they are as a dream when the morning coraeth;
They are as the grass which changeth. (Ps. xc. 4, 5. )
He will ]iour contempt upon princes,
Making them wander outcast into tlie wilderness ;
While He will set on high the poor from alUiction,
Making them households like a Hock of sheep. (Ps. cvii. 40, 41.)
While in tlie twenty-fifth psalm, one of the alphabetical psalms,
a deficient letter of the alphabet, "], which is wanting in former
translations, is restored : —
n Lead me forth in Thy truth,
1 Am-, teach me :
Yor Thou art the God of my salvation :
In Thee do I hope all the day long.
This example is the more important as it shows that the lines are
sometimes exceedingly short : and it miglit have been this length of
line, sometimes short and sometimes long, which induced Josejihus,
in writing to Greeks and liomans, to describe the Hebrew poetry as
consisting of, that is to say, assimilating in form to, trimeters and
tetrameters, as well as hexameters and pentameters.
Eet'ore quitting the subject of parallelism, it may not be irrelevant
to notice a seeming coincidence between the Hebrew and Chinese
poetry, pointed out by Dr. Morrison ; though the force of the con-
nection is lessened by the examples which he gives being confined
to proverbs : —
The white stone, uiifra<'turc(l, ranks as most precious :
The blue lily, unlih iiiislicd, emits the finest fragrance.
The heart whicli is harassed, finds no place of rest :
The mind, in the midst of bitterness, thinks only of grief.
With the cravings of the heart, the health is nourishing :
With many anxious thoughts, the coustitutiou decays.
ESSAY ir. 299
Many other examples of Chinese parallelism are given in Sir
John Francis Davis's " Poetry of the Chinese ;" from which we
take the following : —
Unsnlli(!d poverty is always happy :
Iiupurc wealth brings many sorrows.
Prosecuting virtne, is like ascending a steep :
Pursuing vice, like rushing down a precipice.
Consider not any vice as trivial,
And so practise it :
Regard not any virtue as unimportant.
And so neglect it.
So ftir witlx regard to parallelism. But in addition to this feature
we find other peculiarities ; the first of which is that many of the
psalms are supposed to exhibit a dramatic character, being divided
into strophes of dilferent length, sometimes supposed to be spoken
by different persons, as God, the Messiah, the Psalmist, the church,
and the wicked. Many translators have attempted to exhibit these
instances of Prosopopma ; but no two such writers agree, and this
disagreement adds to the repugnance with which we see any addition
made to the Word of God. The divisions are generally sufficiently
marked for the reader to know by whom the parts are supposed to
be spoken ; more especially as some such words as — " But unto the
Avicked said God," or, " Lo, these are the ungodly ;" or, " Then
said I," are inserted, to teach us the meaning. That some of the
psalms Avere divided into stanzas or strophes, is evident from
Ps. cxix; and Psalms xiv., xvi., (capable of being divided into
seven stanzas,) xxix., liii., Ixvii., Ixxxvii., xcviii., and cxl., may be
cited as instances : but tliese instances must be regarded only as
exceptions to the general rule.
The next characteristic, and one which demands more attention,
is the introduction of an Antiphon, or refrain ; or what we Avould
call a chorus, having borrowed the term from the ancient chorus.
These antiphons are recognizable in most of the psalms, and were
doubtless sung by the whole choir, as noticed at large in the Intro-
duction. David appointed Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, as
directors of his choir; under them as assistants were the four sons
of Asaph, the fourteen sons of Heman, and the six sons of Jeduthun :
and each of these twenty-four had a band of twelve relatives under
him, thus making a total of two hundred a}id ninetj^-one performers
or singers : (1 Chron. xxv ;) to whom were joined four thousand
Levites, (I Ciiron. xxiii. 5,) to "praise the Lord;" while thirt3'-four
thousand other Levites had other functions attached to them. It
300 ESSAY II.
cannot be an idle conjecture, thon, that with such an apparatus
the Psahn.s of David were sung with all the accessorial accompani-
ments which the division into lull choruses and semi-choruses would
produce ; especially when we remember that prophesying and sing-
ing were so identical. The antii)hons in some psalms may be
readily recognized, as in the forty-second and forty-third, which
form one psalm ; and in the hundred and seventh ; because in
these instances the same words appear repeatedly : but in other
psalms where the words are dilferent, they have to be searched for.
Most of the psalms have an antiphon at the conclusion : very fre-
quently they commence with one : while in many others the anti-
phon recurs frequently throughout the psalm, as in Ps. xxxi., xxxiv.,
xxxvii., xlii. — xliii., xlix., li., Ixxxviii., xcix., ciii., civ., cxl., cxlv.,
and cxlvii., thus giving great unity and force to the entire com-
position. In several of the psahns there is a double anti[)hon, as
in Ps. xviii., xxii., xxxv., Ixxvii., Ixxix., and cviL Sometimi'S the
antiphon forms an alternate stanza, as in Ps. xxix., Ixvii., xcviii.,
and cxxxvi. The antiphons are sometimes identical, and some-
times extremely varied, resembling each other rather in sense than
in words. ^
Connected with the antiphon is the frequent occurrence of a
Replica, or repetition of part of the psalm, an instance of which is
shown in Ps, Ixxxviii., which is headed Leannoth, an "anti[)honal
song," and which consists of three parts, each corresponding with
the others, and which must have resembled our glees. Other
instances occur in Ps. xxiv., xxx. xliv., Ixiv,, Ixvi., Ixxxviii., xci.,
xcv., ci., cii., cxxxii., cxlii. Instances of a reversed rejjlica occur in
Ps. xxii., where we have "bulls," "lion," "dog," and "piercing,"
followed by "sword," "dog," "lion," and "unicorns;" and in
Ps. Ixxxviii., where we have "acquaintance," " alHiction," "calling
upon the Lord, and stretching out the hands " [in prayer], and
" dead ;" followed by " dead," " crying unto the Lord," and
" prayer," " afflicted," and " acquaintance."
The Anaphora, or running plirase at the beginning of a paragraph,
is often met with, as in Ps. lix., G and 14, " They assemble in the
evening, they make a noise like a dog, and go about the city ;" in
Ps. Ixii. 1, 5, 9— "Only upon God wait thou my soul, ' " Only upon
God wait thou my soul," " Only vanity are the children of men ;" in
^ Tliis variation is noticed ]>y llt'ngstcnlKTg, (Ps. xlii. 5,) ami by Di'litzsch —
" in accordance with the custom in the Psalms of not allowing the refrains
to occur in exactly the .same form." (On Ps. Ivi. 12.) "The refrain varies
according to recognized custom." (On Ps. cvii. 21.) Delitzsch makes the
antiphon a iicculiarity of the Michtum psalms (xvi., Ivi. — Ix). See his Bib.
Com. oil Ps. xvi. Jntrod., Ivi. Inlrod., and Iviii. Introd.
ESSAY II. 301
Ps. cxlii. 1, 5, — " With my voice unto the Lord did I cry," *' I cried
unto Thee, 0 Lord; 1 said— " in I's. cxlviii. 1, 7, " Praise the Lord
in tlie heavens," " Praise the Lord upon earth."
An Epistrophe, ov running phrase, at the end of a paragrapli,
occurs in Ps. xlii. and xliii. " Why art thou cast down, O my
soul 1" &c., and in Ps. cvii. " But when they cried unto the Lord
in their trouble," &c., and " Oh that men would therefore praise the
Lord," &c., and in Ps. cxxxvi. " For His mercy cndureth for ever."
AVe fre({uently detect the Proem in the beginning of a psalm, as
in Psalms xxxix., xlv., xlix., 1., Ixxviii., Jxxx., xcii., ci., cix., and
many others.
And an J'Jpiphonem, or striking termination, at the end of a psalm,
as in Ps. xxv. and xxxiv. ; which we find of use in explaining
what has been thought to be a redundant verse in those alpha-
betical psalms : but when once we see it is an epiphonem, we no
longer regard it as redundant. The epiphonem appears also in two
other alphabetical psalms, x. and xxxvii. ; and fi'oni its thus occur-
ring in four out of the eight alphabetical psalms, we may assume
that it may be looked for generally in other psalms, as in Ps. xv.,
1., xcii., xciii., xcvi., cvii., cxi. and cxii. The epiphonem in many
of the psalms forms an antiphon, as in xxxv.
Sometimes we meet with repeated Collocations, and Alliterations,
as iu Psalms xiii., xxix., xcvi., and cxviii.
Sometimes with a Peripeteia, or sudden change of subject, as in
Ps. vi., "Away from me all yo that work vanity;" in Ps. xxviii.,
" Praised be the Lord," &c. ; iu Ps. xliv. and Ixxxix. " But now
Thou hast cast off," &c.; in Ps. Ivii., " My heart is fixed, 0 God," &c.;
in Ps. cii., "But Thou, 0 Lord, shalt endure for ever;" in Ps. cix.,
" But Thou, 0 Lord my God," &c.; and Ps. cxvi., " What return shall
I make unto the Lord," &c.
And sometimes with an Aposiopesis, or suppression of part of
the sentence : exhibiting itself sometimes with an abrupt begin-
ning, as in Ps. Ixx. —
. . . . O God, to deliver me :
Haste Thee, 0 God, to my help,
where the words " Haste Thee " are understood, " //cr foundations
are upon the holy hills ;" (Ps.lxxxvii. ;) " Judah was His sanctuary ;"
(Ps. cxiv. 2 ;) " I will give thanks unto Thee with my whole heart ;"
Ps. (cxxxviii.;) and many other instances ; or by an imperfect termina-
tion, showing deep excitement or intense feeling, as, " jMy soul also
is sore troubled : but, Lord, how long .... 1 (vi. 3,) where the
words "wilt Thou punish me" are understood; " L^nless I had
302 ESSAY II.
been persuaded of the gooduess of the Lord in the land of the
living, I " (Ps. xxvii. 15 ;)" Then may my right hand forget
. . . ." (Ps. cxxxvii. 15,) where the words how to pluij are understood;
and sometimes in the middle of a sentence ; as " God ! Ilis way is
perfect," (Ps. xviii. 30 ;)" For I said lest they should rejoice
over me," (Ps. xxxviii. IG,) where the words Hear me, are understood ;
" I will sing psalms unto Thee upon a ten-stringed lute ; (hero
we are to insert the words — Yea, it is GOD) who giveth victory
unto kings," (cxliv. 9, 10.) But the most remarkable iustance
occurs in Ps. Ixxiii., from the beginning of which — "
but God is loving unto Israel, even unto such as are of a tru'
heart. But I . . . . my feet were almost gone," it is evident tha'
the psalmist had been previously musing on the prosperity of th'
wicked in this life, and on his own forgetfidness of (iod. An
instance of the rendering of an aposiopesis by our translators,
occurs in Exod. xxxii. 32.^
Sometimes, and indeed constantly, we meet with an Anadiplosis,
or Epiploce, the taking up in the beginning of a verse the last
clause of the preceding verse, as in Ps. xxiv. 7 — 10.^
Frequently we observe an Epanaphora, or occurrence of some
particular catchword, or burden to the psalm, as "The Lord"
in Ps. xxxiv. and cvi. ; "iniquity" in Ps. -li. ; "verily" in
Ps. Ixii. ; " lifting up " in Ps. Ixxv. ; "remember" in Ps. Ixxvii. ;
"turn" in Ps. Ixxx. ; " born " in Ps. Ixxxvii. ; " mercy and truth" in
Ps, Ixxxix. ; " works " in Ps. cxi. ; " keep " in Ps. cxxi. ; " peace "
in Ps. cxxii. ; " eyes " in Ps. cxxiii, and " vanity " in Ps. cxxvii.
Very frequently we meet with a Faronotnasia, or play upon
^ For similar instances Dr. Hammond refers to Virgil's iEnciJ, i. 131 ; and
Hengstenberg to Gen. xxxi. 42. Another instance may be found in one of
Wesley's hymns, beginning — " Depth of mercy " —
" I have spilt His precious blood !
" Trampled on the Son of God !
" Filled with jiangs unspeakable,
" I and yet am not in hell."
- Tliis is so frequent in the " Songs of Degrees," or " Songs of the Going-
np," that it has given birth to the latest theory respecting the title of tliese
psalms. It is supposed that they accjuire this name in consequence of tho
frequent occurrence of the ciiiploce ; the subject of each psalm thus going on
constantly from the beginning to the end. It is sufficient here to mention
the fact, witliont entering into an argument on the subject, except to say that
the I'piplocc is equally evident in other psalms, as in Ps. xxix. and cxxxvii. ; and
that the name of "Songs of the Going-up" much more probably arose from
the annual "going-up" to Jerusalem, a conjecture which is conhrnied by one
ol tlicso psidms, cxxii. 4, where the same word Pi^V oloh, to go up, is used : —
" Thither the tribes go iq)."
ESSAY ir. 303
words ; but this can bo seen only by an examination of the
original Hebrew. Thus in the conclusion of Ps. vi., " they shall
return ashamed," we have the same word spelt backward, TZllJi^^
and ']ll/'\2.'^ Jashidm and jebos/m ; in Ps. x. IG, in " committeth "
and "helper," we have o:av and o^ar ; in Ps. xviii. 7, "the earth
trembled and was troubled," wo have " Vatigeas valiroas haarez."
In verse 45 of the same psalm the same word is used for " hear "
and " obey " — " in hearing of me they shall obey me." The
same play upon words occurs in Ps. xv. 3 and xxviii. 3, where the
words " evil" and "neighbour" are introduced ; in Ps. xxiv. 3, in
" rise up" and " jilaco ;" in Ps. xl. 3, in the words " see " and " fear ;"
in Ps. Ix. 4, in " banner " and " displayed ; " the play upon whicli
word in the original we have imitated by altering them to "standard "
aiid " stand up ;"in"Ps. Ixxiv. 4, in the words " ensign " and " sign,"
which we have also imitated ; in Ps. Ixxx. IG, in the word bain,
which signifies both "branch" and "son ;" and in Ps. cxix. 130, in the
words "goeth forth" and the "simple." A number of other in-
stances have been pointed out in Ps. cxxii.^ A double paronomasia
occurs in Ps. xc, where we liave the word shonoh, signifying both
year and sleep or dream ; and the word kholajdi, to change, signify-
in one place changing for the better, sprouting forth ; and in the
other changing for the ivorse, withering ; reminding us of the
paronomasia in Gen. xl. 13, 19, where Joseph foretells that Pharaoh
would lift xi-p the head of the chief butler, and restore him ; and
lift nj) the head of the chief baker, and hang him.
The last peculiarity that will be noticed is the occasional intro-
duction of Acrostic or alphabetical arrangements, signifying the
Alpha and Omega of religion. The psalms so composed are Ps. ix. and
X., which together form one alphabet, xxv., xxxiv., xxxvii., cxi.
cxii., cxix., and cxlv. It has been supposed that this artificial
construction marks a decadence in poetic taste,^ and that it affords a
proof of the later date of such psalms : but this assumption cannot
be supported ; for fi.ve of these psalms bear the name of David.
But in addition to these eight psalms there are several others, the
number of verses of which correspond with the number of letters
of the alphabet, as Ps. xxxviii. and ciii., and there are others which
when written in the poetic form appear to consist of about twenty-
two verses, as xxvii., li., and lix. ; all of which have David's name : ^
1 Jebb, i. 270.
* Such as the Hebrew do<];grcls (D''t31''D) consisting of flippant acrostics,
remarkable only for an ingenious jingling of rhyme, which found their way
into the Jewish ritual during the Jliddlo Ages.
3 Of others, xxxiii. is between two which bear David's name, and Ixxii. is
tlie psalm to or by Solomon.
304 ESSAY II.
so that there seems no authority for aflirining that tlie alphabotical
psalms were Avrittcn in a hiter age. One of tliese, Ps. xxxviii., is
remarkal)le in having the Alc/Ji and Tan, the first and last letters of
the alphabet, occurring together three times in the la^t two verses.
It is in the words " Forsake nie not," " Be not far," and "0 Lord
my salvation." In the same manner the double psalm, ix. — x., has
the letter J/ry^A four times in the beginning, and the letter Tan three
times at the conclusion. It is probably owing to tlie signification
of the alphabetical arrangement of these psalms, and to the repeated
occurrence of the first and last letters in these instances, that our
Lord calls himself "vl/^j/ia and Oviega" in the Book of Kevelation.
From what has been adduced it must be evident that the Hebrew
poetry Avas characterized by a rhythmical symmetry of great variety,
and though divested of both* rhyme and metre, that it possesses,
even in a translation, a poetic character, which must have been much
more apparent in its original form. But when we say that Hebrew
poetry has no rhyme, we mean of course that there is no correspond-
ence of sound between the last syllable or syllables of two successive
lines : but it is not necessary that this correspondence should exist
at tlie end of lines, it may exist in the beginning ; for rhyme is merely
" an harmonical succession of sounds," a " word chiming with another
word ;" and in Hebrew poetry we not only have words sounding
alike, but we have the identical words and series of words occurrirJ^
constantly : and it is evident that this correspondence, which how-
ever is mere assonance and alliteration, is more visible to the eye
when it takes place at the beginning of the line, than when it takes
place at the end. From this it will appear that the word Rhijtlimi-
cat, which we have adopted in the Title-page, is more appropriate than
the word metrical, which is often used : for as Augustine says in his
work De Musica,—^' OmnQ metrum rliythmus, non omnis rhythmus
etiam metrum est." The following examples will not, it is appre-
hended— and many others might be cited — be considered to exliibit
a mean appearance, even in an English dress : —
The Lord is my liglit and my salvation :
Wliom tlu-n'sluiU 1 fear ?
The Lord is tlic strengtli of my life :
Of whom then shall I be afraid ?
When the wicked came ujion me,
To eat nj) my flesh ;
Even mine enemies and my foes,
They stumbled and fell.
Thouf;h a host encamp against me,
Yet shall not my heart be afraid :
Though war .should rise against me,
Yet will 1 put my trust in Him. (Ps. xxvii. )
KssAV II. 305
[FTaste Thee,] 0 God, to dclivor nio ;
Hasto Theo, () Lord, to my hcli) !
Let tliOTii bi! asliiuncd
And coiifouiidi'd to<^otlier,
That siiek after my soul ;
Lettlicm lie diivcii backward^
And put to confusion,
Tliiit seek to do me evil.
Li:t Mu',111 hi' dcsolati'.
As a rewaiil for their shame,
Tliat say — "Aha, alia 1 "
Let them bo joyful
And ^'lid in Tiiee, all they
That seek after Tliee :
TiCt them say a! way —
" [jet (!od be praised,"
That love Tiiy salvation. (P.s. \\k.)
The Lord is King ! Tie is clothed with majo.^ity !
The lyord is <'lotliod with stren£;th. wherewith He hitli ^■il^lell Himself!
Tlu; world is estdilisbed, that it cannot be moved :
Thy throne was established of old :
Thou art from everlasting !
I The lioods are risen, O Lord,
, The Hoods have lift up their voice,
1 The Hoods lift up their waves.
More excellent than the voice of many waters,
More excellent than the waves of the sea,
Is Jehovah in the highest !
Thy testimonies are very sure !
Holiness becometh Thy house, 0 Lord, for evermore ! (Ps. xciii.)
While the Hebrew song does not appear meiin either to eye or
ear. in one respect it lias a surpassing excellence even as compared
with the classic ])oetvy of Greece and Rome, which appealed only
to the sight and hearing ; for it appeals to the sense and meaning
of the words, instead of to the mere quantity : and as we rightly
judge that only to be poetry which conveys a poetical sentiment
poetically expressed ; and that to be mere verse or rhyme which is
wanting in tliat characteristic ; so we must give Hebrew song, as
exiiibited in the Bible, the loftiest place in the realms of poetry ;
from the sublimity of its sentiment, the purity of its morals, the
fervour of its piety, the exultation of its joy, and the humility and
pathos of its contrition ; and let it be lemembered that though the
words are the words of man, the sentiments which they express
proceed from the inspiration of GOD.
It is much to be regretted that the version of the Psalms by
Bardesanes has not come down to us. Bardesanes is said to have
X
30G ESSAY II.
heen a heretic and a Clnostic, but lie was opposed to the grosser
vagaries of Gnosticism, for he wrote against them. But with all his
errors, and taking his opponents' view of them, he was one of the
fathers of church music, for he lived so early as the second century.
Valentinus, another heretic, who lived a generation earlier, also
wrote a collection of psaltns. Bird(!sanes was succeeded by his son,
who so distinguished himself in church music that he itbtained the
name of Harmonius. Living in so early a period of the (/liurch's
history, it would have been most interesting to us in these days if
their labours had been preserved to us. Theological errors appear
to assume dilferent phases at diffurent epochs, without being repro-
duced ; so that however much the woi'ks of these early writers may
have abounded in Gnostic absurdities, there would be little danger
of such delusions being engrafted in the minds of their readers in
the present day. After a lapse of two centuries, the "heretic"
Bardesanes was followed by the orthodox Ephraem, whose Hymns
and Homilies are in our possession, and which are replete with
interest : but he wrote no psalms ; so that we regret the more the
loss of those written by his predecessors. Theodoret and Sozomen
inform us that Ephraem took the metre and music of Bardesanes
and Harmonius, and substitute! his own words to theui ; so that it
is clear he ajipreciated their genius : indeed he acknowledged the
skill of Bardesanes, though he does not meiitiou the name of
his son : —
" In tlu' reports of Bardesanes
" Tliere are songs an<l melodies.
