Annotations on Psal. VIII.

[ a] Tit. Gittith.] The Titles of the Psalms are known to have great difficulty in them, and accordingly the explications must be very uncertain. Many of them refer to the names of instruments; and divers of those may well be unknown to us. Besides, the names and titles of such kind of composures, as they are very various in all languages, so are they inexplicable to all those that are not acquainted fa∣miliarly with the Poetry and Musick of each Nation. The several sorts of matter give several names to Poesies; as Panegyrick, Elegy, Hymn, and Anthem, &c. The particular matters do so in like manner; as on Cush the Benjamite, or when he fled from Absa∣lom, &c. So again the occasions or seasons for which they were provided to be sung.

Next, the measure of the verse is considerable, from whence it is an Ode, an Epode, &c. So the Mood, either Dorick, or Ionick, &c. among the Graecians; a Pavin, or Almain, &c. among us: So the key, a song in Gammut, in D Sol Re, and the like: And lastly the tune, of which there be innu∣merable names taken from the first known Ditty, that was set to each. This shews us in general how dif∣ficult, or rather impossible it must be, for those that are not acquainted with the Hebrew Poetry or Musick (of which we have now small remainders) to pass any certain judgment on those things which wholly depend on this. Accordingly so it is in the parti∣cular now before us,* what is the meaning of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 here, and in some other places: The Chaldee on one side, and the LXXII. and those that follow them on the other side, have pitcht on very distant rendrings of it. The Hebrew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifies a winepress, and from thence the LXXII. and Latine and Aethio∣pick have their version, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, pro torculari∣bus, for the winepresses; as if this Psalm of Thanks∣giving were appointed to be used peculiarly in the Vintage, as a time wherein Gods mercy to man in the fruits of the earth were to be acknowledged, and from thence, by way of ascent of the soul, his other sublimer mercies, which with the eye of faith and prophecy David saw afar off, under the times of the Gospel. But the same 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉Gath is also the name of a City of the Philistims, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉Gittite, a man of that City, and from thence the Chaldee deduceth the word, and renders it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. This is ordinarily rendred cithara quam attulit de Gath, a Musical instrument which he brought from Gath. But of any such we find no mention elsewhere in Scrip∣ture, nor the least ground of suspicion among their writings, that Gittith should be the name of an In∣strument. Kimchi, that recites the names of them, hath another notion of this. It will therefore be the more pardonable boldness to propose a slight conjecture on this paraphrase of the Chaldee; viz. that the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 may have been by the Tran∣scriber lightly varied from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a strong man, or gyant. Thus we have in the Targum 2 Sam. 21.20. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉a gyant of Gath. And then why should not the whole Paraphrase of the Chaldee 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 be rendered, the gyant (i. e. Go∣liah) which was of Gath, or from Gath? However thus much we have gained from their Paraphrase, that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 may signifie that or him, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that was from Gath; and then sure we may thus safely interpret 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, viz. that this Psalm was made on▪ Goliah the Philistim of Gath, or Goliah the Git∣tite, 2 Sam. 21.19. and 1 Chron. 20.5. set here without name, or 〈◊〉he that was from Gath] (though composed some time after Davids incounter with him, and victory over him) that mighty Gyant that proudly and scornfully defied all the host of Israel. And to this the Psalm at least in some part seems to belong, being a meditation of Gods power and wisdom, in subduing the proud by weak despised Instruments, Children and Sucklings, as it were; and this enlarged, and farther considered and observed both in Gods dealing toward man∣kind in general, and toward particular men, to∣ward young David at this time, and toward Christ in his state of exinanition. Against this conjecture 'twill be obvious to object, 1. That two other Psalms, LXXXI. and LXXXIV. are also intituled 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉upon Gittith, and yet are not either of them applyable to this matter of Goliah the Git∣tite; and 2. That there also the Chaldee Paraphrase is the same; and 3. That as there we read 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉cithara, so 'tis ordinarily resolved by Lexicographers, that Gittith was a Musical Instrument, and that so called from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉a Winepress, because it was used to be played on in the time of Vintage, which was a Festival time. To all this I have but one thing to say, viz. That the learned Hebrews, that set down the Musick of the Antients, do not set down Gittith for an Instrument, but much otherwise. Witness Kimchi, before named, on the third Psalm; where having once for all, set down the Instruments of the Jewish Musick, that were used in the House of the Sanctuary, Cymbals, Cornets, Trumpets, &c. he adds, that these Musical Instruments were divided in∣to Melodies, which were known among them, i. e. there were several tunes well known among the Jews, that were skilful in that art, (to which they plaid on these Instruments) and Gittith was one of them. Here now is evidently a great difference betwixt these Instruments themselves, and the seve∣ral Melodies or Tunes that they plaid upon them; and Gittith is with him expresly the name of a Tune, and not, as was supposed from the Chaldee, an Instrument brought from Gath. Now of Tunes it is well enough known, that they take their names from the Songs which were first composed to that Tune, sometimes from the matter of the Song, and sometimes also from the first words, or else from some principal words in it. And if so, then why may not this eighth Psalm be the first which was made to this Tune, and from the matter of it be here inscribed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉upon the Gittite, or Phili∣stime of Gath; and then all other Psalms, afterward set to that tune, called after the name of the first, and so the Lxxxi. and Lxxxiv. be inscribed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to signifie them to be set to the same tune with this, which was made on Goliah the Gittite? If there be small probability in this, it remains that we return to that which was first said, that the difficulties of this kind are inexplicable. And this may stop, though not satisfie, our curiosities.

[ b] Page  27*V. 3. When I consider.] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in this place is by the Chaldee rendred 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉because or for, and by the LXXII. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because, and so in the rest of the Anti∣ent Interpreters, this being the most frequent use of it. Yet 'tis certain the Hebrew particle hath four significations; and in one of them denotes a con∣dition (and is best rendred If) and also time, and is fully rendred, when. So Gen. iv.12. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Chal∣dee read 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉if, or, when thou tillest the ground; and so 2 Sam. 7.1. It came to pass 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 when the King sat in his house, for which 1 Chron. 17.1. they read 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and we render, as, i. e. when he sate. And thus the context inclines it here, When I consider— What is Man.— i. e. I have then by that con∣sideration all reason to cry out by way of admi∣ration, What is man—And thus the Jewish Arabick Translation renders it, When I see the heavens, &c. I say, What is Man—