Annotations upon the Holy Bible. Vol. I wherein the sacred text is inserted, and various readings annex'd, together with parallel scriptures, the more difficult terms in each verse are explained, seeming contradictions reconciled, questions and doubts resolved, and the whole text opened / by the late reverend and learned divine Mr. Matthew Poole.

PSAL. LXXVI.

To the chief musician on Neginoth, a Psalm or Song ‖ 1.1 of Asaph a 1.2.

1 * 1.3 IN Judah is God known b 1.4, his name is great c 1.5 in Israel.

2 In Salem d 1.6 also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion e 1.7.

3 There f 1.8 brake he the arrows g 1.9 of the bow, the shield, and the sword h 1.10, and the battel i 1.11, Selah.

4 Thou k 1.12 art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey l 1.13.

5 The stout hearted are spoiled m 1.14, they have slept their sleep n 1.15: and none of the men of might have found their hands o 1.16.

6 At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse p 1.17 are cast into a dead sleep.

7 Thou, even thou art to be feared, and who may stand in thy sight q 1.18 when once thou art angry?

8 * 1.19 Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven r 1.20; the earth feared, and was still s 1.21.

9 When God arose to judgment t 1.22 to save all the meek of the earth u 1.23, Selah.

10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee x 1.24, the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain y 1.25.

11 Vow z 1.26, and pay a 1.27 unto the LORD your God; let all that be round about him b 1.28 bring pre∣sents † 1.29 unto him that ought to be feared c 1.30.

12 He shall cut off d 1.31 the spirit e 1.32 of princes, he is terrible to the Kings of the earth.

Notes

• ‖ 1.1

  Or, for A∣saph.
• a 1.2

  Or, for Asaph. Either, it was Composed by the Prophet Asaph; or Composed by David, or some other Holy Pro∣phet of God, and committed to Asaph, or to his Posterity; It being usual to put the Parents name for his Children, of which I have formerly given divers Instances. The spe∣cial and immediate occasion of this Psalm was unquestiona∣bly, some eminent Deliverance vouchsafed by God, to his People of Israel, and especially to Ierusalem, which the Psalmist thought fit to celebrate: But which and when it was, is both needless to enquire, and hard to determine.
• * 1.3

  Psal. 48. 1. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• b 1.4

  God's People do not worship an unknown God, as the A∣thenians did, Act. 17. 23. but one who hath made himself known, not onely by his Word and Ordinances, but also by the glorious Effects of his Wisdom and Power on their be∣half, and against their potent and malicious Enemies.
• c 1.5

  (i. e.) Famous and Renowned, and greatly to be praised and admired.
• d 1.6

  In Ierusalem, which was antiently called Salem, Gen. 14. 18. Heb. 7. 1.
• e 1.7

  Largely so called, as it includes Moriah an ad∣joyning Hill, or another Branch of the same Hill.
• f 1.8

  (i. e.) In Iudah; Or at, or near Ierusalem▪
• g 1.9

  Heb. the Sparks, the sparkling Arrows, bright and shining, swist and piercing, like sparks of Fire.
• h 1.10

  Both offensive and defensive Weapons, so as they could neither hurt God's People, nor save themselves from Ruin.
• i 1.11

  The force and fury of the Battle, and all the Power of the Army, which was put in Battel-Array.
• k 1.12

  O God: To whom he directeth his Speech here, as also v. 6, 7, 8.
• l 1.13

  Either, 1. Than the greatest Kings and Empires of the Earth, which in Prophetical Writings are oft Compar∣ed to Mountains, as Psal. 46. 2, 3. Isa. 41. 15. Ier. 51. 25. Hab. 3. 6. And they are called Mountains of prey; because then they generally were Established by Tyranny, and main∣tained by preying upon their own Subjects, or other inferior Kingdoms. Or▪ 2. (Which amounts to the same thing) than the most powerful Enemies of thy People, upon whom they used, and now desired and expected to prey: Such Persons being oft expressed by the name of Mountains, as Psal. 144. 5. •…•…eth. 4. 7. &c.
• m 1.14

