Psalms 74:5-6. A man was famous, &c.— They shew themselves as one lifts up axes an high, in the thicket of the trees. Psalms 74:6. But now, &c. Houbigant renders it in the perfect tense; and, instead of the carved work thereof, reads, thy gates. But now they have broken down thy gates. read more
5, 6. Though some terms and clauses here are very obscure, the general sense is that the spoilers destroyed the beauties of the temple with the violence of woodmen. was famous—literally, "was known." read more
Psalms 74The writer appears to have written this communal lament psalm after one of Israel’s enemies destroyed the sanctuary. [Note: See Ralph W. Klein, Israel in Exile: A Theological Interpretation, pp. 19-20.] The Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 586 B.C. may therefore be the background. The writer asked the Lord to remember His people and defeat her enemies, as He had in the past, for His own glory (cf. Psalms 79; Psalms 137; Lam.)."The temple has been violated. The key... read more
2. A lament over the enemy’s destruction 74:3-9 read more
These descriptions of the destruction also picture a complete devastation of the sanctuary as the last of God’s successive meeting places (Psalms 74:8; cf. Exodus 20:24; Psalms 78:60-64). read more
Psalms 74, 79 seem to reflect the same historical situation, and are usually ascribed to the same author. Both were written in a time of national calamity, when the Temple was profaned (Psalms 74), and the Israelites ruthlessly slaughtered (Psalms 79) by a heathen enemy. The occasion described must have been either the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadrezzar’s army (586 b.c., 2 Kings 24; 2 Chronicles 36:11 f; Jeremiah 39:1-8; Jeremiah 52:1-4), or the persecution of the Jews by Antiochus... read more
(5) The Authorised Version, with the ancient versions, has entirely mistaken the meaning of this verse, though, unlike the LXX. and Vulgate, it has the merit of being intelligible. Literally the words run, he (or it) is known like one causing to come in on high against the thicket of trees axes, which is generally understood, it seems as if men were lifting up axes against a thicket of trees. The ruthless destroyers go to work like woodcutters in a forest—the carved pillars are no more than so... read more
Psalms 74:1-23Two periods only correspond to the circumstances described in this psalm and its companion (Psalms 79:1-13)-namely, the Chaldean invasion and sack of Jerusalem, and the persecution under Antiochus Epiphanes. The general situation outlined in the psalm fits either of these; but, of its details, some are more applicable to the former and others to the later period. The later date is strongly supported by such complaints as those of the cessation of prophecy (Psalms 74:9), the... read more
Psalms 74:0 The Enemy in the Sanctuary 1. The Prayer on account of the enemy (Psalms 74:1-3 ) 2. The work of the enemy (Psalms 74:4-9 ) 3. Intercession for intervention (Psalms 74:10-23 ) This is a Psalm for instruction, a Maschil Psalm. The enemy is seen in the sanctuary. This has been applied to the defilement of the temple by Antiochus Epiphanes, but prophetically it rather refers to that end-time, when the enemy will defile the temple with the abomination of desolation (Matthew 24:15... read more
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Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Psalms 74:5
"They seemed as men that lifted upAxes upon a thicket of trees.And now all the carved work thereofThey brake down with hatchet and hammers."These verses describe the destruction of the holy temple itself. The conquering enemy soldiers assaulted the sanctuary just like a company of woodsmen chopping down a grove of trees. "The interior walls of Solomon's Temple were paneled with cedar and decorated with carvings of cherubim, palm trees and flowers."[6] It was more than the mere instinct of... read more