Annotations upon the five bookes of Moses, the booke of the Psalmes, and the Song of Songs, or, Canticles VVherein the Hebrevv vvords and sentences, are compared with, and explained by the ancient Greeke and Chaldee versions, and other records and monuments of the Hebrewes: but chiefly by conference with the holy Scriptures, Moses his words, lawes and ordinances, the sacrifices, and other legall ceremonies heretofore commanded by God to the Church of Israel, are explained. With an advertisement touching some objections made against the sinceritie of the Hebrew text, and allegation of the Rabbines in these annotations. As also tables directing unto such principall things as are observed in the annotations upon each severall booke. By Henry Ainsworth.

PSAL. XLII.

The Prophet sheweth his desire to appeare before God; 4 his teares for his absence; 6 hee checketh himselfe for his weaknesse, 8 complaineth of his trou∣bles, 12 and encourageth his soule to trust in God.

To the Master of the Musicke; an instructing [unspec 1] Psalme to the sonnes of Korach.

AS the Hinde desirously brayeth for [unspec 2] the streames of waters; so my soule desirously brayeth unto thee O God. My soule thirsteth for God, for the living [unspec 3] God: when shall I come and appeare before the face of God! My teares have beene to [unspec 4] me bread day and night, while they say unto me all the day, where is thy God? These [unspec 5] things I remember, and powre out upon mee my soule, because I had passed with the throng, had resorted with them unto the house of God, with voice of shouting and confession, a multitude keeping festivitie. Why ••owest thou downe thy selfe, my soule, [unspec 6] and makest thou a tumultuous stirre within me? wait hopefully for God, for yet I shall confesse him: the salvations of his face. My [unspec 7] God, within mee my soule boweth downe it selfe, for that I remember thee from the land of Iordan and Hermonim, from the little mountaine. Deepe unto deepe calleth, at [unspec 8] the voice of thy water-spouts; all thy bil∣lowes

and thy waves doe passe over me. By day, Iehovah will command his mercy, and in [unspec 9] the night his song with me; a prayer to the God of my life. I will say to God my Rock, [unspec 10] why hast thou forgotten me; why goe I sad for the oppression of the enemie? With a [unspec 11] murdering weapon in my bones, my distressers doe reproach me; when they say unto me all the day, where is thy God? Why bowest [unspec 12] thou downe thy selfe, my soule; and why ma∣kest thou a tumultuous stirre within me? wait hopefully for God, for yet I shall confesse him; the salvations of my face, and my God.

Annotations.

THe second booke] to wit, of Psalmes. For though they be all compiled in one volume, (as were al∣so the small Prophets) which thereupon is called The booke of the Psalmes, Act. 1. 20. (as, The booke of the Prophets, Act. 7. 42.) yet in the Hebrew there are five bookes; the first reacheth to the end of the 41. Psalme fore-going, which is concluded with Amen and Amen. The second, to the 72. Psalme, concluded also with Amen Amen, and the end of Davids Prayers. The third reacheth to the 89. Psalme, concluded likewise with Amen and Amen. The fourth unto the 106. Psalme, whose conclusion is Amen, Halelujah. The fifth, unto the 150 Psalme, ended with Halelujah.

Vers. 1. Korach] this was the Levite that rose up and rebelled against Moses and Aaron, for which [unspec 1] God destroyed him and his family, and all that took part with him, Numb. 16. Howbeit, there were of his sons that died not, Numb. 26. 11. departing (as it seemeth) from their fathers tents, as all were coun∣selled, Numb. 16. 24, 26. Of his race came Samuel the Prophet, and Heman his nephew was a singer, 1 Chron. 6. 33. To those sons of Korah, this and sun∣drie other Psalmes are commended; which for the most part are songs of comfort, against afflictions and sorrowes. The Chaldee expoundeth the title thus, To laud with good understanding by the hands of the sons of Korah.

Vers. 2. As the Hinde] or the Hart, a beast thir∣stie by nature, and whose thirst is increased when [unspec 2] shee is hunted. The Hinde, the female is here meant, as the word annexed, she brayeth, and the Greeke ar∣ticle heel〈…〉〈…〉 manifest. And in females the passi∣ons are stronger than in males. desirously bray∣eth] in Greeke, desireth. This word is used but here, and in Joel 1. 20. O Lord, the beasts of the field bray also unto thee.

Vers. 3. thirsteth] that is, earnestly desireth: So Psal. 63. 2. Of thirst for Gods grace and spirit, see [unspec 3] Isa. 55. 1. Ioh. 7. 37. Rev. 22. 17. the living God] so called here, because he is the well of living (that is, of continuall springing) waters, Ier. 17. 13. abun∣dantly refreshing those that come to him. Or, living, is opposed to the dead, that is, false Gods, Psal. 106. 28. 1 Thess. 1. 9. yee turned from idols to serve the living and true God. Or living, that is, lively, power∣full, effectuall; as Psalm. 38. 20. Hebr. 10. 31. the Chaldee saith, living and permanent. before the face of God] that is, before his Arke or Taberna∣cle wherein he dwelt among men. So, that which in 1 Chron. 13. 10. is before God; in 2 Sam. 6. 7. is, with the Arke of God. And there all men were bound to appeare (or be seene) before God three times a yeare, Exod. 23. 17. and 34. 23, 24. And here the word before or unto, is to be understood, as often in the Hebrew, which sometime is supplied; as may be seene by comparing 2 Sam. 10. 2. with 1 Chron. 19. 2. and 1 King. 22. 29. with 2 Chron. 18. 28. The Chaldee expoundeth it, when shall I goe in to see the brightnesse of the Majesty (or Divine presence) of the LORD.

