Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. Alleluia. Septuagint Syr. and so forth add, “of Aggæus and Zacharias,” as it seems to have been composed after the captivity, verse 13. Calmet.—But why might not David thus invite all to praise God? He descends from the highest creatures to those on earth. Bert.—Heavens. All ye blessed spirits, preach God for the excellence of your nature, and for your numbers. Worthington.
Verse 2. Hosts. Stars, ( Calmet.) or rather angels. Saint John Chrysostom Matthew 26:52.—The three children made the same invitation to them, rejoicing in this holy communion. Bert.
Verse 3. And light. Hebrew “of light,” meaning the planets. Kimchi.—The harmony of these things invites us to praise the Lord. Origen and S. Hilary seem to represent them as intelligent. But ( Calmet.) when God is praised on their account … they all praise him. Saint Augustine—Irrational things shew forth the excellence of their Creator. Worthington.
Verse 4. Of heavens. The highest and most excellent, ( Calmet.) though not the abode of the angels, which had been specified before.—Heavens, in the clouds. It is not necessary to allow these waters to be above the stars. Bert.
Verse 5. He spoke, and they were made, is not in Hebrew or Chal. being taken from Psalms 32:9. ( Calmet.) or lost in the original. Bert.
Verse 6. Away. The heavenly bodies observe the most constant order. Bible.—They are not liable to change, like sublunary things, ( Calmet.) though God may suspend the laws which he has established. Bert.
Verse 7. Earth. All ye inhabitants. Bible.—He then addresses whales, and all in the seas.
Verse 8. Word. For the punishment of the wicked, ( Calmet.) and to strike the saints with awe. Bible.
Verse 9. Mountains. Thales, Origen, and so forth have attributed souls to waters, and so forth But this cannot be proved from this poetical personification. Calmet.
Verse 11. Kings, and so forth God is to be praised for the diversity of states, whereby the whole community is preserved.
Verse 13. Alone. God, and not any idol, has disposed all things. Worthington.
Verse 14. Earth. All contribute towards the divine praise. Yet they cannot afford as much as God deserves.—Horn. Glory, ( Calmet.) or the Messias; though this cannot easily be proved to be the literal sense. Bert.—People. Establishing his Church. Worthington.—Saints. Israelites, (Bert.) particularly the sacred ministers. Deuteronomy 4:7. Calmet.—To him. By free-will, assisted by God’s grace. Worthington. Hebrews 11:6. Jam. 4:8. Bert.
Hebrew: יה Yah
LORD or GOD in all caps is from the Hebrew יהוה Yahweh except when otherwise noted as being from the short form יה Yah.
Hebrew: יה Yah