1.
Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
Title. Psalm. Hebrew. mizmor. App-65 .
Song. Hebrew. shir. It was written originally for use at the going up of the Ark to Zion 951, BC, a Sabbatical year ( 2Sa 6 and 1 Chronicles 15 ; see note on Title of Psalms 24 ); but, as it celebrates, among other things, the deliverance from Egypt, it was afterward appointed for public use at the Feast of the Passover. See notes on the sub-scription, and compare Psalms 68:1 and Psalms 68:4 .
Let God arise. The Divine formula at the setting forth of the Ark. In the prayer (Numbers 10:35 ), "Rise up Jehovah"; but here, God (Elohim.), because in connection with enemies.
Let. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "And let".
2.
As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
driven away = driven about.
wicked = lawless. Hebrew. rasha'. App-44 .
3.
But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
let. Some codices, with five early printed editions, Aramaean, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and let".
4.
Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.
JAH. See App-4 . Compare Exodus 15:2 . The Divine Titles enrich this Psalm: Elohim occurs twenty-six times, because the Psalm has to do with the scattering of His enemies. The first occurrence of JAH is in Exodus 15:2 , and in the Psalms this first occurrence is in the second, or Exodus book.
5.
A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
holy habitation: i.e. which David had prepared for the Ark on Zion.
6.
God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
setteth the solitary in families = bringeth absent ones home.
the rebellious = rebellious ones.
dwell = have [ever] dwelt.
7.
O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:
when Thou wentest forth: i.e. from Egypt. The whole deliverance of Israel is here rehearsed. See the sub-scription. For use at the Passover.
Selah. Connecting the first going up of the Ark in the wilderness with its accompaniments. See App-66 .
8.
The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
dropped: i.e. dropped [moisture].
9.
Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
10.
Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
Thy congregation = Thy living ones, or living host.
the poor = the humbled or oppressed one.
11.
The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
The LORD *. One of the 134 places where Jehovah was changed by the Sopherim to Adonai. See App-32 ; also verses: Psalms 68:17 , Psalms 68:19 , Psalms 68:22 , Psa 17:26 , Psa 17:32 .
company = host, or army.
those = the women. See note on Psalms 68:25 . This is the women's part. Compare 1 Samuel 18:6 , 1 Samuel 18:7 . Compare Deborah.
published it. Always used of good news.
12.
Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.
Kings, &c. Verses Psa 12:13 , are the words of the women.
did flee apace. The rendering of the Figure of speech Epizeuxis. Hebrew "did flee, did flee". Compare Judges 5:19 ; Judges 7:25 .
tarried at home. Compare 1 Samuel 30:21-25 .
13.
Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.
pots. Hebrew Dual, the two [or between the] brickkilns: i.e. in Egypt. Not dirty vessels according to the Rabbinical commentators, but dirty places.
yet shall ye be. Referring to the deliverance and subsequent glory.
14.
When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.
the ALMIGHTY. Hebrew Shaddai. App-4 .
in it: i.e. in His inheritance.
was white, &c. Supply Figure of speech Ellipsis thus, "was as [when He scatters] snow in Salmon": i.e. scatters by dispersing, as snow is melted away.
Salmon. Occurs only here and Judges 9:48 .
15.
The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.
hill = mountain. See note on Ezekiel 28:16 .
16.
Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.
Why . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .
leap = look askance at, or envy. Hebrew. razad. Occurs only here. By the Figure of speech Prosopopoeia , the other mountains are spoken of as envying Zion.
This is. Omit these italics, and punctuate thus: "Why will ye envy, O ye high hills, the hill Jehovah desired for His abode".
desireth. Compare Psalms 78:67 , Psalms 78:68 ; Psalms 132:13 ; and 1 Kings 11:32 .Nehemiah 1:9 .
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
17.
The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.
chariots. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.
twenty thousand. Hebrew twice ten thousand thousands.
even thousands. Hebrew thousands repeated: i.e. upon thousands. is among them, &c. This line, according to the primitive orthography in the division of the word, reads; "Jehovah hath come from Sinai into the Sanctuary". See Ginsburg, Int., pp 161, 162. Or, the printed text may stand with the Ellipsis supplied thus: "Jehovah among them (i.e. the angels and chariots) [hath come from] Sinai into the Sanctuary".
holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .
18.
Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.
Thou. Is this the poor one of Psalms 68:10 ?
ascended on high = gone up to the high [mountain: i.e. Zion]; referring to the Ark; but a type of Christ's ascension, as is clear from Ephesians 4:8 .
led = led in procession.
captivity. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for captives.
received gifts for men. The Hebrew lakah has a twofold meaning, i.e. receiving and giving. Here the Ellipsis must be supplied by the second, "received [and given] gifts among (or for) men". In Ephesians 4:8 the Ellipsis must be supplied by the former, "Thou hast [received] and given gifts among (or for) men". "Among" is one of the recognized renderings of Beth (= B) with a plural noun. (See Psalms 99:6 . 2 Samuel 15:31 .)
men. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .
