Annotations on Psalm LXXXIV.

[ a] *V. 3. Cryeth out] From 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉to cry aloud, vociferate, or jubilate, is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 here, and it is used either for grief, but especially for joy and exultation: the LXXII. fitly render it by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, exceeding joy. And be∣ing here joyned with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉to, it hath a special nota∣tion, such as is taken from the custom of Mariners, or Soldiers, or husbandmen; the first of which when they loose from land into the ocean, set sail with a shout; the second when they assault their enemies, in∣courage one another with a shout, when they have gotten the victory, express their joy with a shout; the third when they conclude their harvest, do it with a shout, called therefore proverbially (Isa. 9.3.) the joy in harvest: And so when they went up to the feasts at Jerusalem, they went with an holy jubilation, or shout. And this seems to be the full importance of the phrase in this place, My heart and my flesh, my rational, and even carnal sensitive faculties shout to the living God, are ardently desirous of thus going up to the Sanctuary, are ready with their 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ovations, and vociferations (when they be allowed that favour) to go up to the presence of this living God, the joy of their very life, whose gratious assistance and exhibition of himself is the only tenure they have in all kind of prosperity.

[ b] *V. 5. Hearts] The difficulties of this verse may possibly be removed by remembring the notion of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, not only for the heart, but by meta∣phor (being oft applyed to those things that have no heart) for the middle. So 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉Jon. 2.3. not into the heart, but the midst of the Seas. So Deut. 4.11. the mountain burnt with fire to the〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (not heart, but) midst of heaven, 2 Sam. 18.14. Absolom was a∣live 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in the midst of the Oake. So Jer. 51.1. inha∣bitants of the〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (not heart, but) midst of them that rise up against me. And if 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 may thus,* with the learned Grotius, be rendred here in the midst of them, then the passage will be clear, Blessed is the man〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,* literally strength, or (as the LXXII. and Sy∣riack and Latine 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉—) help to him in thee, i. e. which hath in thee strength, help, or protection, be∣ing allowed liberty (as the former part of the Psalm determins the sense) to resort to Gods Sanctuary, which is sometimes called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and from whence that protection and aid in all exigencies may be had. Then follows to the same sense 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉paths,* or highwayes, fosseways, or causeys (from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉to raise, or pave a way with stone) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ascents, i. e. wayes of going up to the Sanctuary, in the midst of them, i. e. who have such highways, free liberty to go up to the holy assembly in the midst of them; or (if 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 must signifie their hearts) who take care and look to the maintenance of these causeys, in order to the sacred assemblies, which they that are deprived of that pri∣viledge of going up to them most sadly bemoan the want of. When Jerusalem became the Metropolis of Judaea, the roads to it, upon civil grounds, were to be made large and passable; but when the Temple was built there, and by the Law the whole nation obliged thrice every year to resort thither, this was now, upon weightier reasons, to be provided for. Especially considering that Judaea was a mountai∣nous, uneven Countrey, where the brooks in the valleys upon any fall of rain were apt to swell, so as to be hardly passable. And therefore among the causes for a 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉intercalation of a month, and al∣teration of the seasons of the festivals thereby, the chief that are set down by †Maimonides, are 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉because 〈◊〉 wayes, (when in respect of them occasion requires it,) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉and be∣cause of the bridges. And the same Maimonides tells us, Hilch. Roths. c. 8. that for the maintenance of the wayes every year at the 15. of the Month Adar, Com∣missioners were sent out to look to the repairs of bridges, causeys, &c. This makes it not unreasonable to sup∣pose that the wayes to the Temple should here be mentioned, in reference to those sacred solemnities, as when Lam. 1.4. 'tis said, The wayes of Zion mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts. And then as it is a felicity to have the use of these wayes, so must it also have been an act of piety in any to take care of them, that they might be serviceable to this end, for themselves and others. And to this purpose also the next verse will be best interpreted: see note c. Abu Walid seems to take 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for strengths, and in∣terprets it of strong and firm resolutions. Kimchi in his roots renders it high praises. The Jewish Arab expresses the whole passage by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉whose hearts are sincere.

