Psalms 3

Verse 2. Why. Let me know the enormity of my sins. All Israel follows Absalom. 2 Kennicott. 15:13. So all rose up against Christ. Worthington.—The Church was assailed on all sides, ( Calmet.) and every soul must live in expectation of battle from innumerable enemies. Hebrew also, ( Bible.) “How are they multiplied.” Houbig.—David is surprised at the sudden change, and adores the depth of God’s judgments, which had been denounced unto him. 1 Kennicott. 12:10. Calmet.

The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).

Verse 3. God. His case is desperate. Worthington.—He must therefore be a criminal. This is the usual judgment of the world, though very false, as we have seen in the person of Job; for temporal punishments are frequently an effect of the divine clemency. Semei upbraided David on this occasion, as the Jews did Christ. 2 Kennicott. 16:7. Matthew 27:42. At the end of this verse, Hebrew adds, Selah, ( Calmet.) sle and Septuagint διαψαλμα, ( Bible.) a word which is not much better understood. Houbigant therefore informs us that he has omitted it entirely, as the Vulg. seems to have done, except Psalms 61:8 where it is rendered, in æternum, “for ever,” (Bert.) as S. Jerom expresses it semper, in his Hebrew version. It would perhaps be as well to leave the original term. Bible.—It occurs seventy-one times in the psalms, and thrice in Habacuc. Some think it is a sign to raise the voice, or to pause, and so forth (Bert.) at the end of the lesson, before the psalter was divided. None, except Eusebius, asserts that it was inserted by the original authors, and it seems now to be useless. Calmet. Dis.

Verse 4. Protector. Hebrew “shield.”—Glory. God is the hope of his servants, (1 Corinthians 15:31) and grants their requests. Calmet.—He has not abandoned me, when I had fallen into sin. Bible.—He gives me the victory, and confirms my throne. Worthington.

Verse 5. Hill. Sion, where the ark had been placed, ( Calmet.) or from heaven. Menochius.—Hebrew adds, “Selah.” Prot. Bible.

Verse 6. Rest, in sin; (Saint Athanasius) or, I have not lost my confidence in God, though dangers threaten on every side. Calmet.—Jesus remained undaunted, when his enemies surrounded him; he continued (Theod. and so forth) free among the dead, and rose again by his own power. Bible.—If he prayed that the chalice might be removed, it was to teach us how to behave. Calmet.—He was buried, and rose again, and his disciples believed the Scriptures (John 2:22) recorded here, and in other places. Worthington.—The same word refers to past and future things. Saint Gregory Mor. xx. 1. Worthington.

Verse 7. Thousands. Septuagint “myriads.” Bible.—If my enemies were still more numerous, I should not fear. Calmet.—I beseech thee to help me. Worthington.

Verse 8. Without cause. Hebrew “on the jaw.” Bible.—Without redress. Calmet.—Septuagint seems to have read léinom, as “some Jews say that the ancient copies were different.” Origen, A.D. 231. Kennicott.—Teeth. Strength and fury.