The booke of Psalmes, Englished both in prose and metre with annotations, opening the words and sentences, by conference with other Scriptures / by Henry Ainsworth.

Annotations, Psalm CXXXVII.

Vers. 1. BAbel] or Babylon, the chief citie in Chaldea, or land of Shinar, where Nimrod the mighty hunter (the son of Cush, the son of Ham,) began his reign, called therefore his land; Gen. 10.9.10. Mich. 5.6. There in a plain, the people were building a citie and towre whose top mought reach to heaven: but God con∣founded their language, so the building ceased; whereupon it was called, Babel, that is, confusion; Gen. 11.1.2.4.8.9. Afterward, when Nebuchadnezar reigned there, it was the cheifest citie in the world for luxurie, cruelty, idolatrie, and other sinns, (so that Shinar is noted for the land and seat of Wickednes, Zach. 5.8.11. and Babylon is a type of the citie and seat of Antichrist, Rev. 17.1-5.) In this citie and countrie were the Jewes captives 70. yeres, Ier. 25.11.12. Jerusalem and the temple being burned, 2 King. 25.8.9.10.11. In that captivy, they lamented as in this psalm is shewed.

Vers. 3. words of song] that is songs: so, words of marvails, Psal. 145, 5. mirth] understand againe, they asked of us mirth; or, words of meriment.

Vers. 4. land of a stranger] or, land of alienation, that is, a strange land; or of a strange God, or people.

Vers. 5. hand forget,] to weet, her cunning, some such word is often understood, in defective passionate speeches. See Psal. 103.9.

V. 6. to my palat] or, to the roof of my mouth: that is, let me be speechlesse, as Ezek. 3.26. Iob 29.10. preferr] or, make to ascend. the head] that is, the cheifest.

Vers. 7. unto the soons of Aedom] that is, against the Aedomites: see the like speech in a contrary sense, Psal. 132.1. Of Aedom, see Psalm 60.10. and 83.7. the day] that is, the calamitous time: see the note on Psal. 37.13. rase] or powr out, empty, (as the Greek also turneth it) that is, destroy, and leave it bare. See this word, Psalm 141.8. The Aedomites being alwayes enemies to their brother Israel, rejoyced at his ruine, and helped forward his destruction: for which they are menaced by the pro∣phet, Obad. 1.12.13.14. &c.

Vers. 8. Daughter] that is, Congregation, or Common wealth: see Psalm 9.15. wasted] that is, worthy to be wasted; as praised, Psal. 18.4. is praise-worthy. Or, that shall be washed, as, is born, Isa 9.6. for, shall be born: because God had so certainly

promised, Ier. 50, and 51, or, the waster, to weet, of others. thy reward] or, thy evill deed: see Psal. 13, 6. where it is contrarily used for a good-deed. Compare here∣with Ier. 50, 29. Reve. 18, 6.

Vers. 9. the Rock] that is, rocks, or stones: compare Isa. 13, 16.