" For seeing that Y'lung persons
" Loved sweet music,
" By the harmony of his songs
" lie cori'upted their nnnds."
After reading the following notice of his psalms from a hostile
pen, it is the more to be regretted that we are not enabled to judge
of them for ourselves : —
" For these things Bardesanes
" Uttered in his writings.
" lie eoniposi'd Odes,
" And mingled tliem with music :
" lie harmonized I'salms,
" And inti'.iduced measures :
" By niea-<nres and hahxuces
" He divideil words.
" He tlnis coneealed for the simple
" 'I'lie hitter witli the sweet.
" I'or tlie sickly do not prefer
" Food which is wholesome."
i;ss!AY II. 307
■' He .snuj^lit to imitate David ;
To adorn liiiiibclf with his beauty ;
So tliat lie might be praised by tlic likeness.
Ife therefore set in oihUm'
I'sahiis one hundred and hl'ty :
I'jut hi' deserted the trutli of J)avid,
And iiuilateil onlv Ids nundieis."
ESSAY III.
THE '/AOX OF DAVID EESTOEED TO DAVID.
Tj
III.
THE ZION OF DAVID KESTORED TO DAVI]).
(Bciitg a Xolc to Ps. xlviii. 2.)
" (On) the sides of the north
" (Is) the City of the Great King."
niS passage has presented great di faculties to some commenta-
tors, and led to great confusion. Soino foreign theologians, as
liengstenberg, Hitzig, Evvald, and Capponi, recognizing the tradi-
tional position of Mount Zion, have attemi)Led to explain the
words, " (On) the sides of the north," by supposing that there is
an indication here of the pagan belief that a mountain existed in
the extreme north where the gods resided, forming a connecting
link between heaven and earth ; a belief thrown in the teeth of the
king of Babylon by the spirits in Hades; (Is. xiv. 13;) others,
more naturally, suppose that Mount Zion is described as being at
the northern extremity of the hills in this region. But what was
merely a difficulty in the minds of these foreign theologians, has
become a cause of great confusion in the works of some English
writers, who think that they can discover proofs in the sacred nar-
rative that Muunt Zion is no other than the Temple mount, or
Mount Moriah, and that the City of David lay, as described in this
psalm, to the north of it.
Josephus describes Jerusalem in his time as standing on four hills.
Zion, or the Acropolis, or the City of David, which in his, ime was
called the Upper City, occupied the southwest quarter ; the portion
of city chietly covered with houses, and which often was especially
called Jerusalem, but which in his time was called Acra, or the
Lower City, occupied the north-west quarter ; the Temple the south-
312 KSSAY III.
cast quarter ; and Ijczetlia, or llie New City, tlie noilli-oast quarter.
]5ul let us hear J()sc'i)luis — " The city, wliicli was i'ortilied with lluee
■walls, except where encompassed with unaj)proachable ravines ;
for in these parts there was hut one wall — was built, tlte one jxtrt
faciufl the other, (diTtTr^ocrwTro?,) on two hills, (I. and II.,) sc/iaratcd
hi/ an intervening va/lei/, at the brink of which on eillicr side the
houses terminated. Uf these hills, that on which th« Upper City
stood, (I.) was by far the higher, and was steeper thronjiiout its
ejtent.^ Accordingly, on account of (this, its steepness and)
its strength, it was styled the Citadel by king David, the fallier
of Solomon, who first built the Tenii)le ; but by us it is called
the Upper Market-place.- The other hill, (II.,) which bears the
Dame of Acra, and which su.stained the Lower City, slojjed down on
either side. Over against this was a third hill, (HI.,) naturally
lower than Acra, and separated from it formeily by another broad
valley. Afterwaids, however, the Asmoueans, when tliey were in
power, filled up the valley in order to unite the city to the Temple ;
(this has thence been called the Asmonean Y.dley ;) and they
levelled the summit of Acia, (Josephus here refers to the citadel
of that name,) and reduced its elevation, so that tlie Temple might
' The word Idurtpoi is evidently aiititlieticnl to 6/.i<piKvpTos, as applied to
Acra immediately ah erwards. AViiile tlie last liiil had a round U>]) sloping
down on all sides, tlie up])er hill had almost jirecipitnus sides : and while the
upper hill is alnidst eoniparatively level, the hill of the Lowei' ('it>, even at
present, has a fall of 1(10 feet from the "tiiant's Castle" (Tower of the Furnaces)
towards the Damascus Gate, (Gate of Ephraim,) 72 feet to the Jaila Gate,
(Valley Gate,) and 172 feet to the north-east angle of Mount Zion : but each
of these points has been raised some 50 feet above the original levels, hy the
embankments of the Komans, the overthrowing of the walls, and the levelling
of the ground ; so that this hill was well desciihed hy Josephus as slojiiiiy
down on both sidrs. 1'he level cliaraetei- of Mount Zinii, un the euiilriii'y, is
witnessed by Murray, who says — "On the summit of Zion towards its western
brow there is a level tract, extending in length from the citadel to the 'Tomh
of David,' ahout (iOO yards, and in hi-eadlh from the city walls to the eastern
side of the Armenian t'onvent, ahout 250 yards : a much larger space, how-
ever, was acce.ssihle for building purposes." {Handbook, p. tt4.) 'J"he word
Idvs signifies stiaiglit, direct, a straight line, a direct course, wliich may of
course apply to steepness, as in Od. 6. 377, "They played with tlie hall
upwards," i.e. throwing it perpendicularly. It may he mentioned that tlie
usual translation of this jiassage "straighter, or more direct, in its length,"
in lonfjUudincm diredior, conveys no meaning : for as the upjier and lower
cities were conterminous, and facing each other, and divided only by the
Tyropieon ; how could one of them be described as " gibbous " (on plan), and
the other as presenting a straight line of front ?
* We aie not to suppose that this was a mere market-place for the Lower
City: for Jose])hus has just called it the Upper City. But being a fortress,
ami one of considerable sticngth and extent, it was essential that it should be
supplied with its own market-place. Uonij). Jer. x. 17.
JOSEPIIUS DESCIUrXlOX.
313
be hii^lit-r than it. (Com. Aitthj. xiii. (>, 7.) The valley known
as the 'lynijid'on, which we mentioned as dividing the hills of
the Up])er and Lower City, {and therefore not the same as the
" broad valley " mentioned afterward^,) reaches as far as the
fountain which we call Siloali, (and therefore now divided the
first and the third hills, as it liad previously divided the
iirst and the second hills,) whose waters are at once sweet
and abundant. On the outside, the two hills (see Tacitus,
Hid. V. 11,) on which the city stood, were surrounded by deep
valleys ; and by reason of the precipices on either side there was no
approach to th(^m from any quartei- As the city in-
creased in population, it extended by degrees beyond the wall^^, till
the parts adjoining the hill, north of the Temple, were GUed up
with houses, thus extending not a little beyond tlie old hills, so
that 2, fourth hill (IV.) was covered with houses, called Bezetha.
It lay over against Antonia, and was separated from it by a deep
fosse, artilicially formed, to cut oif the foundations of Antonia
from the hill, and so render them less easy of access, and to add
to their elevation. Thus, the depth of the trench added greatly
to the height of the towers. Tlie newly-built quarter was called
in our native tongue, Bezetha, which signifies ^^ewtown."^
Nothing can be clearer than this description of Josephus ; and
we thus .'•ee that the city was composed of four distinct parts, four
distinct hills, or four distinct quarters, which it is impossible to
confound together. That must be a false ex])osition which would
])lace one of these hills upon the top of another.
Jebus then, or the city of the Jebusites, occupied quarters I.
and II. —
Jerusalem, from the time of Solomon, wlien the Temple was
built, to the time of Nehemiah, and until the "New City" wai
enclosed, occupied quarters I., 11., and III. —
J Jidl. V. 4. 1,
314
KSSAY in.
15ut iu Cliristiau liiiios this disposition has Lt'ou questioiiod.
Some, finding the church of the Holy Sepulchre in quarter II.,
aifirni this to have been outride the city in the time of our Lord —
/
while others, from what we conceive to be a misapprehension as to
certain passages in the Bible, affirm the city of Jerusalem in the
time of Nchemiah to have consisted only of quarters I. and III. —
though from their believing Acra, the Lower City, the City of
David, Antonia, and the Temple, all to have stood on Mount
Moriah, which they hold to be identical with ^Slount Zion, they
may be said to affiim that the city occupied but one quarter, and
one hill, in the time of David, and in the time of Xehemiah ;
Josephus, and everybody elt^e, notwithstanding;^ though subse-
quently, in the time of the Maccabees, and in the time of Josephus,
the S.VV. quarter had become an "Upper City," or "Citadel," or
" Upper Market-place."
The real positions of Calvary and (Jolgotha are foreign to our
pre.>-ent consideration ; ihe subject having been already sufficiently
discussed, not only by the advocates of tiie traditional sites, but in
the n;o.>-t able and tenqterately-wiitten hUAlcal Jiet^earches of Pro-
iebSor liobinson ; the nmarkable work on the Holy Sepulchre by
Mr. Fergusson, A/t Ei^sfin/ on the Ancient To}>iigr(n>hy of Jerusalem,
1^4:7 /^ the views of wliich were subsequenlly embodied in Smilh's
^ "Acra was the ancient Zion, or the hill on which the Tcnq>k', the City of
David, l>aiis, Acra, and Antcnia stuod." Sniilli's Licl. oj the Bible, p. \^'lM.
- Mr. Fergusson's theory was attacked hy the Ed inbimih Review, Oct. IbOO,
and the stiictiues answeicd by Mr. Fcrgussoii in the Athcnicnm, anil subse-
quently ill his Holy Sepulchre, and the Teiiijjle at Jenisalem, 1S65. The system
smith's diction auy of the bible. 315
Didionary of the Bible ; the exliaustive treatise by Dr. Tubler,
Gohjotha, seiner Kirehen vnd Kloster, 1851 ; the two essays by the
present writer, On tlie, alhyed site of the llolij Sepulchre, and On the
true site of Calcary, in the Museum of Class. Antiq. — Lonj^nian,
18G0, originally published in 1853; the article on "Jerusalem"
by Horatius l>ouar in the Imperial Bible Dictionary, 18G1 ; and
that by Dr. Kitto in his Cyd. of Bibl. Lit., 3rd edition, 1870.
We will therefore contine our attention to the modern theory, that
Zion, the City of David, the Lower City, Gihon, Acra, and
Antonia, all stood upon the Temple-hill. Let it not be supposed,
however, that this is a wild and arbitrary fancy of these writers.
We have seen that it is essentially opposed to the statement of
Josejjlius ; but there is no doubt they would not have attempted to
establish such a theory in the face of this statement, did they not
think that there is overpowering evidence in support of their
position. Let us jjroceed then to examine this evidence, premising
that these writers do not question the accuracy of Josephus, but
merely dispute the interjjretation of his statement. It is necessary
here, however, to distinguish between the particular views of recent
writers, as it will be seen that they dilfer in many points.
Smith's Dictionary of the Bible, 18G0. — In this work the city of
the Jebusites is placed in the western half of the city, and in the
map of Jerusalem at a subsequent period it is called the " Upper
Market-place : " but the name of " Zion" is given to the Temple-
inount. " It cannot be disputed that from the time of Constautine
downwards to the present day this name has been afllixed to the
western hill (south-western) on which the city of Jerusalem .now
stands, and in fact always has stood. JS'^otwithstanding this, ir,
seems equally certain that up to the time of the destruction of the
city by I'ltus, the name was applied exclusively to the eastern hill,
or that on which the Temple stooil." (p. lOl'G.) The " City of David"
is also showuto be on the Temple-mount. The " Upper City," taking
in the north-west as well as the south-west quarters, is bounded by
a Tyropa'on running from the Damascus-gate, here called also the
Valley of Gihon, on the eastern side of which valley therefore must
have been Gihon. The " Lower City " of Josephus is shown to
coincide with this valley, and the slopes on either side, although
luis been lurther tit tacked with fuurtccii ol)jections in the Imperial Bible Diet.
18(j4 ; iuul with twelve olij(,'etiuiis by Mr. Lewiu, in his Siege of Jerusalem.
It has been ajiprovid of in tJie Dub. Univ. Mag. Jan. 1848 ; and attacked
again by the L'onitc de Vogiie, in his Dglincs de la Tcrre Hainte ; and by
i)r. Woicolt, in the .American Edition of iSmith's Diet, of the Bible, 1807 —
1870. Air. Fergusson has defended himself in many lectures.
316 ESSAY III.
.loseplius describes the Lower City, or Acra, as its name would
siguiiy, to be a hill, and indeed the second highest hill of Jeru-
salem. On the Temple-muunt al«o are shown Antonia and Acra,
and at a later date Golgotha and the Cliurcli of the Holy Sepulchre.
This theory, in addition to historical and architectural evidence
adduced by Mr. Fergussou, is supported by the fact of the monu-
ment of King Alexander being in this locality, (Jos. Bdl, v. 7.3,)
" so that certainly there were tombs hereabouts :" (p. 1031 :) though
there is no proof from Josephus's words, that the monument was
within the walls, and that it was not, like the generality of
graves, at Jerusalem, cut out on the slope of the hill ; or, if it
were within the Avails, that it was other than a memorial moniinieut,
as the name /u»'/]/.(tt, j.i\i]^tioy, although commonly used fur a grave,
would signify. Goath also is placed in this locality, to give
countenance to this theory : though there seems more reason to
believe tliat it was to the south-west of the city. The " Armoury,"
tlxe " Prison," the " Horse-gate," and the " Sepulchres of David,"
are also shown to be on the north of the Temple-area ; though, as
we shall see, it is quite evident from Nehemiali, that they were to
the south of it. The site of Hippicus is identified with the
"Giant's Castle," 1 thus thrusting the Tyropoeon to the Damascus
Gate, or Gate of Ephraim. The Temple is restricted to an area of
GOO feet square to the south-west angle of the Temple-area : and
certainly Mr. Fergusson, Mr. Lewin, and the other sujjporters of this
position, adduce cogent arguments on its behalf, which we shall
have to consider when we come to the Temple : while Dr. Lightfoot,
in reieiring to the Talmud, states, that the former Temple difl'ered
but little from that of Herod. -
Tlu-iqyp, Aniient Jerusalem, 1855. — Zion, the City of David, and
the Lower City, are here all identified with the Temple-mount.
" These arguments seem conclusively to prove that the antient hill
of Zion, or the City of David, is not to be identified Avith the Zion
of modern days, but with the eastern or Temple-liill." (p. 20.) Mr.
Thrupp supposes, however, that in the time of the Maccabees the
name of " Zion " was transferred to the south-west quarter of the
city. Identifying the Tyro|ia?on with the valley proceeding from
the Damascus-gate, he agrees with the writers of the l>iblical
l)ictionai'y in making the whole western portion of the city the
hill No. 1. of Jose])hus : the Temjjle-mount becomes hill No. IL ;
" The Akra of Jo.sephus lay to the east of the valley, and is none
other than the Temiile-hill, the Zion of Scripture," (p. 35); "The
^ See tlie argmiient for and against this in p. 33G, note.
^ Prospect of the Temple, x.
TIIRUPP, AXTIEXT JERUSALEM. 317
City of David occupied approximately the north-western part of
the present Haram-esh-Sherif," (p. 80) ; while the portion of the
city north of the Temple-area is hill No. III., notwithstanding
that Josephus .oiays it was the fonrlh hill which stooil north of the
Temple : and this difficulty seems to have struck the author, for
he has written Ijezetha in large capitals extending not merely acro.'js
this land, but covering even a portion of the Temple-area. With
the Biblical Dictionary ho makes his Tyrnpd'on valley the line of
Hezokiah's conduit, bat identifies the Pool of Bethesda with the
" Upper l^ool ; " and from his position of the wall of iNFanassch,
which we are told was on the west of ({ihon, it is evident that he
considers that Gihon was only another name for Zion, or the City
of David, or the Lower City, The fountain-head of Gihon he
asserts to be in the neighbourliood of the Damascus-gate, or some-
where nearly due north of this, and that it was the scene of the
anointing of King Solomon ; notwithstanding that the sacred narra-
tive describes the event as taking place beneath the city. The
Lower City is by this author reduced to its very smallest propor-
tions ; and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is of course far out-
side the walls ; while Goath takes the place of Gareb, so as to be
near to Golgotha, Mr. Thrupp places the Temple at the south-
west angle of the Haram platform, and altogether repudiates the
name of Moriah, as applierl to this hill, With these views ]\[r,
Thrupp naturally rejects the opinion of those previous writers who,
following Josephus, place Zion on the south-west quarter of the
city : Other writers " have nearly all fallen into a fundamental
error with respect to the position of the antient Zion, . , . Strange
as it at first sight may appear that so important an error should
have originated with the Jews themselves, it admits of the clearest
demonstration that such is the case," (p, 12.) It is "a view
respecting the position of Zion, so completely opposed, as will be
presently shown, to the indications of Scripture." (p, 16,) "N"o
modern travellers, so far as I have been able to find, have ever
produced the slightest evidence of any kind, in support of the view
they have adopted." (p. 20,)
Lewin, Siege of Jeruscdem, 1863, — Mr. Lewin holds that the
names " Zion " and the " City of David " were originally ai>plied
to the tohole city of Jerusalem ; that the latter name was subse-
quently appropriated, as he says, " by popular belief," ((luery) to
that portion of Ophel where he supposes " David's palace " to
have stood ; and that eventually, in the time of the I\Iaccabees, the
name " Zion " was applied exclusively to the Temple-hill ; while
the name of the " City of David " was transferred to the Acra
318 ESSAY III.
or citadel built bj' Antiochus in the Lower City. Accordingly,
tliroiigliont his book, he speaks of the southwest quarter of the
city as " now called Sion," tliereby intimating that it had no antient
right to this especial designation ; and yet, inconsistently enough,
the name of Sion is given to it on his pLan. " In the historical
books of the Old Testament we meet with Sion in but few in-
stances. The first is on the capture of debus by David, where it
stands for Jerusalem generally. Again, Solomon * brought up the
ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David which is
Zion.' In this passage I suspect that the words ' which is Zion '
have crept into the ti-xt from the mistaken gloss of some com-
mentator who did not understand the passage 2 Sara. v. 7, where
the stronghold of Zion is called the city of David, in the sense of
Jerusalem as a whole. . . . The only other references to Sion in
the historical books are 2 Kings xix. 21 and 31 ; in both these
passages Sion is evidently used as synonymous with Jerusalem.
In the prophetic or poetical books of the Old Testament Sion, or
Zion, stands simply for Jerusalem." (p. 243.) He makes the south-
western hill No. I., and Ophel No. 11.,^ notwithstanding that
Josephus says that " the third hill (theTemi)le-mouut) was naturally
lower than Acra, (the second hill) and parted formerly from the
other by a broad valley ; " while the Temple-hill is higher than
Ophel, and has no valley separating it. lie places the Upper Pool
of Gihon at the top of the Valley of llinnom, and fixes the "Lower
Gihon " valley in the Tyropa-on, where it is difficult to point out
how the wall of Manasseh could have existed on its -western side.
But the principal peculiarity of his book is that, like the Comte
de Vogiie, M. de Saulcy, and Krafft, he makes the third wall, built
by Agrippa, identical with the limited area of the modern wall ;
relying principally upon Josephus saying tliat it went Bid cnrr]\aL(i>v
ftcKTtXli^wi', which royal caverns he connects with the "cotton
cavern," or quarries to the east of the Damascus-gate. Dr. Porter,
however, argues for the tombs called the "Tombs of the Kings"
being the monuments of Helena ; while he [daces the royal caverns,
or Tombs of the Kings, 2r)0 yards east by soutli, in an offset of the
valley of Jehoshaphat.- Tliis restricted area of the Third Wall is
^ See liis ]ilaii.
