---
title: "Clarke"
description: "The title, \"To the chief Musician on Neginoth, a Psalm or Song of Asaph.\" See the titles to Psalms 4:1; Psalms 6:1. The Vulgate, Septuagint, and others ha"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/psalms/76"
---

The *title*, "To the chief Musician on Neginoth, a Psalm or Song of Asaph." See the titles to [Psalms 4:1](../../../kjv/psalms/4/1); [Psalms 6:1](../../../kjv/psalms/6/1). The *Vulgate, Septuagint*, and others have, "A Psalm for the Assyrians;" and it is supposed to be a thanksgiving for the defeat of the Assyrians. The Syriac says it is a thanksgiving for the taking of Rabbah, belonging to the children of Ammon. It is considered by some of the best commentators to have been composed after the defeat of Sennacherib. That it was composed after the death of David, and after the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah were separated, is evident from the first verse. If Asaph was its author, it could not be the *Asaph* that flourished in the days of David but some other gifted and Divinely inspired man of the same name, by whom several others of the Psalms appear to have been composed during the captivity.
Verse [Psalms 76:1](../../../kjv/psalms/76/1). ***In Judah*****is*****God known*** — The true God revealed himself to the *Jews*. The *Israelites*, after the separation of the tribes, had the same knowledge, but they greatly corrupted the Divine worship; though still God was *great*, even in Israel.

Verse [Psalms 76:2](../../../kjv/psalms/76/2). ***In Salem also is his tabernacle*** — *Salem* was the ancient name of *Jebus*, afterward called *Jerusalem*. Here was the *tabernacle* set up; but afterwards, when the *temple* was built on *Mount Zion*, there was his *habitation*. The Psalm was evidently composed after the building of Solomon's temple.

Verse [Psalms 76:3](../../../kjv/psalms/76/3). ***There brake he the arrows of the bow*** — רשפי *rishphey*, the *fiery arrows*. Arrows, round the heads of which inflammable matter was rolled, and then ignited, were used by the ancients, and shot into towns to set them on fire; and were discharged among the towers and wooden works of besiegers. The Romans called them *phalaricae*; and we find them mentioned by Virgil, AEn. lib. ix., ver. 705: -
***The shield and the sword*** — If this refers to the destruction of Sennacherib's army, it may be truly said that God rendered useless all their warlike instruments, his angel having destroyed 185,000 of them in one night.

Verse [Psalms 76:4](../../../kjv/psalms/76/4). ***Than the mountains of prey.*** — This is an address to Mount *Zion*. Thou art more illustrious and excellent than all the mountains of prey, i.e., where wild beasts wander, and prey on those that are more helpless than themselves. Zion was the place where GOD *dwelt*; the other mountains were the *abode of wild* *beasts*.

Verse [Psalms 76:5](../../../kjv/psalms/76/5). ***The stout-hearted are spoiled*** — The boasting blasphemers, such as Rab-shakeh, and his master Sennacherib, the king of Assyria.
***They have slept their sleep*** — They were asleep in their tent when the destroying angel, the suffocating wind, destroyed the whole; they over whom it passed never more awoke.
***None of the men of might*** — Is not this a strong irony? Where are your mighty men? their boasted armour, &c.?

Verse [Psalms 76:6](../../../kjv/psalms/76/6). ***At thy rebuke*** — It was not by any human means that this immense army was overthrown; it was by the power of God alone. Not only *infantry* was destroyed, but the *cavalry* also.
***The chariot and horse*** — That is, the chariot horses, as well as the men, were
***Cast into a dead sleep.*** — Were all suffocated in the same night. On the destruction of this mighty host, the reader is requested to refer to *Clarke's notes on "*[2 Kings 19:35](../../../kjv/2-kings/19/35)*"*.

Verse [Psalms 76:7](../../../kjv/psalms/76/7). ***Thou*****, even*****thou*****, art to be*****feared*** — The Hebrew is simple, but very emphatic: אתה נורא אתה *attah nora attah*, "Thou art terrible; thou art." The repetition of the *pronoun* deepens the sense.
***When once thou art angry?*** — Literally, *From the time thou art* *angry*. In the moment thy wrath is kindled, in that moment judgment is executed. How awful is this consideration! If *one hundred and* *eighty-five thousand* men were in one moment destroyed by the wrath of God, canst *thou*, thou poor, miserable, feeble sinner, resist his will, and turn aside his thunder!

Verse [Psalms 76:8](../../../kjv/psalms/76/8). ***Thou didst cause judgment to be heard*** — When God declared by his prophet that the enemy should not prevail, but on the contrary be destroyed, *the earth*- the *land*, and by *metonymy* the *inhabitants* of the land, were struck with astonishment and terror, so as not to be able to move. The great boaster Sennacherib, who carried terror, dismay and desolation every where, was now struck with dumb amazement; and the angel of the Almighty, in a moment, stopped the breath of those hosts in which he confided.

Verse [Psalms 76:9](../../../kjv/psalms/76/9). ***The meek of the earth.*** — The *humbled* or *oppressed people* *of the land*. The poor Jews, now utterly helpless, and calling upon the Lord for succour.

