The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 319

BOOK II. EXPOSITION. psalm is chieffy an outpouring otsol'l'Ow and PSALM XLn complaint; but still is an "instruction," Tms psalm, committed (like so mnny others) inasmuch as it teaohes the lesson that in .the to the precentor, or chief mnsicinn, for its deepest gulf of sorrow (ver. 7) the soul may musical setting, is entitled "ll'Iaschil of the still torn to God, and rest itself in hope on sons of Korah "-i.e. o.n "instruction," or him (vers. 5, 8, 12). didactic psalm, composed by the Korahite There is an intimate union between this Levites-a Levitice.l family of singers (1 psalm and the next, which is II sort of Chron. :u:vi I, 2 ; 2 Ghron. u. 19). To the additional stanz11, terminating in the same same family are assigned Pee. xlv.-xlu. in refrain (comp. Ps. xliii. 5 with Ps. xlii. 5 the present book, and Pss. lxxxiv., lxxxv., and 11). lx.xxvii., and lxxxviii in Book III. The co1uposition, though assigned by some to Ver. 1.-As the hart panteth after the the commencement of the Babylonian Cap- water-brooks. Stags and binds need abun- tivity (Foux Friends, p. 168), belongs more in dant water, especially in hot countries, and, time of drought, may be said, with a slight probably to the time of Do.vid, and the poetical licence, to "pant," or "ory" (Joel words seem put by the author into the mouth i. 20) for it. They are still found in Pales- "f David himself. The date of the composi- tine (Trietram, 'Land of Israel,' pp. 418, tion is prol,a.bly the year ot David's flight 447), though rather scarce. So panteth my from Jerusalem on the revolt of Abealom soul after thee, 0 God. The "panting" of the soul docs not mean any physical notion. (2 8am. xv. 16), when he spent some months but a longing desire for a blessing that is. in the Trans-Jordanic territory, chiefly o.t • at any rate for a time, withheld. • Mahe.ne.im (2 811.m. xviL 24; xix. 32). The Ver. 2.-My soul thirateth for God (comp. 1'8, XLII, 1-11,) THE :BOOK OF PSALMS. 331