2 "Its .sides are rocky and precipitous?, and almo.st filled with excavated
tombs, many of them lii},ddy ornamented. ^lay not these be the Roj'al
cavcins of Josephus ? 15otii their appearance and situation favour the suppo-
sition. The natural course of a line of fortification wouUl bo along the rocky
brow of the hill round which the Kidron sweeps to the south. Here may
liave stood the Tower of the Corner, near the Fuller's tomb. From hence
LEWIX, SIP.GE OF JERUSALEM. 319
naturally opjiosed to Joseplius, who ^'ivcs the circuit of the wall as
thii'ty-tlirec stadia ;^ to help out which dinionsion Mr. Lewin ex-
tends the soutlieru wall of Zion down to the valley, thus doing
away with the chief characteristic of Zion, its being girt about
with inaccessible ravines. As a result of this the Assyrian Camp
is placed in a confined nook where, according to Mr. Lewiu's plan,
it would have been impossible to accommodate the army of Titus,
and where it would have been exposed on each side to the arrows
of the besieged, which commanded a range of upwards of one
stadium ;- and indeed, Josephus tells us that previous to his taking
the third wall Titus encamped at the distance of two stadia from
Psephinus, and two stadia from ni[)picus.'' This distance of two
studia would leave no room at all. The ground north of the pre-
sent walls, which we have hitherto su])posed to have been inclosed
by Agiippa's wall, but which IMi'. Lewin excludes, stating that
no traces of the wall now exist, is, it is sai^l by another writer,
" covered with ruins and cisterns ; and bears evident traces of its
having been once thickly peopled."* The Lower City is thus re-
stricted to a small area, and the Holy Sepulchre falls without its
lines. As the monument of King Alexander has been thought to
countenance the position of the Sepulchre on the Temple-mount,
so the monument of the High Priest John is made use of here to
prove that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was outside the
walls, (p. 3G9.) But first, there is no proof that this monument
wa-! more than a cenotaph. Secondly, we think we shall be able
to show that this portion of the city was inclosed so early as the
time of King Manasseh. And thirdly, even if admitted to be a
tomb, we know that tomljs were sometimes formed within the
s nitliwnnl to the city scnreely a (l()n1)t can be eiitertained as to the course
the wall f'i)llo\veil. The Itrow of the hill above the Kidrou forms such an
ailniirable Hue of defeiK^e that no engineer could have overlooked it. And at
a point on the steep bank, not far from the north-east angle of tlie city, are
ap])arent!y the substructions of a tower." Murray's Handbool: of Sijri.a,
1868. p. 102.
1 "Some discrepancy exists as to the circuit of the walls. The 'Syrian
land-surv(!_yor' gives it as twenty-seven stadia; Josephus as thirty-three;
Timochares and Aristnas as forty ; while Hecatanis augments the measure
to fifty stadia. The ' Syrian land-surveyor ' lived in the time of Eusi'bius,
at which period the greater portion of Bezetha had reverted into cornfields
and olive groves ; and the remaining portion of the city, supposing the whole
of Zion and Ojjhel to have been inclosed as formerly, w^ould then dilfer only
one stadium and a half from the twenty-seven stadia then given. The other
diniensious probably included the suburbs of the city." J/«.s. Class. Antiq.
p. 420.
2 Strabo, p. .'561. 3 BcU. v. 3. 5.
■» "Williams, Ilnjy City. Moreover Prof. Rol>insou shows traces of a
northern wall on his plan.
320 ■ KSSAY III.
city, as in tlio instances of i\ranasseh and Anion, who were "buried
in the garden of their own house." See also Ezek. xliii. 7. Pau-
sanias describes tlie tomb of Achilles and the sepulchre of Oxylus
in the agora at Elis ; Arrian tells us that the tomb of Ileropythus
was in the agora at Ephesus ; Philostratus informs us that Diony-
sius the rhetorician was buried there : and Tliucydides and Dio-
dorus relate that Themistocles was buried in the agora of Magnesia.
Thus we have abundant evidence that it was no uncommon thing
for people to be buried inside a city ; and we have also seen that
the Jews were so. Dr. Pococke says " It was the ancient Eastern
custom to bury in their own houses or gardens."^ And Dr. Light-
foot tells us that the children ot llulduh were buried witliin tbe walls
of Jerusalem." Eroni Nehemiah:i de.?cri]ition of the wa'l'*, which
we shall presently consider, it is evident that the kings oi Judah
were buried in the " king's garden," where David had one of his
houses ; we find the tombs of Jerusalem not confined to any one
place, but on the slopes of every hill all round the city, in positions
admirably adapted for gardens ; and thus we find also that Joseph
of Arimathaja, an " honourable man," a " rich man," was able to
have a sepulchre in a rock in his own garden, which was suffi-
ciently large to have a " gardener " expressly employed in its
care.^
1 Di'xcr. of thr East., ii. part i. p. 9. 2 C'horoq. Cent. 38.
^ There is every reason to believe that this garden w:is in tlie Valley of
Tophet, which thongh rendered infamous from its saeiifiees to Moloch, was
yet a "pleasant valley." The Dung Gate would seem to correspond with
the Porta Charonia of Athens, through which the condemned were led to
execution, and with the Es([uiline Gate of Rome, or with the Porta Metia.
And if so, the original tradition of the A'^ia Dolorosa being on Jlount Ziou
was doubtless the correct one. It probably led from the I'rastorium, or
Palace of Herod, to this gate. It is remarkable that more than one tradi-
tional site has been changiid from time to time. The l'r:rtoiium has been
changed from Herod's Palace, or the "Castle of David,"' to the Governor's
house, adjoining the Ilaram esli Slieiif ; the Via Dolorosa, or Via Crucis, was
changed in position in 1187, and again in the last quarter of the si.vteentli
century ; and the traditional site of St. Stephen's Martyrdom has been
changed four times, north, south, east, and west! The Kmpress Kudocia
built a large (duuch over the authenticated spot in A.n. 400. Mr. Fergussoii
says in the year 600 it was stated to be outside the .lalla Gate, or to the west
of the city ; in 69.5, it was found at tiie Ca-naeulum on Mount Zion, or
outside the tiouUi wall of the city ; during the Crusa<les, it was outside the
Damascus-gate, on the north of the city ; and since the fourteenth century
it has been established on the east of the city. {Ensay on And. Top. of
Jcr. pp. 168, 169.) Eusebius, in A.D. 330, places Aceldama to the north
of Zion : Jerome, 70 years later, fi.ves it to the south, where it is still
shown. Anil as the Empress Helena tlujught she had cumiiliod with the
reipiirements of Acts i. 9 — 12 in building the Churcii of the Ascension on
LEWIN — SIEGK OF JERUSALEM. 321
Two objections lie against this restricted line of the Second and
Third Walls. The Upper City being the Acropolis, the Lower City
constituted the maiu portion of the inhabited city ; and the Second
Wall, as here drawn, would embrace far too small an area. And
in like manner the Third Wall, from the terms used by Josephus
— extendens, protendeiis, in loiiguiii ductus — evidently euibraced a
large area, which is confirmed also by the vicinity of the monu-
ments of Helena, and by its being so much as thirty-three stadia
in circuit. Ihit it is contended by Mr. Lowin that Titus's wall of
circumvallation being ordy thirty-nine stadia, which must have been
two stailia at least from the walls in every direction, the Third Wall
could not have been as much as thirty-three stadia. A glance at
the map, however, will show that this presents no difficulty; for the
Third Wall was destroyed when Titus formed his wall of circumval-
lation. It is also contended that as Scopus was so much as seven
stadia from the walls, [Bell. v. 2. 3,) it is impossible that the Third
"Wall could have extended so far northward. Let us examine this.
Jerusalem is separated both from the Mount of Olives and from
Mount Scopus by the Valley of the Kedron : what we find, there-
fore, in one case, we may expect to find in the other. Now, the
Mount of Olives measures by the Ordnance map four stadia from
the Ilaram Wall ; and Mount Scopus (Cherufc, or El Mecharif, the
Observatory, or j)lace vjhence one can see ^) measures nine stadia from
the Second Wall. But Josephus tells us that the Mount of Olives
was six stadia distant. [B. v. 2. 3.) Thus we find it half as much
again as it measures on the map, owing to the double slope : con-
sequently, we must allow at least one more stadium for these slopes
in the upper part of the valley in calculating the real distance of
Scopus by the road. This will make the real distance of Scopus
ten stadia from the Second Wall; from which, if we deduct the
the summit of the Mount of Olives ; when Luke xxiv. 50, 51 would have
told her she was wrong, and that it was at the bottom : so, though she
thought she liad complied with the requirements of Scripture by building
her church of the Resurrection, or cliurch of the Holy Sepulchre, outside
the walls of /Elia Capitolina, modern research has discovered that this
position is within the line of the second wall as described by Nehemiah,
and forming tlie wall of Jerusalem in the time of our Lord. But the
subject of t'alvary and Oolgotha has been treated at length in our former
articles in the Mus. Class. Antiq., to which the reader is referred for the
connection between the Dung Gate with the Valley of Hinuom, and Tophet ;
(p. 455 ;) with Goath or Golgotha ; (p. 460 ;) and with Bethso, and the Gate
of the Essenes ; (p. 4(32.)
' Ordnance Survey, A 26S63. The Mussulmans have placed a cairn, or heap
of small stinies there ; because they say that it is the point from which Jerusalem
and tlie Mos(|ue of the Sakhra are first observed in coming from Nablous.
Y
322 ESSAY III.
seven stadia distance from the Third Wall, we shall have three
stadia as the amount of extension of the Tliird Wall beyond the
Second Wall. Again, the monnments of Helena measure four
stadia from the Damascus Gate on plan, which may represent say
five stadia by the road : Init Josephus says they were three stadia
distant from the Third Wall. (Antiq. xx. 4. 3.) This will leave,
therefore, an extension o»f two stadia of the Third Wall beyond
the Second Wall. Thus the distance of seven stadia of Scopus, as
mentioned by Josephus, instead of being an objection, is really a
proof in favour of a northerly extension of the Third Wall.
Again, an argument against all reduced areas of the Second
Wall, whether tlie object be to exclude the church of the Holy
Sepulchre, or to make the Third Wall coincident with the present
wall, lies in the fact that if the Second Wall were so restricted,
IJezetha, or the New City, could not have been described by
Josephus as north of Antonia ; for it might more accurately have
been described as north of the Upper City at one end, and of
Antonia at the other. Another argument against the restricted
area of the Second Wall lies in the fact that if it ran where these
writers suppose, it would have been impossible for those on the
wall to have heard the words of Rabshakeh when standing at the
Upper Pool. (2 Kings xviii. 26, 28.) Mr. Lewin points out (pp.
158 — IGO) some " remains of the Second Wall" in pretended line
within the city, but from the plan which he gives it is evident that
the wall is much too thin for a city wall ; and moreover, it faces
the wrong way ! Other supposed " remains " had previously been
pointed out by Mr. Williams, (pp. 286, 287, 2nd edit, suppl. 83,)
Lord Nugent, [Lands Classical and Sacred, pp. 36 — 39,) and Schultz.
(Jer. p. 60.) They consisted of a pier of a gateway, the crown of
a circular arch", a colonnade of four or five columns ten feet apart, (!)
and the spring-course of an arch. The remains were shown by ^Ir.
Whiting (Bibt. Sac. v. 96) to be portions of the palace of the
Knights of St. John : in which opinion Dr. Tobler unites. [Das
Amland, Jan. 20, 1848.)
Imperial Bible Dictionary, 1864. Article on Jerusalem by Rev.
Horatius Bonar. Fortunately, this writer is opposed to the new
position of Zion, and places it in the south-west quarter ; but he
does not confine it there ; for owing to the extraordinary northern
position of his Hi])picus, which Josephus tells us was one of the
tvestem toicers, his /ion is disproportionately extended, thereby
thrusting Acra out of its uatural position, and invading the greater
part of what Josephus calls the fourth hill : — " But where was
Hippicus? somewhere northward, as Josephus tells us; {Bell.
IMPERIAL lUBLE DICTIOXAItV. 323
V. 4. 2 ;) not Trpoc ^vcrtv, but Kara ftof^fjav '. SO that we must
look for it somewhere in the nortli-wost quarter of the citi/ ; "
not on Zion merely', at the present Kafat, or " Castle of David,"
which is "at the south" of the city. (p. 886.) " Psephinus is
said to be at the north-west corner, and Hippicus at the north of
the city, where the okl wall began, Kara /3ojUpav, and the historian
could iiot possil)ly have intended 'north ' to mean the present Jnffa
Gate, while he intended 'north-west' to mean the neighbourhood of
the Tombs of the Kings ; the one nearly a mile from the other !
If 'north-west' means with him north-west in reference to the
tvhole city, a^ we knoAV it does, ' north' must have a similar reference,
and cannot merely mean north of Zion, which the necessities of
some topographical theories require it to do, thereby making
'north' mean one thing in one page of Josephus, and another in
another." He then quotes Robinson with a note of astonishment,
— "The tower of Hippicus must be sought at the north-west of
Zion!" (p. 895.)
ITow, in answer to this argument, we would mention first, that,
if Psephinus is said to be " north-west," and Hippicus " north,"
we ought naturally to place Hippicus to the east of Psephinus, and
on the Third Wd//, which we know it was not: secondly, that it is
the writer, and no one else, who places Psephinus near to the
" Tombs of the Kings ; " thirdly, that no one can read Josephus's
account (Bell. v. 4. 2) without perceiving that he describes Hip-
picus as being on the north side of the First Wall, which wall
enclosed Zion, or the Upper City ; fourthly, that after s]ieakiug
of Plippicus as on the north of Zion, he adds — "But on the ivest
side, beginning at the same tower." (Bell. v. 4. 2) ; fifthly, that
the present Jaff'a Gate is always described as the western gate of
the city, not the " south," as Mr. Bonar here calls it; and sixthly,
that Hippicus was one of the " Three Towers " forming part of
the lioyal Palace, where the final attack was made, " on the zvest
side of the city," (Bell. vi. 8. 1,) when the panic-stricken Jews cried
out that "the whole westo^n wall was overthrown." (vi. 8. 4.) By
what we think a false stress on the word Kvi;Xovjj.£vor, encircling,
surrounding, or enclosing — for Josephus uses the same word kvkXu)
when describing the walls round the Temple, which we- know
to be square — he makes the wall of Acra a half-circle. Again,
owing to his position of Hippicus, the author no doubt felt, in
endeavouring to trace ISTehemiah's description of the walls, that
he had too great an extension of wall to go along before reaching
Siloam, and therefore took a "near cut" to the present Dung Gate,
(««<. Water Gate,) thinking it might have some traditional connection
Y 2
324 ESSAY III.
with the ancient Dung Gate, which ought to be only 1,000 feet
distant ; but, hke all near cuts, this has only led him into trouble,
and he has been obliged to retrace his steps backwards, thus form-
ing the line of the letter S, or rather of the figure 8, for he quite
returns upon his steps; and when he at length reaches llippicus
a second time, he has to jump back again right across the city to
the present Dung Gate, in order to complete the circuit of the
walls by going round Ophel. By this position of Ilijipicus, he
naturally makes the Tyropceon proceed from the Damascus Gate ;
a confirmation of which line is he thinks the very sharp angle (he
erroneously calls it acute) which llozekiali's aqueduct would take
if it had proceeded from the Jaffa CJate, when it had to turn under
the bridge. But the author's jjlan is here in error : for instead
of being only thirty-nine feet from the south-west angle of the
Temple-area, this bridge is shown in bis plan as 300 feet distant.
The bottom of the Tyropreon he calls the valley of llinnom.
It is with great diflidence that the author ventures to differ from
the conclusions of these writers on some points, men whose names
are known as those of writers of great power and ability, and whose
works are regarded as the latest authorities on the topography of
Jerusalem. He trusts it will be found that in doing so he has not
forgotten the respect due to these writers, and he takes this oppor-
tunity of acknowledging the great assistance he has derived from
the jierusal and study of their works. It is indeed from the im-
portance he attaches to their labours that he has entered at such
length into the consideration of their arguments, the exposition of
Avhich he trusts he has faithfully represented.
The arguments which have been adduced in favour of the new
position of Zion and the City of David are : —
(i) The description of the taking of the city of the Jebusites
by David, as given in 2 Sam. v., 1 Chron. xi., and Josephus,
Ant. vii. 3. 1, 2 ;
(ii.) The water-course of Gihon having evidently entered the
city from the north by the Damascus Gate, and therefore having
Gihon and the City of David on the east of it ;
(iii.) The position of the city of David and the sepulchres of
David as described by Xehemiah ;
(iv.) The forty-eighth })salm, where the city of the great king
(Zion, or the City of David,) is said to be "on the sides of the
north," i.e. to the north of the Tem])le ;
(v.) Numerous ])assages in the Book of Maccabees, where the
citadel in the Lower City is called the citadel in the City of David ;
(vi.) Some minor arguments ;
I. THE TAKING OF ZKJN BY DAVID. 325
(vii.) and finally, a great number of passages in Scripture which
speak of Mount Zion as the Temple-mount.
This is a goodly array of witnesses, and some others will be added ;
and if they be found true we do not wonder at the conclusion which
is arrived at. Let us examine each of these proofs : and first as to
the descrii)tion of the taking of the city of the Jebusites.
(I.) Some of those who insist upon the change of site contend
that it is evident from the words — " David took the stronghold of
Zion : the same is the City of David;" " So David dwelt in the
fort, (or 'castle,') and called it the City of David ;" and from the
moi'e explicit description of Josei)hus, — that David took the Lovjer
City with its stronghold, or castle, and that he called it tlie strong-
hold (or fort, or castle, for it is the same word in the original,
MetsooJoh) of Zion, or the City of David ; and that after this
Joab took the Upper City.
Josephus has told us that the Upper City was " far higher " than
the Lower City, and that except where it was defended only by one
wall, it was "girt about with unapproachable ravines or valleys."
"Where those two valleys, the Valley of Kcdron and the Valley of
Hinnom, meet, the depth is more than GOO feet ! A writer in
" Smith's Dictionary of the Bible," says — " On the other three
sides so steep is the fall of the ravines, so trench-like their cha-
racter, and so close do tliey keep to the promontory at whoso feet
they run, as to leave on the beholder almost the impression of the
ditch at the foot of a fortress, rather than of valleys formed by
nature." ^ Josephus goes on to say — " On the outside the two
hills on_ which the city stood " (he here speaks of hills I. and
IL as one hill, and hill IlL as another) " were surrounded by
deep valleys ; and by reason of the precipices on either side there
was no approach to them from any quarter." With this agrees
the description by Tacitus — " Duos colles, immensum editos,
claudcbant muri, per artem obliqui, aut introrsus sinuati.'"^ Jose-
phus also expresses the same in another place : — " The valley
before the walls was terrible." [Bell. i. 7. 1.) He then goes on
to say — " Accordingly, on account of its (steepness and) strength it
■was styled the citadel of King David." There can be no doubt
that this acropolis, or citadel of the Upper City, as described by
Josephus, was what is called in the Bible narrative the " strong-
hold of Zion," the " fort," or " castle," and " City of David." But
where would the propounders of the new theory place this strong-
hold ? Not on the Lower hill which was " far lower " than the
Upper City, but on the Temple hill, or third hill, which was still
1 p. 985. 2 Hist. V. 11.
320 ESSAY III.
lowGv : for Jdsephus says it was " naturally lower than Acra " or
tli6 Lower City. Now indcpendentl}' of its being unreasonaVjle to
suppose that the lowest of all the hills of Jerusalem should be
selected for a stronghold, we have no evidence throughout the
whole of the Jewish history up to the time of Antiochus of any such
detached stronghold, or fort, or castle, existing at Jerusalem ; and,
what is more, we have Josephus's authority for saying that this
third hill on which the stronghold, or fort, or castle, is supposed
to have stood, did not form part of the city at this time ; for he
says " the city . . . was built . . . on two hills." At this
period the third hill constituted a farm in the occupation of a
Jcbusite who had been allowed to remain unmolested.
Let us now take the order of narration as given us in the Bible.
And here we may make bold to say that there is not one person in
a thousand who, on reading this narrative, did not, before this new
theory was promulgated, suppose that David took Zion, or the
Upper Cit}', and called it after his name. Certainly Josephu.s
luulerstood it so : for after describing the steepness of the U^iper
City, he says, "Accordingly, on account of its strength it was
called 'the Citadel' by King David." ^ It would appear from
Judges i. 8, 21, that though Jerusalem had been taken twice pre-
viously, by the men of Judah, and by the men of Ijenjamiu,^ the
LTpper City had remained impregnable ; and it seems to have been
on this account, and from the boastful confidence of the Jebusites,
who tauntingly told David that the lame and the blind were
sufficient to defend the walls, that he prided himself so much on
having taken it. But it is argued that while David took the
stronghold of Zion, Joab took this acropolis of the Jebusites.
How are we to reconcile this 1 We all know the danger which
exists in putting a literal interpretation upon every passage in
the BiV)le, instead of "comparing IScrij)ture Avith Scripture." An ex-
aiuple of this occurs in the accounts-of the victory over the Edomites
iu the Valley of Salt, Avhen 18,000 Edomites were slain. If we read
2 Sam. viii. 13, we are told that it was David who got this victory.
But if we turn to the Introduction to Ps. Ix. we see that it was
not David, but Joab who gained the battle. But if we turn now
to 1 rinvin. xviii. 12 we see that it was not Joab, but his brother
A1)ishai wh(j gained the victory. AVhile Abishai really won the
battle, floab, being commander-in-chief, was said to have won it,
while David, being king, had all the glory of it. A similar in-
1 Sue also Antiq. v. 3 § 1 : ami what he says of tlie Uiipcr Citv in Bdl.
i. 7§1 ; V. 4§2 ; V. 6§2 ; vi. 8gl.
« See also Antiq. v. 2 § 2, 5.
