Psalm 76

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 76:2

(2) Salem.—The LXX. and Vulgate translate “his place was in peace,” and possibly the poet may use the word Salem with the thought in his mind of the peace won by God for Judah, or, again, it may be only a poet’s preference for an ancient over a modern name; but the identification of the Salem of Genesis 14:18 with Jerusalem is too doubtful to allow much weight to this view. (See the whole question discussed in Sir G. Grove’s article on “Salem,” in Smith’s Bibl. Dict.)Tabernacle . . .... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 76:3

(3) There.—This word in Psalms 14:5 does not appear to have a strictly definite local sense; and here may refer to time, possibly to some event, which we are not able with certainty to recover.Arrows.—Literally, flashes. (See Note, Song of Solomon 8:6.) The image may be derived from the lightning speed of the flight of arrows, or from the custom of shooting bolts tipped with flame (see Note, Psalms 7:13), or the connection may be from the metaphor in Psalms 91:5-6, since the Hebrew word here... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 76:4

(4) Thou art . . .—Better, Splendid art thou, glorious one, from the mountains of prey. The construction is somewhat doubtful and favours Hupfeld’s emendation (nora, i.e., to be feared, as in verses 8 and 13, instead of noar, i.e., glorious). Certainly the comparative of the Authorised Version is to be abandoned. The poet’s thought plainly proceeds from the figure of Psalms 76:2. The mountains are the mountains of prey of the Lion of Judah. True, a different image, as so frequently in Hebrew... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 76:5

(5) Are spoiled.—Literally, have let themselves be spoiled. The picture is of men rendered powerless, at a glance, a word, from God.Slept their sleep.—Better, have sunk into a deep sleep.None of the men of might have found their hands.—This expression for powerlessness naturally grew into an idiom in a language that used the word hand as a synonym for strength. (Comp. Joshua 8:20, margin; Exodus 14:31, margin; Deuteronomy 32:36, margin.) Delitzsch quotes a Talmudic phrase, “We did not find our... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 76:6

(6) Are cast into a deep sleep.—The same Hebrew expression is used of Sisera’s profound slumber (Judges 4:21). Deborah’s Song and Exodus 15:0 are in the poet’s mind, as they were to the author of Isaiah 43:17, and as they have inspired the well-known lines of Byron’s “Sennacherib.” read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 76:9

(9) Of the earth.—Or, of the land. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 76:10

(10) Surely.—The text of this verse as it stands is unintelligible—“Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee;The residue of wrath Thou shalt gird Thyself with.”But the LXX. and Vulg. suggest the necessary emendation—“ Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee,And the residue of wraths do Thee honour,”where the residue of wrath, like Virgil’s reliquiœ Danaum (Æn. 1:30), means those that escape the enemies’ rage, i.e., the Israelites. Possibly we should render, “and those who remain from their... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 76:11

(11) Vow, and pay . . .—This clause seems to be addressed to the Israelites, the next to the heathen. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 76:12

(12) He shall cut off . . .—Literally, lop off, as a vinedresser prunes a vine. For the image see Joel 3:13; Isaiah 18:5; Revelation 14:17 seq.Spirit—i.e., the life. read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Psalms 76:1-12

Psalms 76:1 We call the Jews a people. What does this mean? It generally means a number of persons bound together by three things: by having one blood, one language, one land. Other bonds may usually come in, such as one set of customs, one law, one government, one religion. But the three I have mentioned are the most constant. I. First one blood. The Jews mixed wonderfully little with other people till quite late in history, and the family feeling was part of their religion. One of the names... read more

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 76:2

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 76:3

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 76:4

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 76:5

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 76:6

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 76:9

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 76:10

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 76:11

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 76:12

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Psalms 76:1-12

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