The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 93

EXPOSITION. "Baalpeor," "Me.achah " for "Aram-Man• PSALM LXXVI. chah," "El Kuds" for II Beit-el-Kutls," and THE present pse.lm consists of three stanze.s the like. (So Professor Cheyne.) " Salem" -tho :first of three verses, terminated by is the peaMful place, the place where God's the pe.use-marlr, "Sele.h;" the second of six presence breathed peace e.nd tranquillity. It is only need here and in Gen. xiv. ll. verses, ended simile.rly, e.nd the third (like Is his tabemacle; literally, his tent (comp. the first) of three verses. It is e. psalm of Pas. xv. 1; xxvii. 5, 6; lxi. 4). The temple thanksgiving for some great e.nd eigne.l is meant, as even Professor Cheyne sees. It mercy, which he.s delivered Jerusalem, au<.l took the place of the origine.l "tabernacle," e.t the same time benefited "all the afflicted and 'l'l"as modelled upon it. And his dwelling- plaoe in Zion; or, "his laiT" (comp. Ps. civ. of the eorth" (ver. 9). All the ee.rth is 22). therefore called upon to join with Israel in Ver. 3.-There brake he the arrows of the pre.ising God, and me.king him e.n offering bow. The expression " there" seems cer• (vers. 10-12). Critics of e.11 schools (Heng• to.inly to show tbe.t the deliverance celebrated stenberg, Co.non Cook, Professor Alex- took place e.t, or very nee.r to, J erusu.lem. e.nder, Dr. Ke.y, Four Friends, etc.) e.gree This would sufficiently suit the destruction of Sennacherib's army, which certainly in rege.rding the delivere.nce as that from oocnrred in the neighbouxhood, though not Sennacherib. We must, therefore, under- very close to the city (see 2 Kings x.ix. 32, stand the " Ase.ph " of the title as deeig- 38). The word tre.usle.ted "arrows" ('!llh) ne.ting, not the individual, but the division mee.ns properly "lightnings" ( comp. Pe. of the Levites ne.med e.fler him. lxxviii. 48), and expresses the swift flight of the arrow, not actue.l "fiery darts." The Ver. 1.-In ludah is God known (comp. shield, and the sword. and the battle; rather, Pas. ix. 16; xlviii. S). By "known" 1s the war-equipment (Ke.y, Cheyne). meant "freshly me.de kuown," " revee.led," Ver. 4.-Thou e.rt more gloriou and ax- as it were, "anew " by the recent wonderful oellent than the mountaill.s of prey. The deliverance. Ria Name is great in Iarael; pse.lmist, in this, the me.in portion of his i.e. greatly honoured e.nd regarded, on pselm, directly e.ddresees God. "Thou. 0 account of what has happened. God," he says, "art glorious," or" terrible" Ver. 2.-In Salem; i.e. Jerusalem. "Sa- (comp. ver. 7, where the same word is used), lem" we.s probably e. shortened form of the "e.nd excellent, more the.n the mountoins of full and complete no.me, like II Peor" for prey," or perhaps" from the mountains of 102 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PB, LXXVI, 1-12,