I. THE TAKING OF ZION UY DAVID. 327
stance occurs in tlio account we have in 1 Sam. xvii. 54, wliere we
are told that " David took the head of tlie Philistine, and brought
it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tout;" from which
we might suppose that this took place immediately after his having
slain Goliath ; whereas it could not have occurred till eighteen
years afterwards. So, in the instance before us, though Joab took
the acropolis of the Jebusites, or as it was now called the strong-
hold of Zion, for it is one and the same thing, David had the glory
of it, and called this stronghold or fastness after his own name.
If any further doubt remains, on account of the order of narration,
David appearing to have taken something, and Joab something
else, let us turn to the thirty-eighth chapter of Isaiah, where we
find the psalm which Ilezekiah wrote when he had been sick, and
was recovered of his sickness. This psalm occupies the greater
part of the chapter, from v. 9 to v. 20, and it is not till towards
the end of the psalm that we read the occasion of it, which occasion
ought to have been narrated first — " For Isaiah had said. Let them
take a lump of figs," &c. We find fre<|Uent examples of this
involved order of narration in the Psalms of David. Thus, in
Ps. XXX., the natural order would have been to begin with the
sixth verse —
In my prospeiity I said, I shall never be removed ;
Thou, ]x)i-d, of Thy goodness hast made my liill so strong :
instead of which we find the Psalmist begins with praise, and
ends with praise. In the following psalm the natural order would
have been to begin witli the tenth verse —
Have mercy upon me, 0 Lord, for I am in trouble,
And mine eye is consumed for very heaviness :
instead of which the Psalmist begins and ends with an expression of
trust in God. Similar instances will be found in the two following
psalms, and many others. Let us take Ps. Ixviii., which, were we to
follow the natural order, should have begun with the seventh verse —
O God, when Thou wentest forth before the people,
instead of which it begins more emphatically by quoting the words
of Moses, which he used when the ark went forward, (Num. x. 35) —
" Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered,
" Let them also that hate Him flee before Him."
With this ]ioy to the interpretation, we have no difficulty in under-
standing that though " Joab went first up," it was David who was
said to have taken the castle or stronglu'ld of Ziun. A parallel
instance occurs in 2 Sam. xii. 2G — 29 : — '-And Joab fought against
328 ESSAY III.
lialtbah of the children of Amnion, and took the royal city. And
Joab sent messengers to David, and said, 1 have fought against
Ixabhah, and have taken the city of waters. Now therefore gather
the rest of the ])eiii)le together, and encamp against the city and
take it ; lest I take the city, and it be culled after my name.
And David . . . fought against it, and took it." The whole con-
fusion would have been obviated had our translators rendered the
Hebrew particle /or instead of and: — ^^ For David said on that
day." The whole passage therefore is perfectly intelligible, and
perfectly confirmatory of the position of Zion and the City of
David : — " The Jebusites spake unto David, saying, ' Except thou
take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither,'
thinking David could not come in thither. Nevei'theless, David
took the stronnhold of Zion : the same is the City of David."
(2 Sam. V.) We now turn to 1 Chron. xi, which su[)plies what is
wanting ill the first account — " i'V David said, Whosoever smiteth
the Jebusites first, shall be chief and captain. So Joab the son of
Zeruiah went first up, and was chief." There is not the slightest
warranty for reading the passage in other than this its legitimate
sense. Any contrary reading leads us to endless confusion ; for
we should not only get a castle wdiere none existed, and a hill
which was not yet enclosed, but by the word " nevertlieless " it
becomes evident, if the stronghold of Zion which David took was
on the Temple-hill, then the Jebusites lived on that hill ; for the
word "nevertheless" proves that it was the stronghold of the
Jebusites which David took. Immediately after mentioning the
" City of David," the chronicler goes on, " And he built the city
round about, even from INIillo round about." This agrees with
2 Chron. xxxii. 5, where he speaks of " IMillo in the city of
David." What this Millo was wiiich David and Solomon (1 Kings
ix. 15, 24; xi. 27) built, and which Ilczekiah repaired, is un-
certain.^ But though we have shown that the City of David was
Mount Zion, and therefore, as everybody acknowledges, a part of
the city of Jerusalem, Josephus asserts that the name applied to
the whole of the city. {Antiq. vii. 3 § 2.) This, however, is a
mistake of the Jewish liistorian ; for 1 Kings viii. 1 is decisive.
We there read, after a long description of the building and iinish-
ing of the Temple on Mount Moriah — "Then Solomon assembled
the elders of Israel . . . unto King Solomon in Jerusalem, that
they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of
the City of David, which is Zion." Here it is said that the ark of
^ Millo sitfiiifies fiUcd-up, or fulncna. The Seventy liave translated the
word a citadel.
II. THE WATER-COURSE OP GIHON. 329
the Lord was brought from one part of tlie city to aiiotlicr ; from
the City of David, or Mount Zion, to the Temi)lc-Mount : which
proves that they were different phices, and not one and the same,
as now supposed.
(II.) The second argument adduced is tlie position of the "water-
course of Gihon." In 2 Chron. xxxii. 30, Hezekiah is described
as bringing down the water-course of Gihon by subterranean pipes
(Ecclus. xlviii. 17) "to the west side of the City of David." It is
asserted that there is no spring to the west of Jerusalem, but that
tliere must have been one formerly to the north of the city outsida
tlie Damascus Gate. From Josephus' mention of a "Serpent's
Pool " as connected with Herod's monuiuents and Scopus, it has
been supposed that, as Scopus was to the north of the city, the
Serpent's Pool also was to the north of the city, and therefore that
a spring of water once existed in this locality; and it is this sup-
posed spring and water-course entering the city by the Damascus
gate, and running along the supposed northern extension of the
Tyropceon, which is to prove that the City of David lay on tlie
ca^t side of this supposed line of water- course, and not on Mount
Zion ! But there is no authority for this supposition. It is
true that Titus pitched his first camp at Scopus, at the safe dis-
tance of seven stadia from the city ; here he placed two of his
legions, while he placed a reserve force of one legion at a
camp three stadia behind him. This ground was selected
because it enabled him to view the city from an elevated position.
But he had no idea of attacking from the north ; he intended
to attack towards the west, and he therefore levelled all the ground
" from Scopus to Herod's monuments, which adjoined to the pool
called the Serpent's Pool.'' {Bell. v. 3 § 2.) As we shall pre-
sently see, this attack was made near to the tower Hippicus, oppo-
site to the monument of the High Priest John, adjoining which tower
was the Valley Gate ; and it is satisfactory to find that IS^ehemiah,
when surveying the walls of the city, when he comes to the Valley
Gate, says he went "even before the Dragon's A\^ell," (ii. 13,) which
is evidently the same as the Serpent's Pool of Josephus.
But the supposition of a water-spring north of the city, and
consequent location of Gihon and the City of David on the
north-east, is still further .complicated by the account Ave have
in 2 Chron. xxxiii. 14, where it is said, that Manasseh "built a
wall u'iihout the City of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the
valley." Surely it must be a hopeless endeavour to point out
where this wall could be outside the City of David, and where the
valley of Gihon could be, where Solomon zvent down to be anointed
330 ESSAY III.
Ivinp, (1 Kings i. 38 — 45,) if the City of Pavid formed part of
the Teuiple luoinit. Great stress lias been laid upon the fact that
the " valley," Avhich is mentioned in connection with Gihon, is
called in the Hebrew ^\ic/uil or Nolhal, like the Kedron, a watered
valley ; whereas a dark ravine or glen, like the Valley of Ilinnoiu,
is called Ge or Gai. But the etymology of the words does not
much help us ; for if the Valley of Hinnom be a dry, dark
ravine, the name of the Kedron is dark. And if, on the other
hand, the Kedron be a watered valley, the name of Tophet, as it
originally signified, would be a pleasant valley. With this agrees
the name of Gihon itself, {Gai-klioun) a valley of grace, or favour;
and of this valley the wiiter of the Book of Ecclesiasticus says —
" He niaketh the doctrine of knowledge appear as the light, and as
Geon in the time of vintage." (xxiv. 27.) IS^eithcr can the
Kedron be well called a watered valley, for it, as well as the Upper
and Lower Pools, is quite dry in the summer months ; indee<l, a
writer in the Times, A\m\ 30, 1874, says it "usually is withcmt
water during the whole year, and seldom runs for more than three
or four days ;"^ moreover, it supplies no reservoirs, whereas the
Valley of Gihon supplies two large reservoirs or pools. But as
this Valley of Gihon has never been supposed to have been in the
Valley of the Kedron — for water from it could not have entered
the u'est side of the City of David — and as it could not have been
in what is pointed out as the Asmonean Valley, (the Broad Valley,
or Street of Ephraim,) for this is rather a depression than a valley,
and certainly cannot be called a watered valley, and cannot be
connected with Solomon's anointing ; we have no choice but that
of placing it in the Valley of liinnom on the west of the city,
whence, Jis we shall find reat^on to see, the principal water supply
of the city was obtained, and where we have a valley of sufficient
de]>th to answer all the requiremeTits-of the narrative connected
with Solomon's anointing. That Gihon was to the north-west of
the city apjicars, not only from its water-course being conducted
to the west side of the city of David, but from the fact which we
have seen that Manasseh " built a wall withovl the City of David,
on the west side of Gihon, in the valley." ^
' " We crossed the bridge over the brook JCedron, but there was not water
in it, and, as 1 understood, never is, except occasionally in winter." Lewin,
Siegr of Jn: p. 141.
2 'J'liat Gilu)n occupied this locality was the opinion of Pococke, San<lys,
Doubdan, Mautegazzo, Ik'sson, Robinson, Paxton, Scbultz, Fiihrer, Aniico,
Berggi'cn, and Leenian ; references to whose works will be seen in .lus. Class.
Aiitiq. p. 34J> note.
II. — TIIK WATERCOURSE OF GIIION. 331
If we admit this position of Gilion, we must also admit tlie
identity of the Upper and Lower Tools of the Valley of llinnom
with the Upper and Lower Pools of Gihon, of 2 Chron. xxxii.
2, 3, 4, 30 ; and Is. xxii. 9, 11. The Upper Pool, or rather the
waters which fed the Upper I'ool,^ were conveyed into the city at
the gate occupying the p( sition of the present Jaffa Gate j^ while the
waters of the Lower Pool were couveyed by similar conduits
within the Water Gate, beneath the Temple.
Uut water Avas not oidy brouLrht into the city by the Valley Gate,
to supply the Pool of Ilezckiah, and other pools of the Lower City,
' Tlicsc waters were ol)tiiiiied from tlio entire surface water of the country
west of the city up to seven miles distance, thougli from the sinuosities of the
liills tlie conduits must have been twelve miles in length. (Dr. Trail, Josrjikus. )
- Speaking of the Ui)[)er I'ool in the ^'alle3' of Gihon, Dr. Robinson states
tliat "in the winter-season it becomes full ; and its waters are then conducted
by a small nide aqueduct, or channel, to the vicinity of the Jaffa Gate, and
so to the Pool of liezekiaii within the city." (Bib. lies. i. 352.) It is pro-
bable that the ancient conduit by whitdi Hezekiah snjjjdied his i)Ool lies
beneath the surface of the ground, and that the rude aqueduct here spoken
of is of recent date. Antoninus of Placenza (a.d. 000) records that "on
putting the ear to the ground on the side of Golgotha, you will hear the
sound of running water." Old authors affirm that the fountain of the Upper
Pool flowed by the place of Golgotha, (lieusner, Altcn Jcrus. fob bwii. ;
Korte, R'jisc. p. 183.) After speaking of the aqueduct which supplies the
Piscina del C'alvario (Pool of Hezekiah) from the Upper Pool, and which
passes beneath the wall, Mariti says there are no traces of this aqueduct
within the city, but "quauto poi ai condotti die possono essere sotto la citta,
crederei che questi fossero nella maggior i)arte scavati nella rocca, ancbe all'
altezzo di un uomo, giache tali essempj non mancano in quelle ]iarti. " (Gio.
Mariti, Istoria dello stato prescnfe delta ritta di Genisaleme, i. 196.) Owing
to neglect, the subterranean aquedu(;t which supplied the Pool of Hezekiah,
is become obstructed, so that whei'eas in ItjOO the i)ool w'as so full that there
were only thirteen stejjS above the water, you now have to descend (in 176?) by
forty-seven. This pool sup])licd tlie Poid of Uethestla, and the other pools of
the city. (Mariti, I.s/oria, i. 207, 208.) Rabbi Jo.seph Schwarz writes : "A
very deep cistern, the water of which is just like that of the spring of Siloah,
and I think it theretore certain that the former aqueduct of Hezekiah is now
below the surtace of the ground in this direction The learned Azulai
mentions in ' I'he Names of the Great,' (fol. ZOb,) that so late as the time
of the Cabalist Rabbi Chayim Vital, who lived in 5310, (a.d. 1580,) one
could hear near the Kaliai, or David's Tower, a strong subterranean rushing
of running water, which was represented as the ancient aqueduct of King
Hezekiah." Descr. Geocp: and Brief Hist. Sketch of Palestine, translated by
Leeser, 5610, (a.U. 1850,) p. 266. (Mas. Class. Antiq. p. 318, 31ti, 467.')
Mr. Whitty, whose especial object it was to ascertain the means of supplying
the town with water, ajipears to have discovered the ancient duct ; for he
sjieaks of a rock-cut duct, in length 790 yards. {Proposed Water Siqiply
and Sewerar/e for Jerus. p. 70, 92, 125.) The model of Jerusalem which has
been formed from the Ordnance Survey shows a fall of about twcuty-live foot
from the U]q)er Pool to the so-called Pool of Hezekiah.
332 ESSAY III.
Lut it was also conveyed into the Upper City, or City of David, as
described in the I>ook of Chronicles. For, on dij^'ging for the founda-
tions of the Protestant chnrch on Mount Zion, at a depth of about
thirty-five feet, the workmen came upon ''an immense conduit, partly
hewn out of the solid rock ; and where this Avas not the case, it was
solidly built in even courses, and cemented on the face with a hard
coating of cement, about one inch thick, and was covered over with
large stones," After tracing 200 feet of it in length, the architect
writes — " There is no doubt on my own mind that they have been
used for the purpose of supplying the inhabitants with pure water ;
and this is proved by there being several apertures opening from
tlie streets at distant intervals : the aqueduct was nearly level,
tlie fall being so slight as to allow the water to remain level, so
tliat by means of a line and bucket water could be procured at
any timo."^ This account is confirmed by j\rr. Lewin, who
examined the conduit again after it had been closed up twenty-
cue years. He gives the depth at thirty-three feet, and explored
the same " two or three hundred feet " in an easterly direction, and
about a hundred and sixteen feet (117 ft. G in.) in a westerly course,
where it turned sharply to the left, (therefore a southerly direction,)
but " did not reach far when it was terminated by a wall built
across it." ^
We shall see presently that Josephus also proves that the water
supply was brought into the city from its western side, and not its
ncu'thern. But before we show this, it is necessary that we establish
the position of the tower called Ilippicus as one of the three
towers built by Herod. It is the general conviction that Ilippicus
stood on the site of what is now called the castle of David ; and if
so, from Josephus beginning to describe the circuit of the lirst and
third walls from this tower, it must have occupied the north-west
angle of Mount Zion, at a spot due west and exactly opposite to
the Temple.^ A glance at the map will show, independently of the
evidence of actual facts which could be adduced, that while Mount
Zion was defended by precipitous ravines on the west, south and
east sides, this defence became less and less perfect on the northern
side as the Tyropoeon approached its head towards the west :
though even here, where the valley of the Tyropa3on was least
profound, we are told by Josephus that the cliff of the Upper City
' Haitlctt, Jl'a/ks ohont JcDisalnn, p. 80, UO.
* Sir-ije of Je.rnsalrm, \x 20.''.— 208.
' 'I'hc, Onlnaiice Survey describi's : "an escarpment of in.asoiiry surnimni ted
by a bernf, or nunulcil top, on which is a solid mass of musoury similar to
that of the Waihiiir Place.''
II. — THE ROYAL TUWEUS. 333
overlooking this valley was thirty cubits high. {Bell. v. 4 § 4.)
Aud in another place we are told that " the Upper City was so steep
that it could not possibly be taken without raising banks against
it," (vi. 8 § 1,) and this of course must refer to the northern side.
Mr. Lewin says " Tlie depth of it opposite the Pool of Hezekiah
must have been very considerable : for while the pool is excavated
out of the rock, the drhris in iJavid Street (the Street of tlie
Valley Gate) reaches down from thirty to sixty feet." ^ The Cte de
Vogiiii makes it thirty-three feet near the citadel. It was, however,
on account of this comparative weakness that Ilabshakeh besieged the
city at this point, and that notwithstanding Herod's building these
three celebrated towers, it was at this same point that the city
was afterwards besieged by Cestius, and subsequently taken by
Titus. These three towers formed part of Herod's Palace, " in-
wardly thereto adjoining," (BelL v. 4 § 4,) and on this account the
towers are called by Josephus the " Eoyal Towers." (Bell. ii.
17 § 8.) ^ Probably between two of these towers, or close to them,
was the Gate Gennath or the " Garden Gate," which led to the
beautiful gardens (v. 4 § 4) connected with the palace, and which
must have occupied a portion of that Gilion which was inclosed by
the wall of Manasseh. But that we may be quite clear respecting
these details, let us give the passages themselves. In 2 Kings
xviii. 17 we read that Pabshakeh and his host encamped at "the
conduit of the Upper Pool," which can only mean the Upper Pool
of Gihon. Cestius, after he had taken the outer wall, and had got
possession of Bezetha, " pitclied his camp over against the Royal
Palace." (Bell. ii. 19 § 4.) Titus formed banks against the
" Upper City," which were •' erected on the west side of the city,
over against the Royal Palace." (vi. 8 § 1.) And immediately
these banks and engines were completed, " a part of the wall was
battered down," and the Jews, panic-stricken, gave out that " the
^ Siege of Jerus. p. 134. " Tlie doscent from tlie Jaffa Gate is at first very
steep, and the stoues so well jiolished that you can with difficulty maintain
the perpendicular. The first street on the right hand is ascended by twelve
steps, and the first two or three lanes or streets on the left have a perceptible
rise, so that even at the present day there is a decided valley here if wo
regard the ascent on the south, and something of a valley even as regards
the north." From the Governor's house "the depression of the valley from
the Jatlii Gate to the Tem])le was distinctly visible, and in ancient times the
hollow must have been infinitely greater. " (p. 142.) Murray also makes the
same observation. (Hatidbook, p. 94.)
* This palace was the Prffitorium, or Palace of Pontius Pilate, erroneously
placed by modern trailition at the N.W. angle of the Haram-esh-8herif. For
the identification of the Praetorium, see the case well stated by Lewin, Siege
of Jcr. p. 364—360.
334 ESSAY III.
■whole western wall was ovorthrown ;" and thus the Romans
finally got possession of the Upper City, and conserinently of all
Jerusalem, at the place where " the Tliree Towers " stood,
(vi. 8 § 4.) This is made still more clear by what Josephus tells
us of the monument of the High Priest John, and the Pool Arayg-
dalon. This monument of the High Priest is mentioned in the
attacks on each wall — the outer, the second, and the old walls, and
from what is said of it it is evident that it must have been close to,
and therefore at about equal distance from each walh " An important
point in the topography of Jerusalem as indicating the line of the
Second Wall, is the position of the High Priest John's monument.
Judging only from the first mention of this monument, it would
appear that it stood near the Outer or Third Wall ; lor it marked the
spot where Titus attacked the Outer Wall. {Bdl. v. G § 2.) Then,
further on, Ave are told that when Titus had taken the Outer Wall,
and was preparing to attack the Second Wall, Simon fortified the
walls from the point in the Second Wall opposite to the monument
of the High Priest John, round about to Hippicus, (v. 7 § 3,) thus
identifying tlie monument with the Second Wall : but afterwards,
when Titus had taken both the Outer and Second Walls, and laid
siege to the first wall, we read, that he planted two machines, one
at the Pool Amygdalon, (as the Pool of Hezekiah was then called,)
and the other nearer to Hippicus at John's monument ; (v. 9 § 2,
and V. 11 § 4 ;) ^ thus clearly proving that the monument was near
the First Wall. These perplexing accounts are satisfactorily ex-
plained when we consider the High Priest's monument to have
been situated about erpii-distant from all three walls ; the walls
forming three sides of a square, and the monument standing in
the middle. The exact position may be determined from
Josephus; for he states that the machine by the High Priest's
monument was thirty cubits only distant in a westerly direc-
tion from that whicli stood by the Pool Amygdalon.- (v. 11 § 4.)"
" But the determination of the High Priest's monument is useful,
not only in showing the point where Titus made his breach in the
Outer Wall ; it also enables us to fix with great precision the line of
^ Josephus does not use tlie wonls nearer to Hippicus, l)ut lie iiiijilies tliis.
He first ilescriljes a liauk opposite to Antouia, then one tweutj' ciil)its from
this ; then- one "a groat way off these, at the pool called Amygdalon," and
then the fonrth, (which must ncccssaiily have lieen still further westward,)
"aliont thirty cnliits from it, and at the Hiyli I'ricst's monnment."
