Psalm 45

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:8

All thy garments smell of myrrh - The Asiatics are very partial to perfumes; every thing with them is perfumed, and especially their garments. And the ivory palaces mentioned are the wardrobes inlaid with ivory, in which their numerous changes of raiment were deposited. Myrrh and aloes are well known; cassia is probably the bark or wood of the cinnamon tree. These with frankincense, galbanum and other odoriferous drugs, were and are frequently used in the perfumes of the Asiatic nations. ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:9

Kings' daughters were among - Applied to Solomon, these words have no difficulty. We know he had seven hundred wives, princesses; and the mention of those here may be intended only to show how highly respected he was among the neighboring sovereigns, when they cheerfully gave him their daughters to constitute his harem. If we apply it to Solomon's marriage with the daughter of the king of Egypt, it may signify no more than the princesses and ladies of honor who accompanied her to the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:10

Hearken. O daughter, and consider - This is the beginning of the address by the companions of the bride to their mistress; after having, in the preceding verses, addressed the bridegroom; or, rather, given a description of his person, qualities, and magnificence. Suppose the daughter of Pharaoh to be intended, the words import: Thou art now become the spouse of the most magnificent monarch in the universe. To thee he must be all in all. Forget therefore thy own people - the Egyptians, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:12

The daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift - The Tyrians shall pay tribute to thy spouse, and assist him in all his grand and magnificent operations. As, at this time, Tyre was the greatest maritime and commercial city in the world, it may be here taken as representing those places which lay on the coasts of the sea, and carried on much traffic such as parts of Syria, Egypt, Asia Minor, Greece, Italy, France, the British Isles, etc., which first received the Gospel of Christ and were... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:13

The king's daughter is all glorious within - This, in some sense, may be spoken of Solomon's bride, the daughter of the king of Egypt; and then the expression may refer either to the cultivation of her mind, or the ornaments and splendor of her palace. The Asiatic queens, sultanas, and begums, scarcely ever appear in public. They abide in the harem in the greatest luxury and splendor; and to this, as its literal meaning, the text may possibly refer. Her clothing is of wrought gold - Of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:14

She shall be brought unto the king - When an Asiatic princess is brought to her spouse, she is inclosed in a palakee, and no part of her person is visible. She is attended by her principal friends and companions, who follow the palakee, and the ceremony is accompanied with great rejoicing; and thus they enter into the palace of the king. This part of this parabolical Psalm may refer to the glories of a future state. The Christian Church shall be brought to the King eternal in the great... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:16

Instead of thy fathers shalt be thy children - This is the third part, or prophetic declaration relative to the numerous and powerful issue of this marriage. Instead of the kindred, which thou hast left behind in Egypt, thou shalt have numerous children. This cannot refer either to Solomon, or to the daughter of Pharaoh; for there is no evidence that he ever had a child by Pharaoh's daughter; and it is very certain that Rehoboam, Solomon's successor, was not son to the daughter of Pharaoh;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:17

Therefore shall the people praise thee - They shall magnify the heavenly Bridegroom, and sing the wonderful displays of his love to the Church, his spouse. And the constant use of this Psalm in the Christian Church is a literal fulfillment of the prophecy. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:1

Verse 1 1My heart is boiling over (157) with a good matter This preface shows sufficiently that the subject of the psalm is no common one; for whoever the author of it may have been, he here intimates, at the very outset, that he will treat of great and glorious things. The Holy Spirit is not accustomed to inspire the servants of God to utter great swelling words, and to pour forth empty sounds into the air; and, therefore, we may naturally conclude, that the subject here treated of is not... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:2

Verse 2 2.Thou art fairer than the sons of men. The Psalmist commences his subject with the commendation of the beauty of the king, and then he proceeds also to praise his eloquence. Personal excellence is ascribed to the king, not that the beauty of the countenance, which of itself is not reckoned among the number of the virtues, ought to be very highly valued; but because a noble disposition of mind often shines forth in the very countenance of a man. This may have been the case with Solomon,... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:17

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:2

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