1.
We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.
Title. For the sons of Korah. The second of eleven so ascribed. See note on Title, Psalms 42 , App-63 . Maschil = Instruction. The third of thirteen Psalms so named. See note on Psalms 32 , Title, and App-65 . See note on Psalms 42 , Title.
We have heard. Refers to the exodus. No time in reigns of David or Solomon to suit this Psalm. Temple-worship carried on. People in the land. Israel gone astray. Judah had turned away, but had returned (Psalms 44:17-18 ). The Psalm suits Hezekiah only. Sennacherib and Rab-shakeh referred to in Psalms 44:16 . See the cylinder of Sennacherib ( App-67 .)
God. Hebrew Elohim. App-4 .
told us = rehearsed. Compare Exodus 12:26 ; Exodus 13:14 ; Joshua 4:6-7 .
2.
How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.
heathen = nations: i.e. the Canaanites.
them: thy People Israel.
people = peoples: i.e. the Canaanites.
cast them out = spread them about (as a vine, Isaiah 5 ); "them" referring to Israel in both clauses.
3.
For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.
But = For; giving the reason. See Structure above. Hebrew. ki, "for".
a favour. Compare Deuteronomy 4:37 ; Deuteronomy 7:7-8 .
4.
Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.
Thou = Thou Thyself.
art my King = art He my King.
deliverances. Plural of majesty = a great deliverance.
5.
Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
enemies = adversaries.
Thy name . See note on Psalms 20:1 .
6.
For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.
trust = confide. Hebrew. batah . App-69 .
bow . . . sword. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for military science. Compare 2 Kings 19:32 .
7.
But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.
But = For, as in Psalms 44:3 .
hast saved = didst save. Referring to verses: Psalms 44:1-4 .
hast put = didst put. Referring to verses: Psalms 44:1-4 .
8.
In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.
boast = have boasted.
Selah. Connecting the wondrous past with the distressing present, introducing the reason which called forth the Psalm itself, and marking the important break determining the Structure. See App-66 .
9.
But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies.
But = But now. Hebrew. 'aph (not ki, as in Psalms 44:3 and Psalms 44:7 ). Very emphatic, marking great contrast, as in Psalms 68:16 ("Yea"). Some codices, with Aramaean, read "Howbeit".
cast off (as with contempt). Compare Psalms 43:2 . Some codices, with Syriac, read "cast us off".
10.
Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves.
spoil for themselves = have plundered at their will; first occurrence Judges 2:14 . See Sennacherib's boast on his cylinder. App-67 . Some codices, with Aram, and Syriac, read "plundered us", &c.
11.
Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.
sheep appointed for meat. Hebrew sheep of devouring. Genitive of Relation ( App-17 ). Compare Romans 8:36 .
scattered us. Israel had already been removed. Sennacherib says he had taken away 200,150 ( App-67 ).
12.
Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price.
13.
Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.
a reproach. Compare Rab-shakeh's harangue (2 Kings 18:27-35 ) with verses: Psalms 44:13 , Psalms 44:14 . See App-67 .
14.
Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.
15.
My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,
16.
For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.
avenger = him that taketh vengeance. Compare Psalms 8:2 . Here = Sennacherib.
17.
All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.
18.
Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;
steps = goings. Plural in many codices, with one early printed edition, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate; but some codices, with nine early printed editions, read singular.
19.
Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.
place of dragons = place of jackals. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for a desert place.
20.
If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;
name. See note on Psalms 20:1 .
GOD. Hebrew El. Quoted in App-4 .
21.
Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
22.
Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
Yea = Surely. Quoted in Romans 8:36 .
LORD *. Primitive text read "Jehovah". Altered by the Sopherim to "Adonai". See App-32 . Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "Jehovah".
23.
Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.
24.
Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?
25.
For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.
our soul is = we ourselves are. Hebrew. nephesh.
26.
Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake.
Arise. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.
redeem = deliver. Hebrew. padah, See notes on Exodus 6:6 ; Exodus 13:13 .
mercies ' = mercy's, or lovingkindness.
To the chief Musician. See App-64 . Written by Hezekiah for his special circumstances; but on account of verses: Psalms 44:1-8 was handed over for general use at the Feast of the Passover. See note below.
upon = relating to, or concerning.
Shoshannim = Lilies. Put by Figure of speech Metalepsis for "Spring", and "Spring" put for the great spring festival, the Passover. See App-65 .