2 Horatins Bonar thinks it ))ossil)le that the Amygdalon or A I mmid Pool
took its name oiiginally from ?n3D MigJul a tower, the Towcr-ijooi. (Imp.
Bib. Diet. p. 885.)
II. — riiri'icu.s. 335
the Second "Wall. It is very romarkaLle that alP attac'ks on the
Upper City were made opposite to the three strong towers described
by Joseplius Here therefore must have stood the fourth
machine, thirty cubits from which was the third machine by the
Pool Amygdahm, tlie two machines being separated from each
other by the line of Second AVall, and the Gate Gennath. Thus,
then, by tlie High Priest's monument, we are enabled to prove, not
only that tlic Second Wall lay to the west of the Pool of Hezekiah,
or Amygdalon, T)ut that an onter wall existed yet more to the west,
occiijiying the position of the present modern wall, of the same
antiquity as the other walls." ^ With the explanation above given,
assisted by the jdan, we shall be able to understand what Joseplius
says in the sixth chapter relative to Titus's first attack upon the
city: — "Titus went round the city on the outside, with some
chosen horsemen, and looked about for a proper place where he
might make an impression upon the walls, but as he was in
doubt where he could possibly make an attack on any side, for
the place was no way accessible where the valleys were, and on
the other (north) side the first wall appeared too strong to be
taken by the engines, he thought it best to make his assault by
the monument of John the Tligh Priest : for there it was that the
first fortification was lower, and the second was not joined to it :
the builders neglecting .to build the wall strong, where the new
city was not much inhabited : here also was an easy passage to the
Third "Wall, throu<,di which lie thought to take the Upper City."
(v.6§2.)
The careful consideration and comparison of all these passages
cannot fail to enable us to fix the po.sition of the Royal Palace, the
Three Towers, and consequently of the tower Hi{)picus, which
forms the basis and starting-point for the determination of the gates
and walls of the city, as described by Nehemiah, which we shall
next consider. At present we have only to add that the determi-
^ The final and successful attack on the upper city was made on the west
wall of the royal palace. {Bell. vi. 8 §1.)
* Mas. Class. AntJq. p. 420 — 428. The writer had previously shown that
Titus took the outer wall, on the west of Gihon, close to the three towers,
and opposite to the High Priest's monument ; which of course gave him
possession of the whole of the new city ; that he then attacked the second
wall at a spot close to the same monument, but subsequently on the
northern side ; and that when he had thus got possession of the Lower City,
he destroyed the walls an<l towers, except the southern extremity of such
walls and" towers ; (v. 8 § 2 ;) for these, as they united on to the Old Wall,
the better enai)led him to attack the Upper City ; and tliat after this he
proceeded to attack the Upper City from opposite the same monument.
336 ESSAY III.
nation of this tower ivcstu'ard of the pool called Ami/ijJahjn, or
Hezekiali's pool, forms a striking contirniation of the fact that it
was at this point that Ilozckiah brought in his water supply to the
city. Josephus, describing the Jews' preparations for the defence
of the Second Wall, says — "Simon's army also took for tlieir share
the spot of ground which was near John's monument, and fortified
it as far as to that gate (the Valley Gate) where water was brought
in to the tower Hippicus." (v. 7 § 3.) ^
(III.) AVe now come to the third argument, which is that the de-
scription of the walls and gates of the city, given us byNehemiah,
proves that the "city of l)avid " and the "sepulchres of David"
were to the north of the Temple. As Hippicus is the basis or
starting-point of Josephus' desciiplion, so the Valley Gate is the
basis or starting-point of Nehemiah's. Hippicus we have estab-
lished ; and the determination of this tower is of great assistance
to us in determining also the position of the Valley Gate. But
before we consider the order of the gates as given us by Nehemiah,
it is very important that we observe the natural requirements of
the place, as shown by its present gates and principal streets. The
three principal gates of the modern city are those leading to Jaffa,
Damascus, and Jericho : and gates must always have existed in the
same places. The ancient names of these gates were the Valley
Gate, the Gate of EjJiraim, and the SheejJ Gate. The ancient
streets, the names of which are mentioned in the Bible, were the
Street of the (Valley) Gate of the city, the Street of the Gate of
Ephraim, the East Street, the Street of the AVater Gate, the
^ This important fixing of the position of Hippie-us <and the Valley Gate
disposes of the theory brouglit forward in the Didionanj of the Bible,
that Hippicus stood on the spot marked in the accompanying plan as the
Tower of tlie Furnaces. The reasons alleged for this position are two-fold :
its being a "corner tower ;" and the remains of the tower at the north-west
of the present walls agreeing better in plan than the "Castle of David" with
the dimensions of Hii)])icus as described by Josei)hus. But, in the first place,
there is no proof tliat the tower in question is ever called a "corner tower ; "
and if it were, if it stood where is now the " Castle of David" it would have
been a most important corner tower of tlie Old Wall or the Upper City : and
secondly, we are not at all sure that either the "Castle of David," or the
north-west tower, are of this antiquity, though there is no doubt that their
materials are ancient. There are, however, two facts which <|uite confute
this theory : — one, that the three towers, of which Hip]>icus formed one,
were westward of the Pool Amyfjdalon, and onl)' thirty cubits from it ; the
other, that water was brought into the city by the gate close to this tower,
which could not have been the case with the north-west tower of the present
city, which is one hundred feet higher up. The same argument operates, of
cour.so, with still gri ater force against the theory of the Imj^erial Bible
Dictionary, that Hi])picus was still more northward.
III. — NRIIPJMI All's DKSCinPTlON OF THE WALLS. 337
Bakers' Street, and the Street of the House of God. We must
also notice preliminarily, as important land-marks, those passages
in tlie Bible which refer to opposite portions of the city ; as the
Fish Gate and the Second Gate (Zeph. i. 10) ; the Tower of llan-
aneel (sometimes itself called a corner gate, 2 Kings xiv. 13), and
the Gate of the Corner (at Ophel) ; ^ Gareb and Goath,^ or
Goatha ; the Valley of the Dead Bodies (Hinnom) and the Horse
Gate (Jer. xxxi. 38 — 40) ; Benjamin's Gate (the East Gate?) and
the First Gate (the Valley Gate) ; the Tower of Ilananeel and the
King's wine-presses. (Zech. xiv. 10.)
With these materials we can easily trace the walls and gates of
the city, as existing in the time of ^ehemiah, and described by
him in his third chapter. He commences his description at the
Sheep Gate, near which was the pool Bethesda; (John v. 2 ; ) from
which gate he passes to the Tower of Meah, and the Toiver of
Ilananeel, also called a corner tower, and which we know to have
been at the north-east corner of the city, and being only 400 cubits
distant from the Gate of Ephraim, (2 Kings xiv. 3,) must have
been north-west of the Temple, and not in an extended line from
the eastern face of the Temple area, where a wall was afterwards
built by Agrippa, forming a part of the " New-town." After leav-
ing this tower, he describes the Fish Gatej^ which must have been
very near to it ; the Old Gate ; and then, talcing no notice of the
Gate of Ephraim, possibly because he was describing the work of
four different sets of builders, passes on to the Throne of the
Governor ; the Broad Wall ; * the other piece ; the Toiver of tlie
Furnaces (called by the Turks the castle of Goliath), and
thought by Adricho)iius to be a beacon to night-wanderers. A
letter from Jerusalem states — " We are now living in a house at
the extreme north-west corner of the city, close to the remarkable
ruins of the so-called Kalat-elJalud. From the upper room of
this house there is a very fine view of the Moab mountains ; but
that is not all : we have also a peep of the Dead Sea."^ He next
comes to the Valley Gate, opposite to which was the Dragons Well,
(Neh. ii. 13,) near the Upper Pool of Gihon.
The position of this gate forms the keystone to the whole
arrangement of the walls. A distinguished advocate of the site
of the Holy Sepulchre feels great difficulty as to the position of
^ So Tlirupp also : Ant. Jcr. p. 79.
* The word Goatli is said to signify a violent death. (Kriifft, p. 158 ;
Lewin, p. 367.)
•^ Fish appears to have hcen procured chiefly from Tyre. See Keh. xiii. 16.
* It was ])iobably in this position that "the narrow streets led obliquely
to the wall." {Bdl. v. 8. 1.) And see plan. ^ /^j^/ ^m jjid, p. 887.
Z
338 ESSAY III.
this gate: for lie i)laccs it to the north, south, cast, and west of
the city in so many dillerent pa^'es,^ wliile the supporters of the
new theory of Mount Zion imagine the Valley Gate to be on the
south (one on the south-east) of what they call tlie modern Zion,
in positions overlooking the Valley of Hinnom, and between six
and seven hundred feet above it. The true position of the
Valley Gate is, as we have seen, near to Hippicus, and corres-
ponded with the present Jalfa Gate. This gate took its name,
either IVom its being the only gate (with the exception of the
Water Gate) facing a valley, as Dr. liobinson argued ; or else
from its communicating directly with the Valley of the Tyropoeon.
This was one of the principal gates of the city ; and, with the ex-
ception of the Dung Gate, the only Avestern gate. "It was in th«
Street of the (Valley) Gate that the princes and the priests assem-
bled on the occasion of the dedication of the walls by Nehemiah ;
and it Avas probably this same ' Street of the (Valley) Gate of the
city' where Uezekiah, after he had brought water into the city,
assembled the captains ; (2 Chron. xxxii. 6 ; ) and it is further
remarkable that Josephus begins his descrij^tion at tliis same point.
{Bell. 5, 4 § 2.) It was probably from this circumstance, its natural
importance owing to its situation, that it acquired the name of the
Fii'st Gate; (Zech. xiv. 10 :)"- and as we find mention of a
" Second Gate," (Zeph. i. 10,) it is possible that all the gates were
numbered : and that the gates of the Temple were also numbered ;
for we find reference to " the Third Entry that is in the house of
the Lord." (Jer. xxxviii. 14.) In like manner it is probable that
all the towers were numbered : for we find Isaiah asking — " AVhere
is he that counted the towers 1 " (xxxiii. 18.) One other circum-
stance must be mentioned, which is in itself conclusive as to this
position of the Valley Gate. It is that on the occasion of the
dedication of the walls by Nehemiah, he assembled the Priests,
and the Levites, and the singers, and the Princes of Judah, to-
gether, and divided them in two companies ; of which one went
on the right hand, and the other on the left ; with orders to meet at
the Temple to complete the rites of consecration. It was important
therefore that they should start at some point which should be
about ecpiidistaut either way I'rom the Temple. Such a point was
the western gateway of the city, the Valley Gate. Occupying the
position of the present Jaffa Gate, it was exactly opposite to the
Temple ; and the company would assemble in its spacious street
1 See Mus. Class. Antiq. p. 421, 422.
^ lb. p. 411. See also p. 414 for the opinions of Oflferhaus, Roseumiiller,
Theuius aud Leeman.
III. — NEIIRMIAIl's DRSCRIPTION OF TUE WALLS. 339
before defiling to the right and left. It need not be pointed out
that were the Valley Gate — for it was from this gate tliey started —
to have been on the south or south-east of Zion, this requirement
would not be answered. We may be quite sure then that the Val-
ley Gate stood on the spot pointed out in the accompanying map.
We will now proceed with Nehemiah's description. At the
distance of 1,000 cubits from the Valley Gate stood the Dung
Gate, which was in number the Second Gate, (Zeph. i. 10,) and
which was also called the Gate Harsith, or the Gate of Potslicrds ;
(Jer. xix, 2 ; ) improperly translated in our Bibles, the " East
Gate." In Joseplius's time the locality was still called Bethso,
{Beth-Tsouoh) the place of filth, and the gate, the Gate of the
Essenes. {Bell. v. 4. 2.) He next describes the Fonutarn Gate, so
called from being opposite to the Fountain of Siloam, to which
steps in the rock ajipear to lead down ; ^ the wall of the Pool of
JSiloah, {En Rogel,^ ) hi/ the Icing's garden. That the king's gardens
were in this position seems evident from the fact that gardens still
exist in this locality. " At the mouth of the Tyrop(eon the foun-
tain of Siloam flows winter and summer with a refreshing and
plentiful stream, pouring fertility and luxuriance over the vine-
yards and gardens that reach from it down some way along the
valley of Jehoshaphat. In this little Elysium are grown, even at
the present day, the vegetables for the supply of the Jerusalem
market, and here are the pleasure-grounds to which, in summer, the
inhabitants of the sultry city repair at eventide, to sip their coffee,
and smoke their narghileh." ^ That the king's garden was in this
locality, and not to the south of Ophel, at tlae meeting of the two
valleys, as generally thought, is evident from 2 Kings xxv. 4, and
Jer. xxxix. 4, and Hi. 7, where we read of the " king's garden "
before mention is made of the " way betwixt the two walls." In
this garden David appears to have built a summer-palace ; for
in his account of the dedication of the walls, J^ehemiah, on coming
to the sj)ot, speaks of " the going up of the wall above the house
of David, even unto the Water Gate." (xii. 37.) While the wall
here is described as above the house of David, a little further on,
■where he describes Ophel, he speaks of the " king's high house ; "
as though contrasting this upper house on Ophel with the lower
house in the valley of Siloam. That David had other houses
besides that on Mount Zion, appears from 1 Chron. xv. 1, " and
David made him houses in the city of David." He next mentions
the stairs that go down to (from) the City of David ; and the plaice
' Kratft, Jerus. ''■ Jos. Antiq. vii. 14. 4 ; ix. 10. 4.
^ Lewiii, Siege of Jer. p. 251 ; quoting De Saulcy and Scliultz.
z 2
340 ESSAY III.
over against the Sejndchres of David. The words over agaiiut
\vould imply that the sepulchres were outside the walls, adjoining
the king's garden, having the stairs from the City of David between
them : and this for other reasons is extremely probable. (See
p. 320.) Dr. Thenius places them in this position.^ They were
thus immediately outside the Water Gate on the west side, and
seen therefore, like the tombs in most ancient cities, by " all that
went in at the gate of the city." The next objects mentioned are
the Pool that ivas made ; and the ho%ise of the migldy. Here ap-
pears to have been the Water Gate, which we know from Nehe-
niiah xii. 37, was a gate in the outer wall ; but which, like the
Gate of Ephraini, is not here mentioned, though the " place over
against the Water Gate, towards the east," is mentioned in the 26th
verse. Nehemiah twice mentions the " Street that was before the
Water Gate." (viii. 1 . 3.)^ In 2 Kings xxv. 4 and Jcr. Hi. 7, it is
spoken of as the " gate between the two walls, which is by the
king's garden ; " and in Jer. xxxix. 4, as " by the king's garden,
by the gate betwixt the two walls." A stream of water which has
been discovered at " Wilson's arch," must have flowed through this
gateway, and it led out to the three pools. On the other hand, a
subterranean duct was brought through this gateway from Solomon's
Pools at Etam, upwards of twelve miles distant, which supplied
the cisterns beneath the Temple, and the " reservoir'^ betwixt the
two Avails, for the water of the old pools." (Is. xxii. 11.) lie then
describes the piece over against the going ^ip to the Armoury, at the
turning of the ivall. The Armoury built by David — " The tower
of David builded for an armoury, wherein there hung a thousand
bucklers, all shields of mighty men," [Song of Sol. iv. 4,) has been
confused with the Armoury afterwards built on the Temple-mount.
It is probable that David's armoury occupied the position of Hip-
pious : and that this Hippicus was the armoury in which Simon,
who held the upper city at the siege by Titus, stored his engines of
war, which had been taken from Cestius aud from the tower of
Antonia. {BeU. v. G. 3.) And it is somewhat singular that the pre-
sent "castle of David," which now occupies the site, also served as
an armoury. Some years ago a chamber was discovered in the
thickness of the wall, full of bows and arrows, several of the
latter of which the author took away with him. The Armoury of
the Temple-mount, (^^eh. iii. 19,) was built by Solomon in the
' Das vorexelisclie Jerusalem, und dcsscn Tcmpcl, taf. i.
2 Tliore appears to have been a Water Gate connected with the Temple, on
its southfTii side.
^ niDO, Mikvch, a gathering of xcatcr : translated " ditch " in our Bibles.
III. NEHEMIAIl's DESCini'TlUN OP THE WALLS. 341
House of tlie Forest of Lebanon : (Is. xxii. 8 ; 1 Kings vii. 2 : )
and in it lio hung up tlneo hundred shields of beaten gold.
(1 Kings X. 17 : see also 2 Chron. xxxii. 5.) It seems probable
from 2 Kings xi. 10, and Jos. Antiq. ix. 7. 2, that David's armour
was afterwards removed to the armoury built by Solomon for the
Temple. The words at the turnincj of the ivall, (Miktoah,) is
pointed out by Psalmanazar and Villalpandus, as signifying a re-
entering or internal angle : and the same term appears in 2 Chron.
xxvi. 9, where we are told that Uzziah built a strong tower at this
spot. He then describes the piece over against the houses of
Eliashih the High Priest, of Benjamin and IlasJiuh, and of Am7'iah ;
the turning of the wall, even the corner. Here appears to have
been a corner gate. (Jer. xxxi. 38.) After this is the Tower which
lieth out from iJie l-ing's high house. We have already spoken of
David's summer palace in the gardens below, as distinguished from
this npper palace built by Solomon. This latter consisted of
several houses — the house for Pharaoh's daughter, the house of the
Forest of Lebanon, and others. If connected with Beth-Millo, or
" the house of Millo which goeihdown to Silla," (2 Kings xii. 20,)
and if, as Mr. Lewin thinks,^ Silla and Mesilla (I Chron. xvi. IG)
were identical, this palace w'ould appear to have been connected on
the western side of Ophcl with the Valley of Siloam ; while, from
the *' tower which lieth out " it would appear to have extended right
across Ophel to its eastern side. That it was below the Temple,
and on its southern side, and immediately adjoining it, is evident
from Ezek. xliii. 7 ; 2 Kings xi. 5, 6, 19 ; and 2 Chron. xxiii. 5 ;
and from the accounts we have of going-up from the king's house
to the Temple, (2 Chron. viii. 11 ; ix. 4 ; Jer. xxvi. 10,) and of
going doivn ivonx the Temple to the king's house. (2 Kings xi. 19 ;
Jer. xxii. 1 ; xxxvi. 12.) is ehemiah goes on to say that the king's
house was by the Court of the Prison : consequently the Prison
could not have been, as has been supposed, to the north of the
Temi)le. Indeed this position, close to the king's house, is con-
firmed by Jer. xxxii. 2. Here again the Prison Gate is not men-
tioned, though it is described in the twelfth chapter. The next
piece was built by the Nethinims who dwelt in Ophel, unto the
place over against the Water Gate, toivards the east. He then
describes another tower that lieth out ; the place over against the
great toiver that lieth out ; and the wall of Oj'hel.^ This wall of
Ophel has been discovered by the Exploration Society : — "The
' Siege of Jer. p. 266.
- Opiiel si^miities strong, a stronghold, or tower ; (2 Kmgs, v. 24 ; Is. xxxii.
14 ; ilich. iv. 8 ;) but its signilication liere is a liill or iDount,
342 ESSAY III.
Eastern wall (of the Ilaram-enclosure) is prolonged beyond the
gouthern face, and continues in the general direction of Siloaru,
with all the solidity and antiquity which characterize its known
portions." It is 14 feet thick, and 700 feet long, and 40 to GO
feet beneath the surface, and has '■^several towers projecting from
the ivall, one of ivhich is very remarJcahle, as it projects more titan any
of the rest, standing upon scarped rock. It is also remarkable that
many of the stones in this wall are polished, reminding one of the
* polished corners of the Temple.' " He next describes the Horse
Gate, which lie says was rebuilt by the Priests. We are therefore now
close to the Temple platform. This was the gateway " by which horses
came into the king's house." (2 Kings xi. IG; 2 Chron. xxiii. 15.)
We are therefore still on the south side of the Temple. Here also
the Hippodrome appears to have been built in later times, and which
Josephus says was to the south of the Temple ; {Bell. ii. 3. 1 ;) and
the spot is marked by the Mahometan tradition attached to the vaults
under the south-east angle of the Haram enclosure, which they call
" Solomon's Stables : " and Mr. Lewin adduces many solid argu-
ments in support of this supposition.^ We now arrive at the
Temple : but the Temple is not mentioned : and instead of this
we read of the houses of the priests, each of them rei)airing the
wall against his house, every one over against his house, and particular
mention is maile of the wall repaired by Zadok, the son of Immer,
over against his house. From this it seems evident that the Temple
of Solomon, repaired by Zerubbabel, did not extend to the eastern
wall of the platform, but was separated from it by the houses of
the priests ; and that this land was subsequently taken in by
Herod, when he rebuilt and enlarged the Temple.^ We now come
to the Fast Gate, which is not to be confounded with the " beautiful
gate of the Temple," Nicanor, which was the principal gate, and
faced the east, and which is so frequently referred to by Ezekiel,
and whicli Josei)hus tells ns was of Corinthian biass, which far
excelled those which were only covered with silver and gold, and
that the two doors were thirty cubits high. The sanctity of this
gate no doubt gave rise to the Jewish and jMahometan tradition
that the golden gateway, which is a walled-up gateway on the
eastern side of the present Haram-enclosure, will not be opened till
Christ comes to judge the world. The East Gate of the city
appears to be identical with the " High Gate of Benjamin, which
was by the House of the Lord," (Jer. xx. 2,) and on its northern
side. (Ezek. ix. 2.) The East Gate gave name to the street
hading up to it, (2 Chron. xxix. 4,) having shops on each side.
