Bible Commentaries

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

Psalms 144

Verses 1-15

CXLIV. Ascribed by LXX and also by T. "to David against Goliath," but without any shadow of reason.

Psalms 144:1-11 is really a mosaic chiefly taken from Psalms 18, but also from Psalms 8, 33, 104. It is a song of anticipated triumph. The Psalmist is in conflict with foreign enemies ("strangers" (Psalms 144:7) can only mean foreigners). God teaches his fingers to fight, for it is the fingers which grasp the bow and subdue "peoples" (not "my people") under him. He prays that a display in storm and lightning may discomfit his foes. They can be bound by no treaty, for the right hand (Psalms 144:8), which is raised in taking an oath, is false and treacherous. But the Psalmist's triumph is secure. "David" (Psalms 144:10) is an erroneous gloss on "his servant."

Psalms 144:12-15 is a Ps., or more probably the fragment of a Ps., describing the blessed lot of Yahweh's people. Observe that the blessing is wholly material. "When" (Psalms 144:12) has in Heb. no intelligible meaning, and may have belonged to the original continuation of Psalms 144:1-11. The daughters of the Jews in Psalms 144:12 are compared, according to one interpretation with "corner pillars carved after the fashion of a palace." But there is no authority for the rendering "pillars," and it is unlikely that the Psalmist knew anything of Caryatides.

Comments



Back to Top

Comments

No comments yet. Be the first!

Add Comment

* Required information
Powered by Commentics
Back to Top