The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 152

e.lwo.ys bad friends o.nd followers. Under a potsherd. All strength dies out nnder Saul's persecution be ho.d e. friend in tho action of the many acute pains which Jonathan; he was supported by his father re.ck the whole frame, and a.s little remain, and his.brethren (1 Sam. xxii. l); in e. short as there remains of moisture in a potsherd. time he found himself at the head of four And my tongue clea.veth to my jaws. An hundred (1 Sam. xxii. 2), e.nd Lhen of six extreme ancl agonizing thirst sets in-the hundred men (I Sam. xxv. 13). In secretions generally fail-and the saliva Abee.lom's rebellion there remained faithful especially is suppressed, so that the mouth to him the priestly tribe (2 Sam. xv. 24) feels parched and dry. Hence the cry of e.nd the Gibborim (2 Sam. xv. 18), and suffering which was at laot wrun" frum others to the number of some thousands our Lord, when, just before the tnd, ho (2 Sam. xviii. 4). But he whom David exclaimed," I tbir.t" (John xix. 28). And prefigured, his Antitypc, was deserted, we.s thou ha.et brought me into the dust of alone-" All the disciples forsook him and death. "The dust of death" is n. periphrasis fled" (Matt. xxvi. 5G)-he was truly one for death itself, which is so closely associa.tecl that "bad no helper." in our thoughts with the dust of the tomb Ver. 12.-Many bulls have comp9.sscd (see below, ver. 29; and comp. PM xxx. me. The Sufferer representa the adver- 10; civ. 29; and Joh x. 9; xxxiv. 35; saries who crowd around him under the Eccles. iii. 20; xii. 7, etc.). figure of "bulls"-fierce animals in e.ll Ver. 16.-For dogs have compassed me. parts of the world, e.nd in Palestine "Dogs" now encompass the Sufferer, pe.rticularly wild and ferocious. "Bulls perhaps the subordinate agents in the e.ud _buffaloes a.re very numerous," so.ye cruelties-the rude Roman soldiery, who Canon Tristram, " in Son thern J udmo. ; la.id rough hands on the adoro.blc Person they are in the ha.\Jit of gathering in e. (Matt. xxvii. 27-35). Oriental dogs a.re circle a.round any novel or unaccustomed savage e.nd of uncleau ho.bits, whence the object, e.nd may be co.sily instigated into term "dog" in the East has o.lwo.ys been, ebe.rging with their horns" (' No.tnro.l and still is, a. term of reproach. The History of the Bible,' p. 71). Strong bulls a.ssembly of the wioked have enolosad me ; of :easha.n have beset me round. Basba.n, or, a band of wicked ones have shut me in. the richest posture-ground of Pa.Jestine, The "hand" of Roman soldiers (11-lo.rk xv. produced the largest and strongest e.nime.la lG) seems foreehadowe.J. They pierced my (Ezek. xxxix. 18). Hence "the kine of hands and my faet. There o.re no sn.ffioient :Ba.eho.n " became an expression for powerful oritioal grounds for relinquishing (with oppressors (Amos iv. 1). Hengstcnberg) this interpretation. It has Ver. 13,-They gaped upon me with their the support of tho Septuagint, the Syrio.c, mouths. One meto.phor is superseded by the Arabic, 11nd the Vulgnto Versions, and another. Fierce and threatening e.s bulls, is m11int11ined by Ewulu, Reinke, Bohl, the ad versnries are ro. venous 11s lions. Moll, Kny, the writer in the 'Spoo.ker•~ They "g11pe with their months," e11ger to Commentnry,' o.nd our Revisers. Whether devour, rc11dy to spring on the prey and the true rnuding be l.aaru (11~'!~) or hdari crush it in their monstrous jaws. As a ('";!~~), the sense will bo the ·snme, kaari ravening and a roaring lion. The tumult being the e.pooopnted pnrticiple of the verb. 11nd noise made by those who demanded whereof kdaru is tl1e 3rd pers. plu. indio. our Lord's deo.th are noted by the evange- Ver. 17.-1 may tell all my bones. Our list, 1r•p1cruws (,cpa.(011-8&pu/3os -ylv<-ra., (M11tt. Lord's o.otivo life 11nd simple hnbits would xxvii. 23, 24). givo him II spare fr11m~, while the strain of Ver. 14.-1 am poured out like water crucifixion would acoentuo.le 11nd bring into (comp. Ps. lviii. 7; 2 Sam. xiv. 14). The relief every point of his 11no.tomy. He might ezact meo.ning is uncertain ; but extreme thus, if eo minded, "toll e.11 his bones." weakness 11nd exhaustion, something like They look and eta.ro upon me (comp. Luke utter prostro.tion, seems to be indicated. xxiii. 85, "And tho people stood behold- And all my bones are out of joint. The ing"). strain of the body suspended ou the cross Vor. 18.-They pa.rt my garments among would a.II but dislocate the joints of the them, and 011st lots upon my vesture. It arms, and would be felt in every bone of ho.s been well observed th11t "the act here the body. My heart ia like wax; it is described is not applicable either to Do.vid melted in the midst of my bowels. The or to any persono.ge whose history is re- proximo.te cause of death in o.rucifixion corded in the Bible, savo to Jesus"(' Spe11ker's is often fo.ilure of tho heart's ontion, the Commentnry,' vol. iv. p. 221). Two evo.n- supply of venous blood not being sufficient gelists (Matt. xxvii. 35; John xix. 24:) noto to stimulate it. Hence po.lpito.tion, fo.int- the fulfilment of the prophecy in the comluct uces, o.nd final syncope. of the soldiers at the crucifixion of Christ. Ver. 15.-My strength is dried up lika Tho circ=tance is reserved for the fiu1\l  154 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [rs. XXII. 1-31.