' Siege of Jcr. p. 484, 485. 2 ggg Note at end of this Essay.
III. — nehemiah's description of the walls. 343
He then mentions the names of several contributors together with
the Nethinims and merchants, the place over against the Gate
Miphkad, (an internal gate,)^ and the f/oing up of the corner;
from which place the goklsniiths and the merchants rehuilt the
wall up to the Sheep Gate.
The reader who has followed this description will not have failed
to see that there are several landmarks fixing the descrij)tion as it
goes along : — The Sheep Gate, determined by the pool 15ethesda ;
the Gate of Ephraim by the present Gate of Damascus ; the Tower
of llananeel by the distance of 400 cubits from the Gate of
Ephraim, and by its being a corner gate ; the Valley Gate by the
present Jaffa Gate ; the l3ung Gate by its distance of 1,000 cubits
from the Valley Gate, and from the connection between its name
Harsith and Bethso and the Valley of Tophet ; the Fountain
Gate, and " the wall of the pool of Siloah " by the King's Garden,
by the Pool of Siloam, or En Rogel, and by the gardens which
still exist in this locality; the Water Gate by the Pools and
reservoirs and conduits in the vicinity, and by its being at a re-
entering angle of the wall ; the walls of Ophel by the promontory
or spur of the Temple hill towards the south, and by the remark-
able correspondence with the Scripture narrative which we have in
the account given to us by the Exploration Society of the toimrs
lying out ; the Horse Gate by its traditions ; and finally the East
Gate by its proximity to the Temple. From all this confirmatory
evidence we can now point to Nehemiah's description of " the
stairs that go down to (from) the City of David," and "the j^lace
over against the Sepidchres of David" as proving that the City of
David, or Mount Zion, ever occupied the same place which is now
pointed out; and consequently that this supposed " proof " of their
being on the north-side of the Temple-mount falls to the ground.
Nehemiah's description of the dedication of the wall in his
twelfth chapter is useful to us in supplying the omissions in the
former account : for he here mentions the Gate of E'phraim, the
Water Gate, and the Prison Gate, which he had omitted before;
W'hile he now omits several other points which he had mentioned
previously : but one tiling fortunately he mentions with more
particularity : in speaking of the Stairs of the City of David, he
adds the words, " at the going up of the wall, above the hoiise of
David, eve7i iinto the Water Gate : " thus showing that the City of
David must have been on the left hand as he approached the
Water Gate. The two companies divided at the Valley Gate, (the
^ Possibly a gate in the wall connecting the noitliern side of Zion with tlie
western portions of the Temple.
344 ESSAY III.
name of which liowcvcr he does not liere mention,) one company,
headed by Neheuiiah, passing,' the Tower of tlie Furnaces, the
Broad Wall, the Gate of Ephraim, the Old Gate, the Fisli Gate,
the Towers of Hananeel and Aleah, the Sheep Gate, and so on,
without mentioning other names, till they arrive at the Prison
Gate : while the other, headed by Ezra, pass the Dung Gate, the
Fountain Gate, the Stairs of the City of David, at the going np of
the ivall, above the house of David, even unto the Water Gate.
The two companies therefore on arriving at the Prison and Water
Gates, would meet together, and ascending to the House of the
Lord l)y the grand southern approach would enter the Temple
probably by the gate Huldah. It was this southern approach
leading from Solomon's palace that appears to be alluded to in
2 Chron. ix. 4, where we read, among the works which he exe-
cuted, and other wonders 'which excited the astonishment of the
Queen of Sheba, of " his ascent by which he Avent up into the
House of the Lord." The gateway is considerably above the level
of the ground on the Ophel side, and it must therefore have been
approached by a grand flight of steps. It will give some idea of
what this grand ascent must have been, when we recollect that
there is a difference of level of 90 feet between Ophel and the
Temple-area.
It may be desirable, here, to give Josephus's account of the cir-
cuit of the walls, premising that he speaks of each separately.
The first wall enclosed Zion, the sacred area. " Of the three walls
the most ancient Avas impregnable, as much on account of the
ravines, and the hills which rose above them, as from the addition
to the natural strength of the place caused by the defences carried
out by David, Solomon, and subsequent kings, who bestowed
great labour and expense in this work. Beginning at the north, at
the tower Hippicus, and extending to the Xystus, and joining
the Curia, it terminated at the western portico of the Temple.
But on the west side, beginning at the same tower, and extending
to the part called Bethso, and to the Gate of the Essenes,^ and
then at the south bending towards the Fountain of Siloam, and
then again in the east bending towards the Pool of Solomon, and
stretcliing out to that place called Ophla, it joined the eastern
portico of the Temple. The Second Wall had its beginning at the
gate called Gennath, belonging to the first wall. It enclosed only
the northern quarter of the town, and extended to Antonia. The
Third Wall had its beginning at the tower Hippicus, from which
^ Solinus says that tlie Essenes inhabited the most inland parts of Jud«a,
towards the west. {Lib. xxxviii.)
III. — TIIIO THREE WALLS. 345
it went towards tho ndrtli as far as the tower Psei)hinns, and then
passing over against the monuments of Helena, and stretching out
a great way by the Tombs of the Kings, (liOi/al caves,) and bending
at the corner tower near the Fuller's Monument, joined the old
wall at the Valley of the Kedron. It was Agvippa who built this
wall, to enclose the parts of the city which were previously unpro-
tected." (Bell. V. 4. 2.) The reader can here consult the account
of Titus's wall of circuravallution. (v. 12. 2.) The Great Wall
is mentioned in v. 6. 1 ; it ai)pears to have gone across from the
southern slopes of Zion to the point of Oi>liel, thus enclosing the
Pool of Siloam. It was probably built by Agrippa. The wall
of Ophcl was built by Jothan (2 Chron. xxvii. 3) and IManassch ;
the latter of whom built the western wall of Gihou ; (2 Chron.
xxxiii. 14 ; ) while Ilezekiah built a small portion of wall near the
Gate of Ephraim. (2 Chron. xxv. 23, and xxxii. 5.)
In addition to the gates of the Outer Wall there were, of course,
many gates in the internal walls : one of these, Miphkad, has been
already referred to ; another was the Middle Gate, (Jer. xxxix. 6,)
which of course had its street leading to it. Josephus, in his de-
scrii)tion of the siege, frequently refers to gates between the different
portions of the city. The "gate of Joshua the governor of the
city" (2 Kings xxiii. 8) was probably another name for one of the
gates of the city. The Temple also had several gates. A double
and a treble gate exist in the southern platform wall. The prin-
cipal entrance was towards the east, which had a " broad place " in
front of it. (Esdras i. 9, 38.) There was a gate on the northern
side, and four gates on the western, three of which have been dis-
covered, and which bear the names of Robinson, Barclay, and
Wilson, The first and last are remarkable, not oidy from their
exhibiting the remains of arches, but from their forming viaducts
of communication across the street of the Water Gate or Valley of
the Tyropceon. The northern one, Wilson's, is a double causeway,
presenting roads of 21 feet and 23 feet in width, communicating
with the Lower City, Acra. These might lead to the " Street of
the House of God," unless this street formed the approach from
Opliel at the south of the Temple. Josephus thus describes these
gates : "In the western quarter of the enclosures of the Temple
there were four gates : the first led to the king's palace, (the As-
monean palace on jNlouut Zion,) and to a passage over the inter-
mediate valk'y ; ^ two more led to the suburbs of the city ; and the
i "The bridge which ouce connected tlie Palace with the Temple must
have had an elevation above the ravine of the Tyropoeon of uo less than 200
feet." {Muvvay's Handbook, p. 111.)
316 ESSAY III,
last ltd to the other city, where the road descended down into the
valley by a great number of steps, and thence up aj,'ain by the
ascent." (Aiitu/. xv. 11. 5.) Other gates of the Temple were
" the Gate of Sur," and the Gate behind the guard, or " the Gate of
the guard to the king's house," and "the Gate of the foundation."
{2 Kings xi. C, 19 ; 2 Chron. xxiii. 5.)
(lY.) The next argument adduced is founded on the passage in
the Psalm before us —
" (On) the sides of tlic north
" (Is) the city of the great king."
We have already seen in the introductory remarks to this Essay
that these words have led some foreign theologians to consider that
the expression has merely a metaphorical explanation, while some
English writers insist upon a literal inter[)retation, and take the
passage to assert positively that Mount Zion and tlie City of David
stood to the north of the Temple-mount. Several of the arguments
in support of this allegation we have already considered ; and we
have found no reason for doubting that ]\Iount Zion and the City
of David ever stood on the spot hitherto appropriated to them.
While Mount Zion was considered an impregnable fortress, insomuch
that Pompey is described as saying that " the walls were so firm that
it would be hard to overcome them, and the valley before the
walls was terrible ; " (Bell. i. 7. 1 ;) Acra, or the Lower City, occupying
the Christian and greater portion of the Mahometan quarter of the
present cily, was a hill sloping down on all three sides, and there-
fore admirably adapted for the private habitations of the citizens.
While on the one hand, the local term of " Mount Zion " is most
frequently made to embrace the whole city ; so on the other hand
the general name of " Jerusalem " is frequently, especially by
Josephus, restricted to this habitable jjortion of the city. While
Mount Moriah was hallowed by the Temple of the Lord, and ^Sfount
Zion hallowed, "because the place is holy vvhereunto the ark of the
Lord hath come," (2 Chron. viii. 11,) Jerusalem, or the Lower
City, was looked upon as the city of God's peoi)le. The Psalmist,
then, in composing this psahn, is not thinking of David and his
stronghold, which he called the City of David ; he is thinking of
Jerusalem as the city of God's people, and therefore a "holy city."
(Cp. Neh. xi. 1, and many other passages in the Bible : ) he is,
not thinking of David, the great king of Israel and Judah, but of
(!01), TIIK GREAT KING OVER ALL THE EARTH, (xlvii. 2,) THE
GREAT KING ABOVE ALL GODS. (xcv. 3.) And it is thus our
Lord applies it — " Neither by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the
IV. PSALM XLVIH. 347
Great Kiiij-." (ALit. v. 35.) The Tsalmist says— " Beautiful for
elevation, tlie joy of the whole earlh, is the mountain of Zion."
Whether he is .'^penkinrf here of INFount Zion only, or of the entire
city is immaterial : though there is no doubt he is speaking of the
entire city, as he does in the second antiphon, — "Let the Mount
Zion rejcnce, and the daughters (other cities) of Judali be glad : "
and again immediately afterwards, "Walk about Zion; go round
about her ; and tell the towers thereof. Mark-well her bulwarks,
behold her palaces," &c. Ho then says — " On the north side
is the city of the GREAT KING." That m, on the north side is the
liabitable part of the city, the city of God's people. " God as a
sure refuge is known in her palaces." This interpretation is con-
lirmed by the proem — " In the city of our God," and by the anti-
])hon — " In the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God."
Tliis psalm therefore gives no autliority for the recent hypothesis
rcsjiectiiig the position of IMount Zion.
(V.) The next argument adduced is that afforded by the Book of
Maccabees : and here it must be acknowledged that this evidence is
very extraordinary. So long as Mount Zion retained the Ark of
God, its glory was confined to it : but on the removal of the Ark to
!Mouut Moriah, the glory of Mount Zion was transferred to the
Temple-mount, or given to the whole city, as in Ps. xxxiii. 20,
" Zion, the city of our solemnities," and Ps. cxxxiii. 3, " Like as
the dew of Ilermon, which fell upon the mountains of Zion," thus
including all the mountains or quarters of the city. Occasionally,
however, but very rarely, after this period is the name of Zion
limited to the ancient acropolis. One instance is in the Book
of Micah, (iii. 12,) quoted also by Jeremiah, (xxvi. 18,) where the
three quarters of the city are named : — " Zion shall be ploughed as
a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the
house as the high places of the forest." ^ Another, which is similar,
1 This reninrkal)le prophecy has bean wonderfully fulfilled. One half of
the ancient Zion is not included in the modern walls, and was ploughed up
as a common field : in Jerusalem, or the Lower City, there is an accumulation
of forty feet of soil over the ancient level : and witli regard to the mountain
of the house we read in 1 Mac. iv. 38 — "Tliey saw the Sanctuary desolate,
and the altar profaned, and the gates burned up, and shrubs growing in the
courts as \n a forest, or in one of the mountains." But the ploughed iields
were not confined to the outside of the modern wall. The Bordeaux Pilgrim,
who beheld Jerusalem in the year 333, says — " But inside, within the wall of
Sion, is seen the place where David had his palace, and the seven synagogues
which were there, one only of which remains, ])ut the rest are ploughed and
sown, as said th(> prophet Isaiah." ff.iti. Hi.cros. (The Pilgrim mistook the
name of the ])ropli(!t. ) Even in the present day we are told there are
" ploughed fields inside the western and northern walls The south
348 ESSAY III.
is in Zi'ch. viii. 3 — "Tints sailh the Lord : I am returned unto
Zion ; and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem ; and Jerusalem
shall be called a city of truth ; and the IMountain of the Lord of
hosts the holy mountain."' Another is in Isaiah, (ii. 3,) which is
repeated by ]\Ii(Mh, (iv. 2,) — " And many people shall go and say,
Come ye, and let us go up to the jNIountain of the Lord, to the
house of the God of Jacob ; and He will teach us of His ways, and
we will walk in His paths : for out of Zion shall go forth the law ;
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." In Joel ii. 15-17,
hill has been ploughed up for wo kuow not how many centuries ; and at this
day is covered with corn, vegetahles, especially caulillowers of enormous size."
(linpl. Bib. Did. p. 881, S84.)
As regards the second portion of the prophecy, we have already noticed
how the ancient valleys have been filled in, and the general level of the city
raised, so that we have now to dig down from forty to sixty feet to the
ancient foundations. 1'his has been caused partly by the repeated destruc-
tions of the city, after which "the city was luiilded on its own heap,"
(Jer. XXX. 18,) but partly also by the hlthy habits of tlie people. Dr. Eobin-
son, indeed, states that of all oriental cities which he had seen, " Jerusalem,
after Cairo, is the cleanest :" (Bib. Res. i. 222 :) but other travellers say that
this is only outside show, "Habitations which have a very respectable
a]ipcarance as seen from the street, are often found, upon entering them, to
be little better than hcajis of ruins. Nothing of this would be suspected
from the general appearance of the city, as seen from without, nor from
anything that meets the eye in the streets. If one room tumbles about his
cars, the occupant removes into another, and permits rubbish ahd vermin to
accumulate as they will in the deserted halls : and when the edifice becomes
untenantable, he seeks another a little less ruinous, leaving the wreck to a
smaller, or more wrL-tched family ; or more probably to a goatherd and his
flock." (Kitto, Cyd. Bib. Lit. 3rd Edit. p. 538.) "There seems to be a
law arju'inst carrying away any filth beyond the walls. The consctpience is
that the most pestiferous exhalations arise from the action of a powerful sun
upon one vast dung-hea}i, and fevers of course are generated." (Lewin, Siege
of Jer. p. 196.) \\'ith this agrees the author's personal experience, not only
of fever at Jerusalem, but as to the reports that he heaid, that it was no
unconnnon thing for the occupier to devote one room of his house to filth of
every description ; and when that was full, to select another ! Yet however
filthy a Jerusalem Jew may be, he compares favourably with the Jew of the
Steppes of Russia : and the author looks back with horror on what he suffered
when travelling there before roads were formed, or railways thought of. He
is afraid to say at how many ])aces a Russian Jew may be smelt ! And so
Dr. ychweinfuith — "To one who has travelled by 'Russian posts' the worst
trials and wants in Africa are child's i>lay." (Times, Aug. 4, 1874.) A letter
from Jerusalem, dated April 9th, 1874, which aj)peared in the Times April
30th, says — "There is reason to fear that the ground will soon e.xhale miasma
in this unscwered city, whose streets are ever reeking with filth, and strewed
with olfal, and mouldering carcases, and that fever will consummate what
(;old and privation have already connuenced."
1 And yet Mr. Thnipp adduces this text to show that Zion is the Temple-
mount. Ant. Jer. p 21.
V. — ZION OK THE MACCABKES. 349
thfl three quaiters of the then city appear to he represented in
"Zion,"the " people," and the " priests" : — " Blow the trumpet in
Zlo7i, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly. Gather the i)eople,
sanctify the congregation, assenil)le the elders, gather the children
and those that suck the breasts ; let the bridegroom go forth of his
chamber, and the bride out of her closet. Let the j}7-iests, the
ministers of the Lord, weep," &c. While in Micah iv. 7, 8,
Mount Zion takes back its old name of the " strongliold of Zion " :
— "The Lord shall reign over them in jlfm/nt Zi.i»>, from henc(3-
forth even for ever. And thou, 0 tower of the Hock, the strong-
hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first
dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter oi Jerusalem.'"
Again, in Jer. x. 17, Zion, or the Upper City, though not men-
tioned by name, is evidently referred to : — " Gather up thy wares
out of the land, 0 inhabitant of the fortress; " and in Jer. xxi. 13
Zion and Jerusalem appear to be referred to ; the one as being the
rock or fortress, the other as sheltering the inhabitants below : —
" Behold, I am against thee, 0 inhabitant of the valley, and rock
of the plain." In every other instance " Zion," when not applied
to the Temple-mount, is put, by Synecdoche, for the whole city ; as
" Her foundations are upon the holy hills : " not one hill, but all
three hills — Zion, Jerusalem, and the Temple-mount. But in
the time of the Maccabees the name Zion was again limited to
the mount so-called, as in 1 Mac. iv. 60; vi. 48, 0)2 ; x. 11. It
is unnecessary to quote the passages at length, for one of the
advocates of the change of site acknowledges that "the modern
Zion is identical with the Zion of the Maccabees :"i though a
siibsequent writer ^ denies this. Indeed, it cannot be conccdved
that the acropolis of the Jebusites, which was so famous in the
time of David, and which, under the name of the Upper City,
was the most important, and last stronghold in the time of Titus,
and which was finally taken, not by force, but by the destruction
of provisions by the besieged themselves, could have been utterly
neglected, as some of these writers would have us suppose, during
the long wars of the Maccabees. In one of these passages (1 Mac.
iv. (50, Gl) we read — "At that time also they builded up the
Mount Sion with high walls and strong towers round about, lest the
Gentiles should come and tread it down, as they had done before ;
and they set there a garrison to keep it. And he fortified Bcthsura
to preserve it." Our reference Bibles connect this passage with
1 Mac. i. 31, which mentions the destruction of the city by
1 Thnipp, Ant. Jer. pp. 14, 1.5, 20.
2 Lewin, Sieijc of Jer. pp. 2-19, 322.
350 KSSAY III.
Antiochus : — " And when lie had taken the spoils of the city, he
set it on fire, and pulled down the houses and walls thereof on
every side." And that it does refer to the citi/, including of
course the l^pper City, or Mount Zion, is evident not merely from
the fact that the outer Temple-enclosure had no towers, but from
the manner in which Josephus records this restoration of the
walls: — '"Judas also rebuilt the walls round about the city, and
reared towers of great height against the incursions of enemies, and
set guards therein. He also fortified the city Bethsura :" tfec.
{Antiq. xii. 7. 7 :) thus identifying " Mount Sion " of the Book of
Maccabees with the " city," and not with the Temple-mount. In
another passage also, (ch. x.,) where the refortifying of the city by
Jonathan is described, we are justified in asserting that it is the
city, and of course the Uj)per City, or Mount Zion, more especially,
and not the Temple-mount, which is referred to. In verses 10 and
11 we read — "This done, Jonathan settled himself in Jerusalem,
and began to build and repair the city. And he commanded tlie
workmen to build the walls and the Mount Sion round about with
great stones for fortification." This reparation of the fortifications
of the city is referred to again in verses 44 and 45, where Demetrius
olfered to pay the expenses of " the building and repairing of the
woiks of the Sanctuary," and " the building of the walls of Jeru-
salem, and the fortifying thereof round about :" the fortifications
here mentioned clearly referring to Mount Zion, as opposed to the
Temple-mount.
But it Avas dilFerent with the name of the "City of David."
We have seen that David called Zion the " City of David." In
2 Sam. vi. 12, IG, we find that he removed the ark of Cod there,
and did so with great rejoicing and ceremony. Afterwards, when
the farm of Araunah was purchased, and the Temple built tliere, we
read that Solomon assembled all the elders of the people " that they
nii^ht bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the
City of David, ichich is Zion ;" (I Kings viii. 1;) thus showing
that the City of David, or Zion, was a different part of the city to
the Temple-mount. We have seen that the City of David was
reierred to, and its site determined, by the notice we have of
llezekiah's supply of water to Jerusalem, and of Manasseh's wall
outside the city : and we find the name preserved throughout the
time of all the kings of Judah ; for we read of each one of them,
with few exceptions, that he was " buried in the City of David."
