1David complaining to God of former judgments, 4now upon better hope prayeth for deliverance: 6comforting himself in God's promises, he craveth that help whereon he trusteth.
0To the 1chief Musician upon 2Shushan-eduth, 3Michtam of David, to 4teach; whena he strove with 5Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah,6 when 7Joab 8returned, and 9smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand.
1 See the first annotation at Psalm 4 in the title.
2 This is rendered by some: the six-stringed instrument of the testimony, understanding by the testimony the ark of the testimony, in which lay the two tables of the law, called the testimony, Exod. 40:5, 20, this psalm was to be sung before this place in the priests’ court. See further of the Hebrew word Shushan the second annotation at Psalm 45 in the title.
3 See Psalm 16 in the title.
4 That is, to instruct the church of God of the matters contained in this psalm.
a 2 Sam. 8:3, 13; 1 Chron. 18:3, 12.
5 Hebr. with Aram (that is, the Syrians) of the two rivers, that is, Mesopotamia. See Gen. 24 on verse 10.
6 See 2 Sam. 8 on verse 3.
7 2 Sam. 8:13 there we read that David slew eighteen thousand in the valley of salt; and 1 Chron. 18:12 the same is ascribed to Abishai. Here it is said that Joab smote twelve thousand. If this was not another defeat, these three places may be reconciled thus: that David (as king) slew so many Edomites there by his lieutenants general, at sundry times (as in two or more encounters) that the total number amounted to eighteen thousand, whereof Joab had smitten twelve thousand.
8 From the Syrian war, turning back to the south borders of Canaan, to fight against the Edomites that inhabited there. Then it was that David made this psalm. Compare verses 9, 10, 11; whereupon the victory ensued.
9 Other, had smitten, perceiving that David made this psalm after the victory.
1O GOD, thoub hast 10cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O 11turn thyself to us again.
b Psalm 44:9.
10 This has relation to the losses and desolations which Israel had suffered, both at the time when Saul and his sons together with all the host were totally defeated by the Philistines (see 1 Sam. 31:6, 7), and afterward by the long continued civil war between the house of Saul and David, 2 Sam. 3:1; as likewise the miseries of former times, which lighted very oft and thick upon the Israelites in the latter days of the judges, Judges 13:1; 15:11; 1 Sam. 4:2, 10, 11; 13:19.
11 Or, Thou shalt turn again to us. This comfort David was able to draw from the victory which God had already given him against the Syrians, and likewise from the cause which is mentioned in verse 6.
2Thou hast made the earth to 12tremble; thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.
12 A similitude taken from the earthquake, which shakes, rents and tears the earth, and causes much woe and misery. The sense is: Thou hadst put all the land into a fearful confusion and alteration from what it was before. Compare Hag. 2:6, 7 with Heb. 12:26, 27 and Ezek. 31:16.
3Thou hast 13shewed thy people 14hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of 15astonishment.
13 That is, feel, experience, Thou hast distressed them hard. See Job 7 on verse 7.
14 As there was, among others, that the ark of God was conquered by the Philistines, Israel oftentimes defeated, even their king Saul and the entire army, etc.
15 Or, wine of trembling, staggering, shaking, that is, Thou hast so surprised us with Thy judgments, that we were as people bereft of all our senses and all courage, as men who, being drunk with strong wine, have become dizzy, do tremble and quake. See Isa. 51:17, 20, 21, 22 and compare Nahum 2:3, where the Hebrew word that has some affinity to it, is used of the shaking, moving or swinging the spears.
416Thou hast given a 17banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed 18because of the truth. Selah.
16 In this verse the prophet speaks of the mercy of God shown unto His people at this time.
17 By making me, for comfort and deliverance to the godly, king over them, and giving us this victory and triumph over our enemies. Compare Psalm 20:5.
18 To show that Thou art true in Thy promises, whereof more in the sequel.
519Thatc thy beloved may be delivered; 20save with thy right hand, and hear 21me.
19 This verse and the ones that follow unto the end of this psalm are repeated in Psalm 108:6, etc. See likewise there.
c Psalm 108:6, etc.
20 Compare Psalm 20:4, 5, 6; Psalm 21:1, 2.
21 Or, me.
6God hath spoken in his 22holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide 23Shechem, and mete out the valley of 24Succoth.
22 Where the ark of the covenant was, which David now had brought up to Zion, 2 Samuel 6. It appears he wants to say, that, having inquired of God (before this war began) after His wise counsel, he had received a very favorable answer from between the cherubims, according to which, having now obtained this glorious victory, he was very much gladdened and had good confidence of all the rest. Other, through, or, by his holiness, implying it to be a most true and assured word, as being pronounced by the holy God Himself.
23 Of Shechem and Succoth, see Gen. 12 on verse 6; 33 on verse 17; Judges 8 on verse 5, as if he would have said that he was to become absolute lord and possessor of these and the following places on both sides of Jordan.
24 Of Shechem and Succoth, see Gen. 12 on verse 6; 33 on verse 17; Judges 8 on verse 5, as if he would have said that he was to become absolute lord and possessor of these and the following places on both sides of Jordan.
7Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the 25strength of mine head; Judah is my 26lawgiver;
25 The main or principal strength of my kingdom, or, as mine horns. See Deut. 33:17.
26 That is, my royal residence. See Gen. 49 on verse 10
8Moab is my 27washpot; over Edom will I cast out my 28shoe: Philistia, 29triumph thou because of me.
27 That is, I shall humble and subdue the Moabites and other foreign, rival nations in such a way that I shall use and employ them for my most wretched and contemptible services. Compare 2 Sam. 8:2. Hebr. pot of my washing.
28 That is, I shall subdue, possess, inherit and put them, as it were, under my feet. Compare Ruth 4 on verse 7; Judges 5:21.
29 This he speaks mockingly to the haughty Philistines, who were used to scoff and insult the Israelites, letting them know now the case was altered, now his turn was come to shout and triumph over them, according as he declares these words in the repetition Psalm 108:9.
930Who will bring me into the 31strong city? who will lead me into Edom?
30 A kind of wishing, making known the difficulty, which, according to the nature of the case, was as such, that he would be permitted to conquer the fenced cities which were against him, or (as some are of the opinion) especially the metropolis of the Ammonites, the city of Rabbah (whereof see 2 Sam. 12:26, 29, etc.).
31 Hebr. city of strength.
10Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off? and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies?
11Give us help 32from trouble: for 33vain is the 34help of man.
32 That is, help whereby we may get out of our straight.
33 Or, lies; that is, it deceives one, it comes too short, and is not able to perform, like a lie or vanity, when men rely upon it in distress. Compare Psalm 4 on verse 2.
34 Or, deliverance, preservation.
12Through God we shall do 35valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.
35 Hebr. valor, courage.