Psalms 59

Verse 1. Changed. Psalms 44:Title, Psalms 15. doctrine explaining what will be the progress of the Church. Menochius.—It seems to have the same import as understanding, in other titles, but here is of little authority. Bert.—It has no connexion with the psalm, which seems to have been written before David had obtained the sovereignty over Israel, (Houbig. verse 8) or it expresses the sentiments of the captives, ( Calmet.) and of Jesus Christ, and his Church. Saint Augustine

Verse 2. Set fire. Hebrew “fought against Syria of Mesopotamia, and Syria of Seba.” Saint Jerome 2 Kennicott. viii. 10. Bible.—Twelve. Abisai slew 18,000, perhaps on another occasion; (1 Chronicles 18:12) so that this title does not contradict history. Menochius.

Verse 3. Off. Chastising thy people frequently under Moses, and so forth Bert.—On us. Redeeming mankind, which thou hadst condemned, for the fault of Adam, and giving us a more abundant grace. Romans 5:9. S. Hil.—Thou hast treated us like a good physician, (Deuteronomy 32:39. Calmet.) chastising us for our sins, that we might improve in virtue. Worthington.

Verse 4. Moved. He personifies the earth, which had fallen into the hands of the Chaldees, ( Calmet.) or had experienced various commotions under Saul, and so forth ( Bible.) which he denotes by the mention of an earthquake. Menochius.

Verse 5. Sorrow. Hebrew “muddy,” such as is given to slaves or malefactors, (S. Matthew 27:34) mixed with myrrh, or venom. Lit. “wine of trembling,” ( Calmet.) or soporiferous. Saint Jerome Bible.—All these expressions give the idea of something disagreeable. Bert.—The people became penitent, or were astonished. Menochius.

Verse 6. Warning, to amend, ( Worthington.) the sign of the cross ( Calmet.) in baptism, (Saint Jerome) or confirmation. Euseb.—It was customary to erect a pole, on which some signal was placed, in case of invasion. Isaiah 5:26 and 11:12. and so forth Calmet.—Bow. Hebrew kossoth, ( Bible.) as Saint Jerome and so forth have read, though the present Hebrew end with t, less correctly, and is explained, “because of the truth.” Calmet. Bert.

Verse 7. Save me. The king praying for all. Menochius.—Saint Augustine reads, me, ( Calmet.) though the Vulg. does not here express it. Bible.—Hebrew “save thy right hand,” the people, or man of thy, and so forth Psalms 79:18. Calmet.—Hear me. Hebrew “him.” But the margin has, me. Bible.

Verse 8. Holy one, Jesus Christ, (Euseb.) the prophet, ( Menochius.) the sanctuary, ( Calmet.) or oracle. Worthington.—He had promised that the captives should return in seventy years time. Jeremiah 25:11 and 29:10. Calmet.—Sichem. (partibor Sichimam … metibor.) These two verbs are sometimes used for partiar and metiar, in ancient authors.—Tabernacles. Hebrew “succoth.” Bert. Genesis 33:17.—It may also signify the Arabs, who lived in tents. Menochius.—David’s dominion extended over these nations, ( Bible.) and the captives at Babylon hoped to recover them, as the Machabees did. The kingdoms of Juda and Israel were no more divided, (Isaiah 11:13. Jeremiah 31:8) to shew the unity of the Church.

Verse 9. Head. This tribe was at the head of the kingdom of Israel, but submitted to David, ( Bible.) and afforded excellent soldiers and captains. Calmet.—His temporal kingdom was extended by God, who will crown his elect. Worthington.—King. Hebrew “law-giver,” alluding to Genesis 49:10. Sym. “my general.” Calmet.—The word king implies all this. Bible.—Juda always swayed the sceptre. Bert.—After the captivity, Zorobabel was at the head of the people. Jesus Christ sprung from this tribe, and is the true king of the people, whom he has redeemed, and put in possession of the land of promise. Calmet.

Verse 10. The pot of my hope; or my watering pot. That is, a vessel for meaner uses, by being reduced to serve me, even i nthe meanest employments. Challoner. Worthington.—Plautus (Mort. ii. scen. 1. 40) says, Ego vos pro matula habeo, and so forth Symmachus adopts the sense of the Septuagint αμεριμνιας, as réts, in Syr. means “to trust,” (Daniel 3:28) and “to wash” in Hebrew It was customary to throw lots into a pot full of water, and that which came out last was most esteemed. To this custom the psalmist may allude, ( Calmet.) or he hoped that the fruitful region of Moab would supply him with food. It was subject to David, (2 Kennicott. 8:2. Bible.) and to the Machabees, 1 Maccabees 5:6.—Shoe, to be untied, or carried, as by the meanest slaves, (Matthew 3:11) or to take possession. Deuteronomy 11:24. Thus “Alexander threw a javelin, and danced on the shore of Asia, begging that those lands would not receive him unwillingly for king.” Diod. Arrian. Justin.—David conquered Idumea, (2 Kennicott. 8:14. Bible.) as Hyrcanus did afterwards. Joseph. xiii. 17. Calmet.—Foreigners, alienigenæ, or, “Allophyli.” Saint Augustine—“Of another tribe.” Bible.—So the Philistines were called, who had no kindred with the Israelites; whereas the Edomites, Moabites, and so forth were originally of the same family. Challoner.—Subject, or “friends.” Psalms 107:10. Calmet.—Prot. “Philistia, triumph thou, because of me.” Marg. insinuates this is spoken “by irony;” but ( Bible.) Hebrew properly means, “make an alliance with me;” or, Syr. “I will shout for joy over Palestine.” This country was subdued by the Machabees, (1 Maccabees 4:15. Calmet.) as it had been tributary to David. 2 Kennicott. 8:2. Bert.—“I will make a league against the Philistines.” Houbig.

Verse 11. city. The capital of the aforesaid counties, or Jerusalem; ( Calmet.) but more particularly Petra, ( Bible.) the strongest place in Idumea. Menochius. Abdias, 3. Bert.—The Fathers understand the Church. Euseb.

Verse 12. Off? God punishes and rewards. Worthington.—And wilt; or, “yet thou wilt not,” and so forth Bible.—Thou wilt not depend on our efforts for victory. Bellar. Menochius.—How can we expect to make such conquests, being in so forlorn a condition, when thou dost not lead forth our armies, as formerly? All that man can do is vain, but thou wilt look down upon us, and through God we shall do mightily, verse 14. Calmet.