Of one of these, Ahab, we read that he was not buried in Zion,
"but they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem," (2 Chron.
xxviii. 27,) thus showing that the name of Jerusalem was specially
V. — CITY OF DAVin. 351
j^iven to the Lower City ; ami also sliowing that the " sepulchres of
the Kin(;s of Israel " were outside the walls, and not within the
city. The name " City of David " was still preserved after tlie
captivity ; for we have seen that Neheniiah points out the " City of
David," and tlie " Sepulchres of David." But a great change had
taken place in the time of the Maccabees. During this period of
trouble and disaster, while the Maccabees held possession of Mount
Zion and the Temple, the more worthless inhabitants abjured their
religion, and joined the Macedonians in erecting a strong castle or
fortress in Acra, over-looking and so threatening the Temple.
This fortress has been placed by recent writers to the nortlb of
Antonia, and on the north-west angle of the Haram-esh-sherif :
but there are two facts which show that it must have been to the
west of Antonia : first, its name proves that it must have been in
the Acra or Lower Town of Josephus ; and, secondly, we are told
that the Xystus, or " Gymnasium," (2 Mac. iv. 12,) which we
know to have adjoined the bridge, and which Avas built in the
time of Antiochus Epiphanes, was underneath the Acra or
"Acropolis." (2 Mac. iv. 12.)i This they called, perhaps in bra-
vado, the " City of David." 2 The first account we have of this
fortress is — " Then builded they the City of David with a great
and strong wall, and with mighty towers, and made it a stronghold
for them :" (i. 33 :) and it is spoken of in the same manner in
other passages — *' The host that was in Jerusalem, in the City of
David ;" (ii. 31 ;) "they also that were in the City of David in
Jerusalem had made themselves a tower." (xiv. 36.) And that
this is not to be interpreted as one of the quarters of the city is
evident from its being afterwards constantly referred to as a
"fortress," or "tower," or "castle." (iv. 2, 41 ; vi. 18; x. 6 — 9;
xi. 41 ; xii. 36 ; xiii. 21 ; xiv. 36 ; 2 Mac. iv. 12 ; v. 5.) It
is called " The Tower in Jerusalem," (vi. 26 ; x. 32 ; xi. 20 — 23 ;
xiii. 49 — 51 ; xv. 28.) It will be oVjserved that it is never
described as the tower, or fortress, or castle, in the City of David ;
but always as the tower &c. in Jerusalem. Where the name City
of David is mentioned it always appears to be the name of the
fortress, not the name of the quarter in which it stood. Thus then
the Book of Maccabees which describes a castle or tower which
it calls " The City of David," cannot be taken as an authority for
* Either this " acropolis " is the Acra, or Mount Zion. In either case it
proves its position on the western side of the Teniple-ai-ea.
■- Lewin, also — "With this view he erected the celebrated Acra, or Citadel,
called the City of David." {Siege of Jcr. p. 319.)
352 ESSAY III.
determining the position of tlie original "City of David, wliicli is
Zion," the impregnable acropolis of the Jebusites, and the Upper
City of Josephus.
(VI,) An argument has been brought forward by one advocate of
this theory, that the Temple-mount was not Moriah, and if not
!Mount ^Moi'iah. it must have been Mount Zion. " It will be
generally allowed that the original city of Jerusalem stood on the
western hill ; and it is in the nature of things that any new part
which was added to the city afterwards, would be distinguished by
a special name ; and if the Teraple-mount was not called Zion, what
then was it called t Some persons will perhaps answer, j\Ioriah. I
shall have occasion to show hereafter that Moriah was the name of a
tract of country, and not of a single hill ; meanwhile, it is sufficient for
our present purpose to observe, that the name of Moriah never once
occurs either in the strictly historical Books of Samuel and Kings, or
throughoixt the Avhole of the Psalms and Prophets, and
although we read that ' Solomon began to build the house of the
Lord at Jerusalem in IMount Moriah, where the Lord appeared
unto David, his father,' (2 Chron. iii. 1,) yet there is no ground
for supposing that the name IMoriah is even here restricted to any
single hill : the Hebrew word hrrr, which we render ' mount,' is
constantly used in the Old Testament, as for instance in the phrase
' Mount Ephraim,' to denote the whole of a mountainous district.
It has too generally cscajjed notice, that the name INIoriah
is clearly employed in the Book of Genesis not as the designation
of a single hill, but of a whole district or tract of country."^
Now, without entering into the etymological meaning of the word
Moriah in the Book of Genesis, which would evidently limit it to one
particular mountain, and without examining how the word Iior is
applied in other instances, it is sufficient for our purpose to show,
not only that the word Mount in Chronicles is Jlor, and not Iloreem,
but that this same word Ilor is applied in this forty-eighth psalm
both to Zion, and the Temple-mount — " the mountain of his holi-
ness." Kow, there was only one JMount Zion — though in one
instance where Zion is used collectively for the whole city, (Ps.
cxxxiii. 3,) we read of the " mountains of Zion " — as certainly
there was but one holy Temple-mount, or " mountain of his holi-
ness ; " and consequently there can be no reason for refusing to
admit that the Avord in Chronicles has this limited meaning also :
and if this hill was IMount Moriah, then it could not have been
IMount Zion. But although this hill was Mount IVIoriah, it was not
generally called by that name ; but it was called, as we have seen
1 Tluuiip, Ant.Jcr. 25, 43.
VI. — ZION ON OrilEL. 006
above in the forty-eij.;htli psalm, the " holy hill," or " hi)ly moun-
tain," or " mountain of his holiness." AVe find these terms running
all through the Psalms and the Prophets; and Ave find them still pre-
served in the time of the Maccabees, (1 Mac. xi. 37,) and by the
•writer of the Book of Wisdom, (ix. 8.) It is also called the
"mountain of the Lord," (Is. ii. 3 ; xxx. 29 ; Micah iv. 2 ; Zech.
viii. 3,) and the "mountain of the house," (Micah iii. 12,) and the
"mountain of the Temple." (1 Mac. xvi. 20.)
Another argument is that Zion must have been on Ophel, be-
neath the Temple area, because the act of ascnidinr/ is always spoken
of when proceeding from one to the other : — "The City of David
denotes the new part added and fortified by David, afterwards
called the Low Town, or Acra, and more particularly that part of it
which we may designate as the Outer Low Town, on Ophel, where
David's palace stood. (?) Thus ' Solomon brought the daughter of
Pharaoh into the city of David, until he had made an end of build-
ing his own house, and the House of the Lord, and the wall of
Jerusalem round about;' (1 Kings iii. 1 ;) 'and Solomon brought up
the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David unto the house
that ho had built for her.' (ix. 2-i ; 2 Chron. viii. IL) Here the
daughter of Pharaoh is not brought doivn from the High Town, but
is ?/ro?/,r//(^ ?//) from the Low Town on Ophel Again, Solomon
' brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the City of
David whicli is Zion.' (1 Kings viii. L)"^ JSToav, the whole force of
this argument falls to the ground when we show that the word
nhVi ^^^^^j "^^ ascend," which is used in all these passages,
does not always have the absolute sense here given to it. We use
the same Avord in a conventional manner in our own language : —
we talk of going up to London, of up-trains and down-trains, of a
son's being well brought up, of his going up to the university, of
his going up for examination, of his going up for a degree : so of
this Avord in the Hebrew, Gesenius says — " Persons are said to,^o ?//>,
to ascend, not only upon a mountain. Avail, roof, bed ; but also in
other less obvious relations, e.g. (a) from a lower region to a higher ;
(/3) of those Avho go into deserts, since these were often on hills and
mountains ; also to a place of judgment. Yet perhaps the sanc-
tuary and place of judgment were regarded as heights also in a sacred
and moral sense, which tvould accord better with some passages, as
Kumb. xvi. 12, 14; Ruth iv. 1. So too, Avhere Joseph is said
to go up to the court of Pharaoh, Gen. xlvi. 31. Compare ,.j^,V,rp,
c'lvcipalvu), of those Avho go up to the metropolis," &c., &c. But in
addition to this, how can Ave give a literal signification to the
phrase of bringing-xip as applied to Ophel, Avhicli was the lowest
1 Lewin, Sicrje of Jer. p. 241, 243.
A A
354 ESSAY III.
portion of the whole city 1 Again, when, as we have just seen, the
autlior places David's palace on Ophel, and Solomon's palace also
in the same locality, (p. 207,208,) how can he give a literal and
absolute signification to the words bri?i(j rip Avhen applied to
moving from one to the other? "And Solomon brought up the
daughter of Pharaoh out of the City of David unto the h(;use that
he had built for her." And further, how, if these two palaces
occupied the same site, on Ophel, are we to explain the reason why
Solomon removed the daughter of Pharaoh from one place to
another 1 — " For he said — My wife shall not dwell in the house of
David king of Israel, because the places are holy whereunto the
ark of the Lord hatli come." (2 Ch. viii. 11.) This evidently
refers to two distinct portions of the city : and thus we see that
the bringing up, or going up, naturally refers to the solemnity
with which the holy Temple would be approached, or the ceremony
which would take place in entering a palace for the first time, with
processions, and music, and singing, and great state : and wlien wo
consider the hilly nature of the ground, we shall see that even if the
act referred to starting from the Upper City, the highest
quarter of the whole city, the procession would have first to
descend into the valley and then ascend to the Temple area, and as
this would constitute the most important part of the ceremony,
it would be spoken of as though it constituted the whole. In
addition to the instances mentioned by Gesenius many other
passages might be adduced, showing that no literal significance
can be attached to this word: — "a red heifer . . . upon which
never came (up) yoke ;" (N'um. xix. 2 ;) " no razor shall come (up)
on his head ;" (Judg. xiii. 5 ; 1 Sam. i. 11.;) " If so be the king's
wrath arise;" (2 Sam. xi. 20;) and Jehoash "■went (up) away
from Jerusalem ; (2 Kings xii. 18 ; and this notwithstanding that
Jerusalem is 3,000 feet above the sea ;) " GOO shekels of beaten
gold ivent (up) to one target ;" *' 300 shekels of gold tvent (up)
to one shield;" (2 Chron. ix. 15, 10 ;) "the wrath of the Lord
arose against his people ;" (2 Chron. xxxvi. 10 ;) " like as a shock
of corn Cometh (up) in his season ;" (Job v. 20 ;) " The wrath of
God came (m^') upon tliem ;" (Ps. Ixxviii. 31 ;) " And she brought
up one of her whelps ;" (Ezek xix. 3 ;) " ye are taken 7(p in the
lips of talkers." (Ezek. xxxvi. 3.) The same word is constantly
used for offering sacrifice.^
Another argument is brought forward by Dr. Kitto, who,
quoting Isaac Taylor's saying that in making what at first
appears so simple a thing as a plan of Jerusalem, one must
1 Again, if the word oloh has this alisohite sense, how is it that it is not
used iu 1 Kings iii. 1 — "Solomon hnnajhl her into the City of David " ?
VII. — TEXTS OF SCRIPTURE. 355
" take position after position upon ])attle-field, and prepare to
defend every inch of that position," says — " It is possibk^ how-
ever, and this is the design of the present article, to survey the
battle-field as spectators, and even to reconnoitre it minutely as
engineers, without taking a position as combatants."^ It has,
however, been often found on such occasions, that it is im-
possible to resist entering the melee ; and accordingly. Dr. Kitto,
starting from tlie assumed, though false, position, that Acra was
a part of the Temple-mount, contends that the "other side,"
which Josephus says the fourth western gate of the Temple gave
access to, {Ant. xv. 11. 5,) "would be the Upper City, in dis-
tinction from the Lower, which was more closely identified with
the Temi)le." (p. 5:^8.) This, however, is clearly a mistake. If
the first gate led to the king's palace in the Upper City, the fourth
gate which led to the " other city," must have led to Acra, and
this corresponds perfectly with Josephus's description of the four
hills of the city, {Bell. v. 4. 1, 2,) and with the " broad valley "
which he says separated Acra from the Temple-mount, or Third
hill. This situation of Acra, or the Lower City, is moreover con-
firmed by another passage of Josephus, where he describes the four
towers erected by John ; one of which was at the N.W. angle of
the Temple, " over against the Lower City." (Hell. iv. 9. 12 ; v. 1. 3.)
(VII.) Finally, it has been attempted to prove that Zion must
have been on the Temple-mount, by adducing a number of passages
from the Bible in which Zion is, exclusively, spoken of as holy in
the sight of God : — " There are also numberless passages in which
Zion is spoken of as a Holy Place, in such terms as are never
applied to Jerusalem, and which can only be understood as applied
to the Holy Temple-mount. Such expressions, for instance, as
Ps. ii. 6 ; Ixxxvii. 2 ; cxxxii. 13 ; Is. Ix. 14 ; Jer. xxxi. 6 ;
Zech. viii, 3 ; Joel iii. 17, 21, and many others,"'^ Now, of these
instances,^ certainly none of them but the third and last can be
1 C'l/c. Bib. Lit. 3r(i Edit, p 525. 2 j)ict. of the Bible.
3 Another advocate adduces many more, as Ps. ii. 6 ; ix. 11, 14 ; xiv. 7 ; xx.
2 ; 1. 2 ; liii. 6 ; Ixv. 1 ; Ixviii. 16 ; Ixxvi. 2 ; Ixxviii. 68 ; Ixxxiv. 7 ;
Ixxxvii. 2 ; xcix. 2 ; ex. 2 ; cxvi. 9 ; cxxviii. 5 ; cxxxii. 12 — 14 ; cxxxiv. 3 ;
cxxxv. 21 ; cxxxvii. 3, 4 ; Is. ii. 2, 3 ; viii. 18 ; x. 12 ; xii. 6 ; xiv. 32 ;
xviii. 7 ; xxiv. 23 ; xxviii. 16 ; xxxi. 9 ; xxxiii. 20 ; Ix. 14 ; Jer. i. 5 ; 1. 28 ;
Ii. 10 ; Lain. i. 4 ; ii. 4, 6 ; Joel ii. 1 ; iii. 17, 21 ; Micali iv. 1, 2, 7 ;
Zech. viii. 3. (Tlu'upp, Ant. Jer.) We give these for the reader's investiga-
tion ; thougli we believe them all to be misquotations so far as the fact is
concerned : and indeed if, as these advocates believe, "tlie stronghold of
Zion, or of the City of David, occupied the highest part of the hill, to the
north of the Temple, and so commanded the Temple," or what was formerly
the threshing-lloor of Araunah the Jebusite, the several parts of the city would
be jumbled together in as great confusion as the "holy places" are in tlie
A A 2
356 ESSAY III.
limited to the Temple mount. It is the whole city which is
esteemed holy in the sight of God ; and so far from Jerusalem, or
the habitable part of the city being excluded, there are numerous
instances in whicli holiness is attributed to it in particular : such
as — "For Jerusalem's sake, wliich I have chosen," " In Jerusalem
will I put my name," '' The God of Jerusalem," " The God of
lsr;icl, whoso habitation is in Jerusalem," " Jerusalem, the holy
city," " [ will pay my vows in the midst of thee, 0 Jerusalem,"
" The Lord dvvelleth at Jerusalem," " The Lord of hosts shall reign
in Jerusalem," " Put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the
holy city," " Jerusalem, the throne of the Lord," and the whole
of the hundred and twenty-second Psalm, besides two instances
in the New Testament, ]\Iatt. iv. 5 ; xxvii. 53 ; God looking upon
the inhabitants of the city as "The holy people, the redeemed of
the Lord." (Is. Ixii. 12.) See also pp. 346, 347.
Having thus considered tlie various arguments which liavo been
adduced in favour of a change of site, we find that each of such ar-
guments— the history of the first taking of Zion by David ; the
account of Hezekiah's water-course of Gihon ; the description of the
walls by Nehemiah ; the expressions in the forty-eighth Psalm ;
the expressions in the Book of Maccabees ; and various other pas-
sages of Scripture — only confirms instead of opposes, the position
of Zion in the south-western quarter of the present city. We see
then no reason for rejecting the assertion of Josephus, according to
whom the city was divided into four quarters or hills — the Upper
City ; Acra, or the Lower City ; Mount Moriah, or the Temple-
mount ; and Bezetha, or the New City : and we may rest convinced
that the first quarter or Upper City of Josephus, was Mount Zion,
or the City of David.
church of the Holy Sepulchre. Take for example cue of tliese instances,
Joel ii. 1 — " Blow ye the trumpet iu Zion : and sound an alarm in ray holy
mountain." Why should we suppose that Zion here signilies the holy
mountain or Temple-mount, from this contiguity of reference, any more than
that Zion in the following chapter signifies Jerusalem, or the Lower City,
because they are mentioned together in the same verse? — "The Lord also
shall roar out of Zion: and utter his voice from Jerusalem." (Joel iii. 10.)
Tor if the first passage proves Zion and the Tcmple-moimt to be identical,
the second must naturally prove tliat Zion and Jerusalem are so also. Indeed,
so far are these texts of ycrii)ture from i)roving the case supposed, that it is
a curious fact that while the writer in the Dictionary of thr Bible, and
jMi-. Thrupp bring forward a long list of cpioUitions to prove that " Zion" in
the Bible always represents the Tom])le-mount, in distinction to Jerusalem ;
another writer, Mr. Lewin, brings forward most of these verj' same passages
to prove that " Sion and Jerusah^m are constantly em]>loyed as convertible
terms ; i.e. they both denote the same city ; " (p. 241 ;) "Sion and Jerusalem
are synonyms for one and the same city ;" (p. 245 ;) "Sion and Jerusalem
arc positively asserted to be identical." (p. 246.)
REFtRE-NCtS.
/. Chiirrh of Uie Holy ScjniMirc.
Z Fool or llriekiah.ufL.lrnVil'lilij'n.
.). Jfo,i.,/».vi/ o,- ///. llioli n-i-<l .Mm.
4. Va/iry ,;,./.■ /■;>..' i;,.t, ..l.,lY„ r..,lr.
J. /I,p,.i. •».■.:
0. rnitllr of Jloiiil .
1. nun« r,au or .-v...,,,/ r„„ iior..-,i^,,„yr,o,.. „.-j:^r„^.
H, .n-..///.«.
.<'. OoMrn On/,' .
10. Eaal Caie. or Hi, ill I'^olr of lUnJuiiilii .
il .f'.Stcplieiiit Cirilo.
n.Sitf of.^ntoiiin.. _.
J3. .. ■ An-a. _..-• ''• ••■"''"'
/-/. e-nle of namn^oii.-'. .^'^ \<''''
i.\i;i,i/it:^ lofllr. ^-'''tl''''' -■•-'■'" liniiini „/!,,t,
lIl.V.Tlii-ntxrool . .^-^ ^■'T.r.il' '' -^
.... ,<t,i,ti,i /, ■••. ^
Cha^.Inarain. i
SmWLWSA-M%
NOTE
TO THE FOREGOING ESSAY.
ON THE TEMPLE-AREA.
W ITII tlie object in tlie foregoing Essay of restoring the Zion
of David to David, we found it necessary to study the account
eivcn us by Neheniiah of the rebuilding and repairing of the walls in
his time ; which account could ordy be made intelligible by a plan.
But on executing this, and arriving at the Temple, we Ibund our-
selves in great perplexity as to the position and extent of the
Temple-area : and it therefore became necessary, in order to com
plete the plan, to investigate the subject of the Temple-site.
Unlike the site of the Holy Sepulchre, the Temple-site is fortu-
nately unconnected with theological controversy : the difficulty
here is purely a topographical one: how to interpret the confused
historical evidence, to compare it v/itli what we now iind existing ;
and to reconcile the Temple-area as described by Josephus v;ith
the platform of the Ilaram-esh-Sherif, as we now tind it.
The Temple of Solomon was 600 feet square : whereas the
Haiam-esh-Sherif is 922 by 1,530 feet : that is to say, the Haram-
esli-Sherif would nearly contain four temples of Solomon within
its area. In what part of the Haram, then, did the Temple of
Solomon stand 1 This is the great difficulty : and writers have
attempted to meet it in a variety of ways, with great research and
ingenuity. Prof, llobinson, Kraift, Kiepcrt, Dr. Barclay, and Dr.
Porter place the Temple-area in the southern half of the Haram ;
Mr. Williams in the northern half; Mr. Fergusson, j\Ir. Thrupp,
and Mr. Lewin place it at the south-western angle of tlie Haram ;
Mr. Williams, the Comte de A'ogiie, Dr. Porter, and the writer in
the Edinhuvgh llevicw, (Jan. 187."3,) connect the altar of the Jewish
Temple with the rock Sakrah ; ^ while the Comte de Vogiie, M. de
1 It is right to observe that Dr. Porter says—" lu the centre of the roof is
a cylindrical aperture througli the wliole thickncas of the lock : and beneath
358 NOTE.
Saiilcy, and the writer in the Ed'ui. Rev. appropriate the whole
Harani-area to the Temple. Arguments will be found of great
force on behalf of each of these theories : and in listening to these
arguments we are temjjted to embrace each in turn, were it not
that the arguments we listened to in one, form an objection to all
the rest ; and we are tlms led to see the difficulties of the case.