6. Valley of Bacha] From 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉flevit, [ c] is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 weep∣ing, and in Arabick 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. And from this notion of the word the LXXII. read 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the valley of weeping, and the Vulgar, Lachrymarum, of tears; and the Chaldee seems to follow that sense. Our later interpreters here make use of the notion 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for a Mulberry-tree (and the Jewish Arab tel∣ling us in a note that it is a valley in Syria Damasce∣na, yet renders it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as much as to say,* the valley of Plumb-trees) so 2 Sam. v. 23. over against 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the mulberry-trees; and so again, v. 24. where the Chaldee reads 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉trees. The use of the word must probably be deduced from the sort of the soile where mulberry-trees grow. For of them it is obser∣vable that they use to grow (not in dry and water∣less soils, as vulgar Interpreters would fansy, but) pe∣culiarly in low grounds or valleys (non temere in mon∣tibus, saith Pliny, l. 16. c. 18.) in a fat and moist soile, say the Herbalists. And so, if that were the rendring here, the passing through the mulberry valley would fit∣ly signifie passing through a low and wet and moist place, which according to the notion of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is by us called, a weeping ground. The Syriack here read, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which will best be rendred, they passed through, or by, or into profound weep∣ing; yet thereby meaning not tears from mens eyes, so probably as waters overflowing the ground by Page  242 which they past, for so Job. 28.11. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉he bindeth the floods from weeping, is by us duly rendred from overflowing. So again, Job. 38.16. we have 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (from the same theme) the Interlinear reads fle∣tus maris, the weeping of the sea: It signifies most pro∣bably the waters that distill from thence (as tears from the eyes) and pass by secret meatus in the earth. The LXXII. reads 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the spring of the sea. And then by analogy with these, we shall best render the Hebrew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉through the valley of weeping, or the moist and weeping valley. And to make or turne that into a spring (so 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifies,*they make it a well, or turn it into a spring) is by casting up earth and trenching it (as the Fens with us are drain∣ed) to render it a spring, the water whereof having gained a regular course, becomes a stream, passable in the deep of winter, when, as here it follows, the rain covers or fills the pools. So those words will best be ren∣dred 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉yea,* or though, or even where the rain covers the pools. The ambiguity of the words 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 have caused very various ren∣drings of these words. But as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 from one notion of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in Hiphil, for teaching, signifies a law-giver, and so is by the LXXII. rendred 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, so from ano∣ther notion of it for watering, it certainly signifies rain, so Joel 2.23. he will give 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉the rain, and again, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the early and latter rain; and so in proportion with the valley, and the weeping, or wateriness forego∣ing, it must be thought to signifie here. And so like∣wise as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉benedixit,* signifies benediction, and is rendred by the LXXII. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, blessing; so not only the Chaldee 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but with the same points as here, the Hebrew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is used for a pool, Jud. 1.15. give me〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 not a blessing, but the pool, for thou hast given me a south land, or dry land; and so it there expresly follows, give me also 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 springs of wa∣ters. And so this well connects with the former part of this verse, they shall make the mulberry-valley, or weeping-valley a spring, drain it and make it passable in a channel or water-course, and that even after the fall of the greatest rains, when the pools are swolne and fill'd highest; this being the benefit of the fosse-ways, forementioned, v. 5. This is the most probable inter∣pretation of the verse, in perfect accord with the for∣mer, and the design of the Psalm in magnifying the fe∣licities of those that are allowed the liberty of the sacred assemblies at Jerusalem. And to the same sense follows in the next verse,*〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉they shall walk or proceed from valley to valley (so 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifies 1 King. 21.23. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉in the valley of Jezreel: so in the Targum, Isa. 28.2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉the valley of fatness) or perhaps from trench to trench (for so 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,*Psal. 122.7. is rendred by the Interlinear, in antemurali tuo, in thy trench, without the wall: so Lam. 2.8. Nahum. 3.8.) expressing the convenience of their journey through all those most suspected, and naturally im∣passable places, by the help of trenches, or by means of these fosse-ways,* till at length 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉the God of Gods shall appear, or be seen, or beheld in Si∣on, i. e. shall shew or reveal himself gratiously to them there; or as Jehovah jire signifies, Gen. 22.8. shall pro∣vide, and take care of them, as he will be sure to do of all faithful servants of his, that address themselves to him there, in his Temple or Sanctuary.

[ d] V. 11. *Door-keeper] From 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉threshold is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉to sit, or ly at, or on the threshold, when one is not admitted into the house, in a vile and abject condition. The LXXII. here renders 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to be cast down in the house of God, to lie as a Lazar at the door, or as the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in the antient Church, which lay prostrate without the door of the Church, to beseech the prayers of them that enter there, being them∣selves unworthy to be admitted thither. The Tar∣gum reads 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉to cleave to the house, i. e. to lie fastened to the door of the house, which is not the office of the Nethinim or door-keepers, that were admitted in, but the condition of the vilest person that is shut out of the Temple, only is admitted to lie and beg mercy at the entrance into it. And this the Psalmist much prefers before any the most flou∣rishing worldly condition of those that are kept at a greater distance from it.