1.
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.
upon Shoshannim-Eduth. The testimony relating to the Feast of the second Passover (Numbers 9:5-14 . Compare 2 Chronicles 29:25-35 ; 2 Chronicles 30:23 . The other of the two Psalmsthus called is Psalms 59 . See App-65 .
2.
Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us.
Before. A special various reading called Sevir ( App-34 ) reads "For the sons of".
Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton App-6 ), calling our attention to these three. They were descended from Rachel, and marched together in the rear (Numbers 2:18-22 ). As Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun marched in the van, the Ark (the symbol of God's presence) led them as a Shepherd (Psalms 78:13-16 , Psalms 78:52-55 .John 10:4 , John 10:5 ).
3.
Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
Turn us again. Figure of speech Cycloides ( App-6 ) governing the Structure. Compare verses: Psalms 80:7 , Psalms 80:19 . Not from captivity, but from idolatry to the true worship.
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 . Note the significant order: Psalms 80:3 , "O God"; Psalms 80:7 , "O God of hosts"; Psalms 80:19 , "0 Jehovah, God of hosts". This Divine order rebukes our own loose use of the Divine titles; and shows us the importance of noting their Divine use, not heeding modern hypotheses.
4.
O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people?
O LORD God of hosts. Hebrew. Jehovah. Elohim Zebaioth. See note on 1 Samuel 1:3 . Not common in the Psalms, but occurring in Psalms 59:6 and Psalms 84:8 .
How long . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .
5.
Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure.
6.
Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves.
laugh among themselves. Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "have mocked at us".
7.
Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
to shine. Compare Numbers 6:25 .
8.
Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.
a vine. Compare Isaiah 5:1-7 ; Isaiah 27:2-6 . Jeremiah 2:21 ; Jeremiah 12:10 . Psalms 80:11 connects Joseph and Genesis 49:22 .
heathen = nations.
9.
Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land.
10.
The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars.
the goodly cedars = mighty cedars. Hebrew "cedars of El". App-4 .
11.
She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river.
the sea: i.e. the Mediterranean.
branches = roots, or suckers.
the river: i.e. the Euphrates.
12.
Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her?
Why . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis ( App-6 ), for emphasis.
13.
The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it.
the wood = forest. The Hebrew word for forest here ( miyya'ar) , has the letter Ayin suspended (see note on Judges 18:30 ). This is the second of four such suspended letters (the other two being Job 38:13 , Job 38:15 ). Read with this letter, the word means "forest"; without it, and with an Aleph instead, it is miyy 'a r , "river". The ancient Jewish interpreters took this suspended letter as denoting that, when innocent, Israel would be assailed only by a power weak as a river animal; but, when guilty, it would be destroyed by a power as strong as a land animal. Until the Roman power arose (whose military ensign was the "boar"), it was understood as "river" (meaning Egypt); but afterward the Septuagint, Chaldee, and Vulg, read "forest".
14.
Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine;
Return. Compare verses: Psalms 80:3 , Psalms 80:7 , Psalms 80:19 , and see the Structure above.
and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ) for emphasis. Almost an Ellipsis = "[once more] look down, [once more] behold, [once more] visit".
15.
And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself.
And the. Supply the Ellipsis ( App-6 ), "And [protect] the".
branch = son. Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "son of man", as in Psalms 80:17 .
16.
It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.
17.
Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.
upon: or over.
man. Hebrew ' i s h . App-14 .
son of man = son of Adam. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 . See note on Ezekiel 2:1 .
18.
So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.
Quicken = make alive, restore, revive.
19.
Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
O LORD, &c. See note on Psalms 80:3 and Psalms 80:7 .