Thus, jMr. AVilliams places his Temple to the north, because we are
told that (Jestius's army attacked it "from the northern quarter;
but the Jews beat them off from the cloisters;" {Bell. ii. 19. 5;)
and that when Titus afterwards attacked it from the same place,
" John and his faction defended the wall from the Tower of
Antonia, and from the northern cloister of the Temple." (v. 7. 3.)
The southern portion he supposes to have been formed by Jus-
tinian for the erection of his church. Mr. Fergusson and others
place it at the south-western angle, which is the only square angle
of the Haram, and where, they say, the ground is solid, and thus
separated from the vaults to the south-east, called Solomon's
Stables ; while the writer in the Udiii. Rev. discovers that the
Sakrah is immediately in a straight line with the gate lluldah ;
that the eastern face of the raised mosque-platform of the Sakrah
is exactly in a line with the meridian ; that the line of axis of the
Temple, from west to east, is within a degree of the line of sunrise
on the day on which the Temple of Solomon is supposed (in the
Talmud) to have been founded; and, curiously enough, that the
northern, western, and southern sides of the present Haram exactly
make up the six stadia mentioned by Josephus as the circuit of
Herod's Temple. In addition to this, he fancies that all the steps
and doorways of this mosque-platform correspond with the tradi-
tional sites of the Jewish temple, as described in the Talmud.
"With these arguments in favour of, and the objections which
necessarily result from each of these theories, it is naturally with
great diffidence that we propose any fresh theory. Let us, how-
ever, examine the evidence before us.
To begin with the platform. Solomon's Temple was only GOO
feet square ; Herod's twice as large ; while the Haram is nearly
twice as large again. It is evident, therefore, that unless we sup-
pose "twice as large" meant very much larger, the platform must
have been, subsequently to Herod's time, enlarged by Hadrian,
Justinian, or someone else. In suppoit, however, of the present
length, we find on the foundation stones of its eastern wall,
it Ave oLsi'rve a small slab of marble covering a deep cavitj', to uliich Moslems
give the name, " The Well of Spirits." Mmray's Handbook of Syria, 1868,
p. 117.
ON THE TEMPLE-AREA. 359
masons' marks in the Phci'iiician character, both at tlie extreme
south of this wall, and at the extreme north : and we naturally call
to mind Hiram and the Phoenician workmen employed by Solomon.
We shall have something to say of these marks presently. Of the
whole platform only the south-west angle is square : but of this
also we shall have to speak. And now for the historical evidence.
"VVe begin, of course, with the account we have in the twenty-
fourth chai)ter of the Second Book of Samuel, where we find a
threshing-lloor mentioned. TLe rock Sakrah is too limited for
this purpose : neither is it flat. But on the north side of it is a
comparatively level space of 110 feet with a fall of only 10 feet;
being a slope of 1 in 11 : on the south side we find a space twice
as large of exactly the same slope, and being thus of larger area,
and facing the south, it would naturally be chosen in preference as
a threshing-floor. But even this area is limited ; and thus we find
it said — " At first the plain at the top was hardly sufiicient for the
Holy House and the altar ; for the ground about it was very un-
even, and like a precipice : but when King Solomon had built a
wall to it on the east side, there was then added one cloister founded
on a bank cast up for it : and on the other parts the house stood
naked." (Z». v. 5. 1.) That Solomon built cloisters on all four
sides, and that each side measured one stadium, or GOO feet, in
length, is evident from Josephus, Avho in describing the events of
Solomon's reign, says — " He also built beyond the priests' court
an outer court, the figure of which Avas that of a quadrangle, and
erected for it great and broad cloisters. . . . He filled up great
valleys with earth, which on account of their immense depth
could not be looked at, when you bended down to see them,
without pain; and he elevated the ground 400 cubits (in length)
raising it to a level with the top of the mountain .... and he
encompassed this also with a double row of cloisters." {Ant. viii.
3. 9.) In Book xv. ch. 11, Jot^ephus has got to the time of Herod,
and in § 3 he is describing his works : but in the middle of this
description he refers to what Solomon had done before him : —
" This hill it was which Solomon encompassed with a wall," &c.,
and presently afterwards we read what still appears to refer to
Solomon : — " This hill was walled all round, and in compass four
stadia." In Book xx. ch. 9, he is describing the Avorks of Agrippa,
and in § 7 we read: — "This eastern cloister belonged to the outer
court, and it was situated in a deep valley, and had walls that
reached 400 cubits (in length). This was the work of King Solo-
mon." Thus there is no doubt but that Solomon's Temple was a
square of 400 cubits, or 600 feet. So far with regard to Solomon.
360 NOTE.
"But ill future ages the people added new banks, and the hill
became a larger plain. They then broke down the wall on the
north side, and took in as much as sufficed afterwards for the
compass of the entire Temple ; and when they had built walls on
three sides of the Temple round about, (west, south, and east,)
from the bottom of the hill, and had ])erformed a work that was
greater than could be hoped for, in which long years were spent
by them, and all their sacred treasures were exhausted, though
replenished by those tril^utes which were sent to God from the
whole habitable world, they then encompassed the upper courts
with cloisters, as they did also the lowest (court of the) Temple.^
.... The cloisters were in breadth 30 cubits, while the enti)-e
compass v/as by measure, indadinfj the tower of Antonia, six stadia."
(Bell. V. 5. 1, 2.) In Antiq. xv. 11. 3, it is said to be Herod who
" encompassed the entire Temple with ver}'' large cloisters, and laid
out larger sums of money upon them than had been done before :"
and in Bali. i. 21. 1, we are told that "Herod rebuilt the Temple,
and encompassed a piece of land about it with a wall, which laud
was twice as large as that before enclosed. The expenses he laid out
upon it were vastly large also; and the riches about it unspeakable:
a sign of which you have in the great cloisters that were erected
about the Temple, and the citadel which was on its north side.
The cloisters he built from the foundation.'" In Antiq. xv. 11, 5,
where Herod's buildings are described, the southern or lioyal
cloister is described as "reaching in length from the east valley to
the west: for it was. impossible it could reach any further."'^
Lastly, in Bell. vi. 5, 4, the historian says, " When Antonia was
destroyed, their Temple had become four-square j^ thus fullilling the
prediction that ' Then should their city be taken, as well as their
Holy House, when once their Temple should become four-square,' "
With these materials it does not seem difficult to determine tlie
position, size, and proportions of Herod's Temple. It was twice
' Here follows a description of the foundations, in which Josephus may
well be excused for cxaf;j,'oration in some particulars ; as when lie saj's that
the walls were raised 300 cubits, and in some places more ; when "it has been
calculated that in tilling up these valleys 00 to 100 feet each, not less than
70,000,000 cubic feet of earth or rubbish would be required to lill up this enor-
mous space ; that is to say, a solid culie of earth as high as St. Paul's and
400 feet square." Our IVork in Palestine, j). 130.
" It is here said to be 400 cubits: but this probably refers to Solomon's
work.
•' It is not necessary to suppose that the whole of Antonia stood within the
Temple-square : though it is certain from this that ])art of it did so. In
Bell. V. 5. 8 we arc told that it ■was situated at the coiiiur of two cloisters of
the Temple, of that on the west, and that on the north.
THE TEMPLE-AREA. 361
as large as Solomon's ; the circuit of its cloisters including Antonia
was six stadia ; and when Antonia was destroyed it was four-
square, A square of six stadia in circuit would be a square of a
stadium and a half on each side, or !)()0 feet. The actual width
of the southern end of the present llaram is 922 feet, Avhich may
be deemed sulliciently near. On the eastern side of the present
Haram we find a break of two feet in the masonry at 907 feet
from the south-east angle, whicli is nearer still. We thus have a
S(piare, or thereabouts, of six stadia in circumference. A square
of four stadia in circumference contains 300,000 square feet, which
doubled would be 720,000 ; while a square of six stadia in circum-
ference would contain 810,000, or rather more than double. This
calculation nuay be deemed to sufficiently answer the require-
ments.
Herod, then, rebuilt his Temple round Solomon's Temple ; ex-
tending the embankments on three sides, (the west, south, and
east,) with retaining walls, surmou.nting the south and west banks
and the northern side with cloisters ; and carrying out all these
works, as a wise builder, before he commenced pulling down the
old cloisters. He then pulled down and rebuilt the Temple itself
Iniilt by Zerubbabel : but all these gigantic operations occu])ied
18,000 workmen, we are told, for the space of more than one life-
time ; so that sixty-five years afterwards, when the works were
said to be completed, {Antiq. xx. 9,) ^ the eastern cloister of Solo-
mon's Temple had not been pulled down and rebuilt ; and Agrippa
refused to undertake th6 work on account of its cost. This cloister
is frequently spoken of in the New Testament as "Solomon's
porch." ^
It has been mentioned that Phoenician marks, in red ochre, have
been discovered at the extreme northern as well as at the extreme
southern end of the eastern wall of Haram, thereby leading us to
infer that Solomon's platform was co-extensive with the present
Haram ; but the northern marks occur on what is called " the
tower," a projection of the wall of about two feet at the north-east
angle of the platform, part of which extends for ahotit 1^0 feet
beyond the north-east angle :'^ thereby showing that this wall, or
^ In St. John, ii. 6, wc read — " Fuvty and six years was tliis Temple in
building." It was begnn in the eighteenth year of Herod's reign, or sixteen
years before the time of our Lord, who was tliirty years okl wlien he littered
these woi'ds : but it was not comph'ted till the time of Agrippa, a.d. 19.
2 John X. 23 ; Acts, iii. 11 ; v. 12.
3 (Letter, May 81, 1869.) "We struck the Sanctuary wall about 18 feet
south of north-west angle, and at a depth of 42 feet below the sin-i'ace. We
302 NOTE.
so-called " tower " on which these marks occur, had nothing to do
with Solomon's Temple, but that it must have formed a portion of
the Third Wall, which was built by Agrippa : and we may readily
suppose that if Pho-'uicia was celebrated for its workmen in the
time of David and Solomon, it might have been equally celebrated
in the time of Agrippa.
It has been mentioned also that the south-west angle is the only
right angle of the Haram : but an examination of the map of
luvels will show why the south-east angle was naturally drawn in.
Even now it is forty feet deeper than the south-west angle : but had
the southern end of platform been made equal to the northern in
breadth, the foundations would have had to go forty feet deeper
still : a suflicient reason for drawing in the width at this point.
The inclination of present northern line is probably owing to the
inclination of the pool Bethesda.
Though Solomon's Temple was only GOO feet square, while
Herod's was UOO feet square, it is possible tliat even in Solomon's
time this extra portion of ground was covered and enclosed, though
not included in the Temple-enclosure; for in Ant. xv. 11. 3 we
are told that " He also built a wall below, beginning at the bottom,
which was encompassed by a deeji valley : " and this extra portion
of ground may have been appropriated to the priests' residences,
and thus account for the fact that in I^ehemiah's description of the
then turned north, and ran along the Sanctuary wall for 26 feet without
finding any angle similar to that above li was some tivie before I could
believe that we Jtacl really passed to the north of the north-east angle : but
there can be no doubt of it ; and that the ancient wall below the surface runs
several feet to the north of the north-east angle, without any break of any
kind If the portions above ground are in situ it would ajipear that this
angle is a portion of an ancient tov>-er reaching above the old city wall."
(Letter, Aug. 18, 1869.) "We have now made further progress at this
angle, and have settled several j^oiuts of considerable interest : —
"1. "VVe find that 'the tower' at the north-east angle of the Sanctuary
forms part of the main cast ivall, and at near its base the wall and tower
are flush, or in one line.
" 3. The wall is 110 feet below ground: and the total height is 150 feet
" 5. Some characters in red paint have been found on the bottom stones of
the Haram wall, under the southern end of the tower.
" 6. It appears probable that tlie four courses of drafted stones of this
tower which appear above ground, are in situ.
"8. For the first 48 feet above rock it is one wall . . . . The wall through-
out ihe distance has a battu, caused by each course receding 4i inches from
that below it. The ])ortiun forming the wall continuing to recede to 7 inches,
while that forming the tower only recedes ] 4 incli : so tliat at 70 feet from the
bottom the projection is nearly 2 feet." (Captain Wilson and Captain WaiTcn,
Recovery of Jerusalem. 1871.)
ANTOXIA. 363
walls he makes no mention of the Temple, but speaks only of the
houses of the priests.
Connected with the Temple was the Tower of Antonia, That
it was at the north-west angle of the Temple is clear ; for it com-
municated both with the western and northern cloisters. [Bell.
V, 5. 8 ; vi. 2. 9.) But it does not equally appear certain whether
it extended to the north-east of the Temple ; for we are told that
when Cestius attacked the northern parts of the Temple, the Jews
"drove them off from the cloisters." (ii. 19. 5.) Again, when
Titus besieged the city, the Jews defended the wall " from the
tower of Antonia and from the northern cloister of the Temple : "
(v. 7.3 :) thus leading us to suppose that the cloisters of the Temple
stood upon the northern wall. On the other hand, Antonia is de-
scribed constantly as lying on the north of the Temple, [Ant. xv. 11.
4; Bdl, i. 5. 4 and 21. 1) as though it occupied the entire northern
side. Again, Bezetha, or the lliew City, is described as " lying over
against the tower Antonia," {Bell. v. 4. 2, and 5. 8,) without
mentioning the Temple. But one passage is so positive, that we
are forced to admit that Antonia must have extended right across
the Temple-mount, and covered the Temple on its northern side.
It is on the occasion of Titus's attack on the Temple : — "There
were now four great banks raised, one of which was at the Tower
of Antonia, over against the middle of the pool Kitruthitis. Another
was cast up at the distance of about twenty cubits." (v. 11. 4.) This
passage is most important, for it not only proves that Antonia
extended right across the Temple-mount, but that the present
northern wall of the Haram area could not have existed in the
time of Titus \ for as he placed his battering-rams hetv:een the pool
Struthius and the wall, we must suppose a considerable space to be
thus left free. Two other things follow : one that the " pool of
Bethesda " was always a pool, and not a fosse ; the other, that the
fosse existed south of the pool of Bethesda. The Haram, therefore,
does not coincide with the Temple-mount, as it existed in the time
of Titus. The attack was made on the curtain- wall ; and this ex-
plains how the Jews were enabled to build an inner wall to oppose
the Romans, when they succeeded in breaking through the outer
wall. (vi. 1. 4.) The breach, however, was made, and subsequently
widened, (vi. 2. 1, 7,) so as to admit the whole of the army : but
we find that the Tower of Antonia was still standing, and that it
was used by Titus as a fortress from which to attack the Temple.
(vi. 1. 4, 7, 8 ; and 2. 5, 6.) We thus see that though the whole
area lying to the north of the Temple was called the Tower of
Antonia, the Iceejy, or Tower of Antonia itself, stood on the south-
3G4 NOTE.
west corner, and within the enclosure of tlie Temple ; and that the
remaiuder of the area constituted its courtyard, affording ample
space for " courts, and places for bathing, and broad spaces for
camps." [Bell. v. 5. 8.) The tower, or keep, had towers at eacli
of its corners, that on the south-east angle being twenty-five feet
higher than the others. This tower possibly stood on the Sakrah.
THE TEMPLE AREA.
From Flan of Levels, p^ihUsJicd by the Fcdcstine Exploration Sodety-
'^ Our Work in Falestine." 1873.
COEEIGENDA.
Page 6, line 13, add : — The alternate recitation by verse, instead of by
antiphon, shows itself to be wrong in many instances where a verse is recited
by the Minister, which shouhl be recited by the people. Among other
instances see the antiphons xlii. 7, 15 ; xlvi. 7, 11 ; li. 5, 9 ; Ixvii. 3, 5 ;
Ixxiv. 11, 19, 23 ; Ixxx. 3, 7, 19 ; Ixxxvi. 13, 17 ; and Ixxxviii. 9, 13.
Parje 46, line 17, should not be indented.
Page 88, note 2. For "forty" read fourteen.
Page 103, line 2. For " Schechem " read Shechem.
Page 251. At end of last line but three add — Ps. Ix. Superscription,
where it is said that "Jbai returned, and smote of Edom in the Valley of
Salt twelve thousand." For had the compiler inserted this superscription
from the history, he would, had he taken it from 1 Chron. xviii. 12, have
inserted the name Abishai, instead of Joab : or had he taken it from 2 Sam.
viii. 13, he ^would have inserted the name David. So also of the super-
scription of
L(JNDON :
n. CI.AY, SONS, AND TAVI.OR, rRl.VTERS,
BREAD STUEET UILL.
/•'y Ike same Autli<)V.
I. ON THE ALLEGED SITE OF THE HOLY
SEPULCHRE 311
The Discovery of tlie Holy Sepulchre as recorded hy Eusebius . . :J1.j
KoRTENS . . . Reise iiacli dem wedaiid Gelobten Lande.
l-2ino. 1741 318
PiiESsiNO . . . Ueher Golgotha uiid Chiisti Grab. 12nio. Halle,
17St) 322
Robinson . . . Biblical Researches in Palestine. 3 Vols. 8vo.
Lond. 1841 329
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Pleas in Justification 393
IL ON THE TRUE SITE OF CALVARY.
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The Second Wall must have commenced near to Ilippicus . . 425
The Asmonean Valley, and the Acra 429
The Second Wall not curved on pi in.
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The supposed site of the Holy Sepulchre 433
Herod's Temjde 436
Golgotha 4.50
APPENDIX 471-474
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INDEX.
Acton's Modem Cookery 27 t
AinD'8 Blackstone EconomUcd W |
Alpine Club Miip of Switzerland ?l j
Aliiiiie Guide (The) «3 I
AMOS'S Jurinprudcnce •'> j
I'rimcr of the Coimtitutioil !> i
An'dkusox's Strength of Materials 1» |
AllMSTttOKO'M Orcaiiic Chemistry 13
ARKOLU's (Or.) Cliristian Life SO
Lectures on Modern History 8
Mi^ccllaI^eous Works l)
School Sermons 20
Sermons 20
(T.) Manual of English Literature 8
AllNOUi.D's Life ol Denman 4
Atherstone I'riory 2!
Autumn Holidays of a Country Parson 9
Ayuk's Treasury of Bible Knowledijc 21
Bacon's Essays, by WnATRLY G
Life and Ix?ttcr9, by SrKDOINO 5
Works, edited by Speddino 6
BAIX'S Locic, Ueductivc and Inductive 10
Mental nnd Moral Science 10
on the Senses and Intellect 10
Bakf.r's 2 works on Ceylon 22
Bat^l's Alpine Guide 24
Bkckrr'8 Chariclcs and Gallus 24
Bkskky's Sanskrit Dictionary 8
Black's Treatise on Brewing 27
Bi.aCKI.ky's German-Englisli Dictionary... 8
Bl.AlSH's Rural Sports 23
Bi-OXAMK Metals 13
Botll.THKR on :19 Articles 20
BOUUNE'S Catechism of the Steam Engine. ID
Handbook of Stenm Engine 19
Improvements in the Steam
Enprine 19
Treatise on the Steam Engine ... 19
BowDLKU's Family SllAKSPBAnB 25
BiiAMLET-MOOUK'8 SLjc Sisters of the
Valleys 26
Brakde's Dictionary of Science, Litera-
ture, and Art 16
Brat'b Mojmal of Antliropology 11
I'hilosophy of Necessity II
on Force 11
Bkikklky's Astkonomy 11
BuowsE's Exposition of the 39 Articles 20
BRlIXRL'slyifeof BunNEL 6
Buckle's History of Civilization 3
Miscellaneous Writiugs 9
Bull's Hints to Mothers 27
Maternal Management of Children 27
Bur(roma«tor'8 Family (The) 25
BuiiKK's Bise of tJrcat Families 5
Vicissitudes of Farailies 5
Busk's Folk-Iyore of Rome 24
A'allcys of Tirol 23
Cabinet I-awyer fG
Campdrll's Norway 23
Catkk's Biographical Dictionary 5
and Woodwakd's Encyclopoidia »
Changed Aspects of Unchanged Truths 10
Chehsky'b liMlian Polity 3
Mo<lern Military Biography ... 4
Waterlfto Campaign 2
CLontili's Lives from Plutarch 2
CoLKX.so (Bishop) on Pentateuch 21
on Moabite Stone, &c 21
on Sjieaktr's Bible Commentary 20
CoLLlSB's Mineralogy of Cornwall 19
Perspective 8
Comnionploee Philosopher, by A.K.U.B. ... 9
CoMTu's Positive Philosophy 6
CoMYX's Elena 23
CoxniiKVE's Politics of Aristotle G
CONIXJTOX'S Translation of the ^A'nc/(i ... 25
Miscellaneous Writings 9
CoxTAXSEAH'S French-English Diction-
aries 8
CoXYliKARB and HowsON's St. Paul 20
Cotton's (Bishop) Memoir 4
Counsel and Comfort from a City Fulpit 9
Cox's Aryan Mytliology 3
Crusotles 4
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