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134, l. 26. 102 for 104.

151, 1. 6. 2 for 1.

152, 1. 5. § 1 for § 35.

173, 1. 18. Add cf. 2510 7856 935 997 132. These with pl. forms in 119 usually derived from []; but Mas. pointing is artificial; v. BDB.

174, l. 16. Before 11 insert: Elsw. 4 [] Qal be justified by acquittal 1432 Is. 4326; be just, of God 51o, Hiph., do justice 823. 228, 1. 37. D for

D.

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A COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF

PSALMS.

A COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF

PSALMS.

PSALM LI., 4 STR. 103.

Ps. 51 is a penitential prayer of the congregation in the time of Nehemiah: (1) Petition that Yahweh in His kindness will cleanse His people from sin (v.4), who confess it in vindication of His just judgment (v.). (2) The sin goes back to the origin of the nation, in antithesis with the faithfulness in which Yahweh delights (v.7-9); cleansing alone will give joy (v.1). (3) Petition for renewal of heart, the continued presence of the Holy Spirit, and the joy of salvation (v.12-14); with a vow to teach the divine ways and praise His righteousness (v.15-16). (4) The sacrifices of Yahweh are the praises of a contrite spirit (v.17-19). The final petition is that He will rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and accept the sacrifices there (v.20-21).

BE gracious to me (Yahweh), according to Thy kindness;
According to Thy compassion blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity,

And purify me from my sin.

For my transgressions I am knowing,

And my sin is before me continually.

Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned,

And the evil in Thine eyes have I done;

That Thou mightest be just in Thy (words),

(That) Thou mightest be clear when Thou judgest.

BEHOLD in iniquity I was brought forth,

And in sin did my mother conceive me.

Behold in faithfulness Thou dost delight;

The confidence of wisdom Thou makest me know.

Cleanse me from sin with hyssop, and I shall be pure;

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness,

The bones which Thou hast crushed will exult.

Hide Thy face from my sins.

And all mine iniquities blot out.

THE heart into a pure one transform for me,

The spirit into a steadfast one renew.
Cast me not away from Thy presence,
And Thy holy Spirit take not away.
Restore the joy of Thy salvation,
And with the princely Spirit uphold me.
I will teach transgressors Thy ways,

And sinners unto Thee will return.
Deliver me from bloodshed (Yahweh).
My tongue will ring out Thy righteousness.

LORD, my lips mayest Thou open;

And my mouth will declare Thy praise;
For Thou delightest not in peace-offering,

In whole burnt-offering Thou takest no pleasure:
Sacrifices of a broken spirit,

A heart crushed, Thou wilt not despise.

O do good in Thy good pleasure unto Zion;

Mayest Thou rebuild the walls of Jerusalem:

Then wilt Thou delight in peace-offering and whole burnt-offering;
Then will they offer bullocks on Thine altar.

Ps. 51 was in and M, then in E and DK (v. Intr. §§ 27, 32, 33). The historical allusion was already attached to the Ps. in as a conjectural illustrative situation, but without historical value. It is impossible to adjust the Ps. to the situation. The language is related chiefly to Literature of the Exile or early Restoration. (1) Is.1.2 seem to have been chiefly in mind: (a) in the conception of the purification of the nation's sins v.3.4.9; cf. Is.118, the use of n Is. 4325 4422, da for the person Je. 222 414, Je. 338 Ez. 363 3728 Mal. 33. The vb. n for purification from sin is elsw. only in P when applied to the person, but is in Ez. when applied to the altar. It does not therefore necessarily imply P. 28 is used in J as well as P, and was doubtless ancient. (b) For the personal experience of v.5, cf. Is. 5912. (c) andwi pwv v.10, cf. Is. 2218 3510 518. 11. (d) wap nin v.18, elsw. only Is. 6310. 11. (e) For the bruised spirit v.19, cf. Is. 662. (ƒ) For the son of the mother v.7, cf. the sin of the first father Is. 4327 and of Zion the mother 541-8. (2) Other linguistic traces are: v.21, an early syn. of a, cf. Dt. 3310 1 S. 79; on v.7, for conception, cf. Gn. 3041 311o (E). (3) Evidences of later date are: v.14, cf. Ex. 355. 22 (P); but see Ps. 1103, also mv. 12 578.8 1082; v.6 is prob. earlier than 1910, which agrees with it in use of Qal of p3. (4) The only substantial evidences of very late date are: n v.8, cf. Jh. 3836, but prob. txt. err., explained by □-□, prob. gl. The Ps. in its theology depends on the postexilic sections of Is.2, and in its deep penitence represents the spirit of the people of the Restoration in the time of Nehemiah. The prayer for rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem was probably real and not ideal, and indicates that the author was one of the companions of Nehemiah in the great effort to give the city walls.

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