Yea. Figure of speech Epitrechon. .
for the rebellious also. This is a foreshadowing of true grace.
THE LORD. Hebrew Jah, as in Psalms 68:4 .
dwell. Hebrew. shakan. See note on "placed" (Genesis 3:24 ) = dwell as in a tabernacle, the Ark being the symbol of His presence. Compare Exodus 25:8 ; Exodus 29:45 , Exodus 29:46 . Joshua 18:1 ; Jos 22:19 . 1 Kings 6:13 . It is from this verb that we have Shekinah.
19.
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
THE GOD. Hebrew El (with Art.) App-4 .
of our = "[Who is] our".
salvation. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "salvations" (plural) = our great salvation.
Selah. Connecting the exhortation to bless Jehovah (Psalms 68:19 ) with the reason for it (Psalms 68:20 ). See App-66 .
20.
He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death.
He That is. These italics may be omitted, or otherwise supplied. "The El [we have] is the El", &c.
GOD the Lord. Hebrew. Jehovah. Adonai.
the issues from = means of escape from. (No Art.)
death. With the Art., as in Psalms 116:15 . The reference is to Exodus 12:12 , Exodus 12:13 , Exodus 12:29 .
21.
But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.
trespasses. Hebrew. 'asham. App-44 .
22.
The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:
I will bring. Figure of speech Epizeuxis , for emphasis = I will surely bring.
My people. Supply the Ellipsis from the context: "I will surely bring [mine enemies] from" wherever they may have fled, bring them again for judgment; the object being stated in the next verse. See the Structure.
23.
That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.
dipped. Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulg, read "bathed". Compare Isaiah 63:3 , Revelation 19:13 .
dogs in the same. Supply the Ellipsis from the context: "dogs [may lick] the same".
24.
They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.
goings = progression, or procession. Compare 2Sa 6 ; 1 Chronicles 15:16-21 , where the order is given as in verses: Psalms 68:24 , Psalms 68:25 here.
goings. Figure of speech Epizeuxis.
in = into.
25.
The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.
went before. Compare 1 Chronicles 15:16-21 .
followed after = behind.
Among = between.
damsels. Hebrew. 'dlamoth : i.e. the females of Psalms 68:11 . See App-65 .
timbrels = drums. Hebrew. toph. See note on Exodus 15:20 .
26.
Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.
congregations = assemblies.
from. Supply the Ellipsis , "[Ye that are] from, or of, the fountain of Israel".
fountain: i.e. the patriarch Abraham, or, Israel. Ginsburg suggests "the called of Israel".
27.
There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
Benjamin. The least of the tribes, and last on the jasper stone of Aaron's breastplate. Compare Exodus 28:20 . Jasper is the first Stone in the foundations of Revelation 21:19 .
and their council = their company.
Zebulun. Four tribes named: two in the extreme south, and two in the extreme north.
28.
Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.
Thy God hath commanded. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "Command, O God".
strength = strength (for defence). Hebrew. 'azaz.
Strengthen, &c. "Strengthen, O God, the strength which Thou hast wrought for us from Thy temple". Connecting with this line the first words of Psalms 68:29 .
29.
Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.
Because of Thy temple. See note above.
at Jerusalem = unto Jerusalem (commencing a new line) shall kings bring presents, &c.
30.
Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war.
the company of spearmen = the wild beasts of the reeds.
The multitude of the bulls = the herd of mighty oxen. Compare Jeremiah 46:20 , Jeremiah 46:21 .
people = peoples.
pieces of silver: i.e. tribute money.
Scatter Thou. So it should read with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, but Hebrew text reads "He hath scattered".
31.
Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.
Ethiopia. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), for Ethiopians.
stretch out her hands. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), either for bringing presents, as in Psalms 68:29 , or for prayer, or for pledging loyalty with an oath.
32.
Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:
Selah. Connecting the exhortation to praise with Him Who is to be praised, verses: Psalms 68:33-35 . See App-66 .
33.
To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.
rideth. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.
of old. Compare 2 Peter 3:5 and 2 Peter 3:6 : referring to "the world that then was".
His voice. Omit the italics, and then we have the Figure of speech Epizeuxis , "His voice a voice of strength".
34.
Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.
35.
O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.
Thou art terrible. Supply Ellipsis thus: "[To be feared] is God from His Sanctuary".
Thy holy places. Septuagint and Vulg, read the singular. It is the plural of majesty.
holy. See note on Exodus 3:6 .
power. Hebrew, plural = mighty, or abundant power.