Psalm 81:4-5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 81:1-7

When the people of God were gathered together in the solemn day, the day of the feast of the Lord, they must be told that they had business to do, for we do not go to church to sleep nor to be idle; no, there is that which the duty of every day requires, work of the day, which is to be done in its day. And here, I. The worshippers of God are excited to their work, and are taught, by singing this psalm, to stir up both themselves and one another to it, Ps. 81:1-3. Our errand is, to give unto... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 81:4

For this was a statute for Israel ,.... It was not a piece of will worship, or device of the children of Israel, but was of divine institution; that the passover should be kept at the time it was; and that the trumpets should be blown on the new moon, or first of Tisri; and that the feast of tabernacles should be kept on the fifteenth of the same month: and a law of the God of Jacob ; and therefore to be observed by Jacob's posterity: the law for the one is in Exodus 12:18 and for the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 81:5

This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony ,.... That is, this law concerning the blowing of trumpets on the new moon, and the keeping the solemn feast at the full of the moon, was made to be observed by all Israel, who are meant by Joseph, for a testimony of God's good will to them, and of their duty and obedience to him: when he went out through the land of Egypt , or "over it" F2 בצאתו על ארץ "in ipsum exeundo", Montanus; "cum exiret ipse super terram", Pagninus. ; which... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 81:4

This was a statute for Israel - See the statute, Numbers 10:10 ; (note), and Leviticus 23:24 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 81:5

I heard a language I understood not - This passage is difficult. Who heard? And what was heard? All the Versions, except the Chaldee, read the pronoun in the third person, instead of the first. "He heard a language that he understood not." And to the Versions Kennicott reforms the text, ישמע ידעה לא שפת sephath lo yadah yisma ; "a language which he did not understand he heard." But what was that language? Some say the Egyptian; others, who take Joseph to signify the children of Israel in... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 81:4

Verse 4 4For this is a statute to Israel. To give the more effect to the preceding exhortation, it is here taught that this law or ordinance had been prescribed to God’s ancient people, for the purpose of ratifying the everlasting covenant. And as in covenants there is a mutual agreement between the parties, it is declared that this statute was given to Israel, and that God, in contracting, reserved this for himself, as a right to which he was justly entitled. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 81:5

Verse 5 5He set it for a testimony in Joseph. The Hebrew word עדוה , eduth, is by some derived from עדה , adah, which signifies to adorn; and they translate it the honor or ornament of Joseph. But it rather comes from the verb עוד , ud, to testify; and the scope of the passage requires that it should be translated a testimony or covenant. Farther, when Joseph is named in particular, there is a reference to the first original of the chosen people, when, after the death of Jacob, the twelve... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 81:1-16

Psalms 81:1-5 appear to be the preface of a song of thanksgiving, intended for public recitation at one of the great public festivals—either the Passover or the Feast of Tabernacles. Psalms 81:6-16 are part of a psalm of complaint, wherein God expostulates with his people. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 81:4

For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob; rather, this is a law (Kay, Cheyne, Revised Version). See the passages quoted in the preceding note. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 81:4

Authority in religion. "For this was a statute for Israel." Reference is directly to the "blowing up the trumpet in the new moon." However that might be done, because it was felt to be suitable, or because it was pleasant, it had to be done because it was required; and it would have to be done, whether men could recognize its suitability or not, whether men found it pleasant or not. There is authority in relation to religious observances; some persons more readily recognize and respond... read more

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