Psalms 86

Verse 1. Mountains. So far the Jews extend the title, supposing that the subject of this canticle was concerning Sion, Moria, and so forth Others think that, thereof, refers to a part of the psalm which has been lost, ( Calmet.) or to the temple or city which occupied the prophet’s thoughts; or it is sufficiently explained by the word Sion, which follows, as the relative sometimes comes first. D. See Proverbs 14:3.—This psalm might be composed (Bert.) by some of the Corites, during, or after the captivity, when Jerusalem received strangers within her walls, as a figure of the Christian Church; (Isaiah 2:2. Zechariah 8:20. Calmet.) or David (Bert.) might write it when he had removed the ark to Sion, which was to be the seat of the true religion. Ferrand.—Mountains. The apostles and prophets; (Ephesians 2:20. Challoner.) on which the Church is founded. Bible.—The city was styled holy, from the temple built on Moria. Several other mountains were included within its walls. Calmet.

Verse 2. Jacob. Jerusalem belonged to some of his children. Hence the psalmist clearly speaks of something better, even of the Church of Christ, (Bert.) which God has chosen for his spouse, having abandoned the synagogue, (Revelation 21:9. Calmet.) which was only intended to be a pedagogue. Bible.

Verse 4. Rahab. Egypt, and so forth To this Sion, which is the Church of God, many shall resort from all nations. Challoner.—Christ gives his apostles command to preach to all. Matthew 28. Lu. 24:27. Worthington.—Some have supposed that Rahab, who received the spies, is here put, to signify the Chanaanites. But her name is written Réb; and the word before us is Rahab, ( Bible.) signifying “pride,” ( Menochius.) or Egypt; particularly the Delta, which is still called Rib. Calmet.—Me. I will receive into my Church not only the Jews, but also the most abandoned nations. Bible.—Foreigners. Philistines. Psalms 82:8. Menochius.—Were. Hebrew “this man was born there.” Bible.—In Christ there is no distinction of nations. Romans 10:12. The Jews will never shew us the completion of this prophecy any where but in the Church. Calmet.—It is spoken of as past, to denote the certainty of the event. Worthington.

Verse 5. Shall not Sion say, and so forth The meaning is, that Sion, that is the Church, shall not only be able to commemorate this or that particular person of renown born in her, but also to glory in great multitudes of people and princes, of her communion; who have been foretold in the writings of the prophets, and registered in the writings of the apostles. Challoner.—We might also translate, “shall it not be said of Sion?” Worthington.—Some may have read dicetur, instead of dicet. “Shall not a man say to Sion, yea, a man is born in her?” Bible.—Septuagint have, “mother,” μητρη, which S. Jerom says should be μητι, shall not. Other nations may have produced some great men. But Sion has given birth to the Man God, who was brought into the world in its vicinity, and preached and rose again there. Bert.—She has had many heroes, and has been founded by the Highest. Menochius.—Christ, both God and man, is the builder of his Church, and people, in admiration, recount how many great personages have embraced her communion. Worthington.—The baptist, a man sent by God, announced the Messias; who, according to his humanity, was born of a virgin, among the people of Sion; while, by his divine nature, He was the most High. Carthus. Bell. See Amama.—Sion, or Jerusalem, shall be the mother of an infinite multitude, (Isaiah 49:18) the metropolis of Judea. Septuagint Arab. and so forth read, “mother,” in this sense. People deemed it an honour to be born there. Calmet.—Christ “became man for our sakes, being God before us. How do we know this? The Lord has told us in the writings of peoples.” Saint Augustine D.

Verse 6. Writings. He alone can number the inhabitants: or He will enroll all nations as citizens of Sion. Calmet.—The New Testament explains the vocation of the Gentiles, and the incarnation of Christ. Bert.—The Scriptures are the books of all mankind, as well as of princes. All are equally interested in their contents, and ought to become acquainted with them. Hebrew “the Lord has numbered, writing down peoples: He was born in it for ever.” Saint Jerome—This refers to Jesus Christ, whose birth is also specified in the preceding verse, (Bert.) as ennobling Sion, far more than that of Home, Alexander, or Cæsar could do any of the pagan cities, Egypt, and so forth verse 4. Bible.—The mystery of the incarnation will shine forth at the last day, as well as the glory of the elect. But these things are already consigned in part to all nations, in the writings of the apostles, (Bert.) and in ecclesiastical history. Menochius.—Princes, is not here in Hebrew Bert.

Verse 7. The dwelling, and so forth Hebrew “the singers, like people dancing, (for joy) all my fountains are in thee.” S. Jerom reads, “strong ones,” and ( Bible.) others, “my thoughts,” instead of “fountains;” which shews that they have read differently. Vesharim, may signify and princes, taken from the line above, though of this we ought to have some proofs from MSS. and so forth Bert.—The authority of the Septuagint may perhaps suffice, ( Bible.) as they have read more correctly máuni, “habitation,” rather than mahyanai, as we have at present. Bert.—If we adopt this sense, ( Bible.) the fountains may denote the nations which shall spring from Sion. Psalms 67:27. Hammond.—All the inhabitants shall be filled with joy in the heavenly Jerusalem. Revelation 17:15. Calmet.—This short, but difficult psalm, allegorically describes the mystery of Christ, and of the Church. Bert.—Catholics may taste pure delights, having peace of conscience, and so forth But the blessed enjoy the most perfect content in the Church triumphant. Worthington. Menochius.

Sheol is the place of the dead.