  Of all that Glory and Advantage, which they either had already gotten, or further expected from the Success of their present expedition which they promised to themselves. They became a prey to those upon whom they hoped to prey.
• n 1.15

  E∣ven a perpetual sleep, as Ier. 51. 39. 57. or the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Death, Psal. 13. 3. called their sleep Emphatically, as being pecul•…•…ar to them, and such like Men, and not that sleep which is com∣mon to the good and bad. Their Death he seems to call 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Because they were slain in the Night, when they had Compo∣sed themselves to rest and sleep, and so passed insensibly from one sleep to another. For it is thought by many, that this Psalm was Composed upon the occasion of that prodigious slaughter of the Assyrians in Iudah, 2 Kings 19. 35.
• o 1.16

  They had no more strength in, or use of their hands, against the de∣stroying Angel, than they who have no hands.
• p 1.17

  The men who Rode upon, and •…•…ought from Chariots and Horses, who fight with most Advantage, and usually have most Courage; and much more unable were their Footmen, to resist or avoid the stroke.
• q 1.18

  To wit, to Contend with thee. Standing, is here oppo∣sed to flight or falling before the Enemy. See I•…•…sh. 7. 12. Dan. 8. 4.
• * 1.19

  Psal. 46. 6▪
• r 1.20

  Thou didst execute Judgment upon thine Enemies, by an Angel sent from Heaven, which is said to be heard: Either, be∣cause that was accompanied with terrible Thunders and Earth∣quakes, which was not unusual in the descent of an Angel, as Mat. 28. 2. and elsewhere: Or, because the same of it was quickly spread abroad in the Land, and in the World.
• s 1.21

  The effect of this Terrible Judgement, was that the rest of the World were afraid to invade or disturb the Land and Peo∣ple of Israel, and chose rather to sit still in their own Territories.
• t 1.22

  When God, who for a season had sat still, began to be∣stir and shew himself against his Enemies. Or, After God had risen, &c. Or, Because God did arise▪ &c.
• u 1.23

  To save all the godly Persons (who are oft called Meek ones, as hath been noted again and again) in Israel, for whose sakes God wrought this great Deliverance, which reached to all the People of the Land.
• x 1.24

  The blasphemous Speeches, and furious Attempts of thine Enemies, shall serve thy Glory, and cause thy People and others, to Praise and magnifie thee, for that admirable Wisdom and Power, and Faithfulness, and Goodness, which thou shalt discover upon that occasion.
• y 1.25

  Thou shalt pre∣vent and disappoint the succeeding malicious Designs of thine Enemies, who will meditate Revenge for those shameful and Terrible overthrows. Or, the r•…•…der of wrath, thou shalt gird thy self with, (i. e.) Put it on as an Ornament, which the Girdle was; thou shalt adorn▪ thy self with it, as a Conqueror doth with the spoils of his Enemies.
• z 1.26

  Vow a Sacrifice of Thanksgiving; Either, at this time, for this wonderful Deliverance: Or, hereafter in all your Future straits and Troubles, let this Experience encourage you to make such Vows to God, with Confidence of Success.
• a 1.27

  But when God hath accepted your Vows, and given you the desired Deliverance, forget not to pay your Vows.
• b 1.28

  Ei∣ther, 1. All the Tribes of Israel, who have the Benefit of this Mercy. Or rather, 2. All the neighbouring Nations on e∣very side, to whom the same of this mighty work of God shall come, I advise them for the Future, if they love themselves, to cease from all Hostilities against God, or his People, and to submit themselves to the God of Israel.
• † 1.29

  Heb. to the fear. Gen. 31. 42. 53▪
• c 1.30

  Whom though they do not love, yet they see and feel, that they have great reason to Fear and to seek his Favour.
• d 1.31

  As men do their Grapes in time of Vintage, as the He∣brew Verb implies, to wit, suddenly, violently and irresisti∣bly. This is all which they shall get by opposing him; and therefore it is their Wisdom to bring Presents to him.
• e 1.32

  Ei∣ther, 1. Their Courage. Or rather, 2. Their Breath and Life, as he did in the Assyrian Army.