Verse [Psalms 76:10](../../../kjv/psalms/76/10). ***Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee*** — The rage of Sennacherib shall only serve to manifest thy glory. The stronger he is, and the more he threatens, and the weaker thy people, the more shall thy majesty and mercy appear in his destruction and their support.
***The remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.*** — The Hebrew gives rather a different sense: "Thou shalt gird thyself with the remainder of wrath." Even after thou hast sent this signal destruction upon Sennacherib and his army, thou wilt continue to pursue the *remnant* of the persecutors of thy people; their wrath shall be the cause of the excitement of thy justice to destroy them. As a man *girds* himself with his girdle, that he may the better perform his work, so thou wilt gird thyself *with wrath*, that thou mayest destroy thy enemies. A good maxim has been taken from this verse: "God often so *counterworks* the evil designs of men against his cause and followers, that it turns out to their advantage and his glory; nor does he permit them to go to the extent of what they have *purposed*, and of what they are *able* to perform. He *suffers* them to do *some mischief*, but not *all* they *would* or *can* do." But how different is the reading of the *Vulgate*! *Quoniam cogitatio hominis confitebitur tibi: et* *reliquiae cogitationis diem festum agent tibi*: "The thought of man shall praise thee; and the remains of thought shall celebrate a feast day to thee." The *Septuagint* and the *AEthiopic* have understood the text in the same way. Some translate thus: "Certainly, the ferocity of the man (Sennacherib) shall praise thee: and thou shalt gird thyself with the spoils of the furious." The spoils of this great army shall be a booty for thy people. Probably this is the true notion of the place. The old *Psalter* renders it thus: *For thoght of man sal schrife* (confess) *to the,* *and levyngs* (remains) *of thoght a feste day till the sal wirk*. The paraphrase is curious, of which this is the substance: "When man forsakes perfitly his synne, and sithen (afterwards) rightwisness werks; it is a feste day; whenne the conscience is clered, and makes feste with the swetnes of goddes lufe, restand fra besynes of any creatur in erth: Than is God at hame with his spouse dwelland."

Verse [Psalms 76:11](../../../kjv/psalms/76/11). ***Vow, and pay unto the Lord*** — *Bind* yourselves to him, and forget not your *obligations*.
***Let all that be round about him*** — All the neighbouring nations, who shall see God's judgments against his enemies, should
***Bring presents unto him*** — Give him that homage which is due unto him.
***That ought to be feared.*** — למורא *lammora*, "to the terrible One;" lest they be consumed as the Assyrians have been.

Verse [Psalms 76:12](../../../kjv/psalms/76/12). ***He shall cut off the spirit of princes*** — Even in the midst of their conquests, he can fill them with terror and dismay, or cut them off in their career of victory.
He is ***terrible to the kings of the earth.*** — "He is the only Ruler of princes;" to him they must account. And a terrible account most of them will have to give to the great God; especially those who, instigated by the desire of dominion, have, in the lust of conquest which it generates, laid countries waste by fire and sword, making widows and orphans without number, and extending the empire of desolation and death.
Thus *all* are under his dominion, and are accountable to him. Even those whom *man* cannot bring to justice, God will; and to judge *them* is one grand use of a *final judgment day*.
In this Psalm there are *three* parts: -
I. The Prerogative of Judah and Israel, [Psalms 76:1-2](../../../kjv/psalms/76/1-2).
II. A narration of God's majesty in the Church, [Psalms 76:3-11](../../../kjv/psalms/76/3-11).
III. An exhortation to worship and serve God.
I. The prerogatives of the Jews above all other nations.
1. God was *known* among them: "In Judah is God known."
2. His *name* was *great* in *Israel*. Illustrious for his manifold deliverances.
3. At *Salem* was his tabernacle, - his *seat of worship*, his peculiar presence.
4. His dwelling in *Zion*, - his constant habitation.
II. A narration of God's power and majesty.
He was *glorious* among good men; *more glorious than the mountains* *of prey* - kingdoms acquired by violence, murder, and robbery.
And this *glory* was manifest in the following particulars: -
1. They who came to *spoil* were *spoiled*, [Psalms 76:5](../../../kjv/psalms/76/5).
2. They were *slain*: "They have slept their sleep," [Psalms 76:5](../../../kjv/psalms/76/5).
3. They could make no head against their destroyer, though they were both *numerous* and *strong*: "None of the men of might have found their hands," [Psalms 76:5](../../../kjv/psalms/76/5).
The cause of their consternation: -
1. The *rebuke* of God, [Psalms 76:6](../../../kjv/psalms/76/6).
2. He was *terrible*: "None could stand in his sight," [Psalms 76:7](../../../kjv/psalms/76/7).
3. He was *determinate*: "Judgment was heard from heaven," [Psalms 76:8](../../../kjv/psalms/76/8). Sennacherib and his host were destroyed.
The *effects* produced by this were,
1. Praise from the wicked: "They shall acknowledge this as the hand of God." [Psalms 76:10](../../../kjv/psalms/76/10).
2. Victory; though they rally, and return again to the battle, they shall be routed: "The remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain," [Psalms 76:10](../../../kjv/psalms/76/10). See the notes.
III. He exhorts all to praise him: - 1. "Vow, and pay." 2. "Fear and submit to him," [Psalms 76:11](../../../kjv/psalms/76/11).
This exhortation he founds on the following REASONS: -
1. "He shall cut off the spirit of princes;" take away from tyrants their prudence and courage.
2. "He is terrible to the kings of the earth." They also shall know that he is God.

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