Vers. 4. to me bread] that is, my bread, my food. [unspec 4] So, bread of teares, Psal. 80. 6. they say] my foes, as vers. 11. or while it is said. all the day] or, every day, as the Greeke turneth it.

Vers. 5. These things] namely my absence from [unspec 5] Gods face, vers. 3. and my adversaries reproach, vers. 4. The Chaldee addeth, These signes I remember. powre out upon me] or shed within me, or by my selfe. This noteth exceeding sorrow, or fainting, like that in Iob 30. 16. And now my soule powreth out it selfe upon mee, and the daies of affliction have tooke bold on me. So 1 Sam. 1. 15. Lam. 2. 12. throng] a multitude preasing to goe before God: the Chaldee expoundeth it a shadow, saying, When shall I goe under the shadow, shall I together be strengthned in the tents of the just, in the house of the Sanctuary of the Lord, &c. keeping festivitie] or, with a multitude dancing, or keeping a feast. For at their solemne assemblies they kept feasts, Exod. 23. 14. with dancing, eating, drinking and joy, Exod. 32. 5, 6, 19. Iudg. 21. 19, 21. Deu. 16. 14, 15.

Vers. 6. Why lowest thou downe] to wit, with sor∣row; [unspec 6] and therefore the Greeke turneth it, why art thou sorrowfull? For Sorrow or Care in a mans heart boweth it downe, but a good word rejoyceth it, Prov. 12. 25. the salvations] understand, and, or for the salvations, that is, the full salvation, or perfect de∣liverance: So the Chaldee saith, for the redemption which is from his face. of his face] that is, which his face, favour, and gracious presence giveth unto me. The Greeke readeth thus; the salvation of my face and my God; transplacing the Hebrew letters, as in the last verse. Compare Psal. 59. 10, 18.

Vers. 7. for that I remember] and cannot come [unspec 7] before thee; as, vers. 3. or, therefore I will minde thee, seeing I have no way else to comfort mee in my absence from thee. The Chaldee referreth it to others, therefore they remember thee which dwell on the other side of Iordan. the land of Jordan] which lay eastward from Ierusalem where Gods Sanctuary was, and Hermonim] that is, the in∣habitants, (or the mountaines) of Hermon, which was a high mount in the North parts of the land, cal∣led also mount Shirjon: See Psal. 29. 6. the little mount] so is the Greeke: others make it a pro∣per name, Mount Mitsar. Hee may meane the southerne mountaines, that were small in respect of

Hermon. Mount being put for mounts, as chariot, for chariots, Psal. 20. 8. But the Chaldee much dif∣fereth, saying, and the people which received the law at mount Sinai (wich is) low and little. But that see∣meth not to be meant here.

Vers. 8. Deepe unto deepe calleth] that is, one [unspec 8] Affliction (or temptation) followeth and occasio∣neth another, without intermission of trouble. A deepe abisme, or Gulfe, is a place of many waters, signifying great afflictions, Ezek. 26. 19. Ion. 2. 5. The Chaldee translateth, the higher deepe calleth the lower deepe. billowes] such are most dangerous to drowne: they have their name of breaking as the next word waves, of wallowing or tumbling; both signifie afflictions. So Psal. 88. 8. Ion. 2. 3.

Vers. 9. command his mercy] that is, appoint, or send it with speed, power, and authoritie: a phrase ta∣ken [unspec 9] from the Law, and often used for more vehemen∣cie: or because God by his Angels procureth good to his people, Deut. 28. 8. Levit. 25. 21. 2 Sam. 17. 14. So after, in Psal. 44. 5. and 133. 3. and 71. 3. and 68. 29. and 7. 7. and 91. 11. his song] that is, cause and matter for me to sing him praise. So God is said to give songs in the night, Iob 35. 10. See also Isa. 30. 29. a prayer] to wit, I shall make a prayer. And some Psalmes are intituled prayers, as Psal. 17. 1. and 90. 1. and 102. 1. and 142. 1. Habak. 3. 1.

Vers. 10. sad] mournfull. See Psal. 35. 14. [unspec 10] [unspec 11]

Vers. 11. with a murdering weapon] Retsach, murder, seemeth here to be a sword or weapon of mur∣dering; (as pride is a proud person, Psalm. 36. 12.) meaning that his adversaries words did sorely affect and grieve him, as if a dagger had beene thrust into his bones. For, reproachfull words are piercing like swords, Psal. 57. 5. and 59. 8.

Vers. 12. salvations of my face] that is, he which [unspec] giveth me full manifest and apparant salvation, or present deliverance. See before, vers. 6. according to which the Chaldee translateth it here, for the re∣demption which is from his face.