1.
As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
Psalms 42-72, The Exodus Book, has to do with Israel; as the first book (1-41) had to do with Man. Psalms 42 and Psalms 43 are linked together, because (1) Psalms 43 has no title; (2) the Structure shows the correspondence of the repeated appeal.
Title. Maschil = Instruction. The second of thirteen so named. See note on Psalms 32 , Title, and App-65
for = by.
the sons of Korah. The first of the eleven Psalms so distinguished (Psalms 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 84, 85, 87, 88). Korah died by Divine judgment (Numbers 16:31-35 ), but his sons were spared in grace (Numbers 26:11 ). The men of Numbers 16:32 did not include the "sons". See notes, and App-63 .
son = descendants.
panteth = crieth, or longeth. Compare Joel 1:20 . The cry of Israel in Egypt.
after = for.
brooks = channels: water in gorges or pipes, difficult of approach. Hebrew. 'aphikim. See note on 2 Samuel 22:16 .
my soul = I myself. Hebrew. nephesh.
after = upon.
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 . The Creator, not yet revealed as Jehovah to Israel in the Egyptian oppression.
2.
My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
GOD. Hebrew El. App-4 . Because "the living", in contrast with idols.
When shall I come, &c. Figures of speech Interjectio, Erotesis, and Apostrophe. App-6 .
appear before God = see the face of God. So it is in some codices, with one early printed edition, Aramaean, and Syriac. See notes on Exodus 23:15 ; Exodus 34:20 .
3.
My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
continually = all the day.
4.
When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
had gone = shall go.
went = shall go.
holy day = feast day.
5.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
Why . . . ? Figure of speech Cycloides. The question repeated in Psalms 42:11 and Psalms 43:5 . See the Structure, above.
And why . . . ? This second "why" is in the text of some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, as in Psalms 42:11 and Psalms 43:5 .
help. Hebrew, plural salvations. Plural of majesty = great help, or great salvation.
His. Hebrew text reads "my", so that, where I go I am delivered.
countenance. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), put for the whole person.
6.
O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
O my God. In some codices this is joined on to the end of Psalms 42:5 = "the great deliverance of me, and [praise]my God". Compare Psalms 42:11 with Psalms 43:5 .
Jordan. The reference is to 2 Samuel 17:22 .
the Hermonites = the Hermons. Refers to the two peaks.
hill = mountain.
7.
Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
8.
Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
Yet. Omit this.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
His lovingkindness . . . His song. Figure of speech Ellipsis (Complex), App-6 , by which each is to be repeated in the other = "His lovingkindness [and His song] in the daytime; and in the night His song [and His lovingkindness] shall be with me".
GOD of my life. Some codices, with Syriac, read "the living GOD" ( App-4 . IV).
9.
I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
GOD. Hebrew El. App-4 . In edition of 1611 this was printed "My God".
rock = mountain crag, or fortress. Hebrew. sela'. See note on Deuteronomy 32:13 .Deuteronomy 18:1 , Deuteronomy 18:2 .
forgotten. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .
10.
As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
As with. Some codices read "Like".
enemies = adversaries. The second Psalm of each book has for its subject the enemy. See App-10 .
11.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
health = salvation.