Psalms 80:2. Before Ephraim, &c.— That is, before all the tribes; in the face of all the people assembled at Jerusalem. These three in some sense included the whole; Benjamin being incorporated with Judah; Manasseh comprehending the country beyond Jordan, and Ephraim all the rest. Mudge. read more
Psalms 80:3. Turn us again, O God— There are evidently four parts in this psalm; all of which conclude with this verse, or with one varying very little from it. In the first, the Psalmist intreats God to assist them, as he formerly did their forefathers. In the second, he beseeches him to have compassion upon their miserable condition. In the third, not to forsake those now, for whom he had already done so much: and the fourth concludes with a prayer for their king, and a promise of future... read more
2. Before Ephraim, c.—These tribes marched next the ark ( :-). The name of Benjamin may be introduced merely in allusion to that fact, and not because that tribe was identified with Israel in the schism ( :- compare also :-). read more
3. Turn us—that is, from captivity. thy face to shine— ( :-). read more
The psalmist appealed to Yahweh as the Shepherd of His people Israel (cf. Psalms 23:1; Psalms 28:9); "shepherd" was a common title of the king in the ancient Near East (cf. Psalms 78:71). He also referred to Him as sitting enthroned above the cherubim in the temple (cf. Psalms 99:1). Ephraim was the leading tribe in the north and Benjamin was the leader in the south. Manasseh was the leader in Transjordan in the east. read more
1. An appeal to Israel’s Shepherd 80:1-3 read more
Psalms 80Again Asaph called on God to deliver and restore Israel. The nation was downtrodden and needed Yahweh’s salvation. This community lament psalm is unusual because of the figure the psalmist used to describe Israel. He pictured the nation as a grape vine (Psalms 80:8-16). The fall of Samaria in 722 B.C. may be in view. [Note: Kidner, Psalms 73-150, p. 288.] Psalms 77, 81 also lament the destruction of Samaria, the former capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel."Except for the books of... read more
This cry for restoration is a refrain that the writer also used in Psalms 80:7; Psalms 80:19. The figure of the face shining on another suggests favorable inclination toward that one (cf. Psalms 4:6; Numbers 6:25). read more
This Ps. is an appeal to God to save His people from the adversities that have come upon them, and have made them the laughing stock of their enemies (Psalms 80:1-7). Their past history is recalled under the figure of a vine, once flourishing, but now wasted by wild beasts and fire (Psalms 80:8-16). Special prominence is given to the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin (Psalms 80:2). The Ps. was probably written at least after the fall of the northern kingdom (721 b.c., 2 Kings 17:5-6; 2... read more
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E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Psalms 80:3
Turn us again. Figure of speech Cycloides ( App-6 ) governing the Structure. Compare verses: Psalms 80:7 , Psalms 80:19 . Not from captivity, but from idolatry to the true worship. God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 . Note the significant order: Psalms 80:3 , "O God"; Psalms 80:7 , "O God of hosts"; Psalms 80:19 , "0 Jehovah, God of hosts". This Divine order rebukes our own loose use of the Divine titles; and shows us the importance of noting their Divine use, not heeding modern hypotheses. read more