PSALM LXII., 2 STR. 26., RF. 26.

Ps. 62 is an expression of confidence in Yahweh only, by a man of position, in the time of Jeremiah (v.2-3.6-7). His false foes are only a wall about to fall; they are only taking counsel against him (v.4-5); they are only breath without real weight (v.1). Gnomic glosses exhort not to have confidence in extortion and wealth (v.11), and remind that strength and kindness belong to God (v.12-13a). Other glosses emphasize the several conceptions of the Ps. and adapt them to later circumstances (v.4a. 5b. 8-9.136) 136).

Only to (Yahweh) be still, my soul! from Him is my hope.

Only He is my rock and my salvation, my high tower; I shall not be moved.

(Only) a leaning wall, a bulging fence are all of (them).

Only consult do they to thrust (me) out from (my) dignity: they take pleasure in falsehood.

Only to (Yahweh) be still, my soul! from Him is my hope.

Only He is my rock and my salvation, my high tower; I shall not be moved. Only a breath are the sons of mankind, a falsehood the sons of men. (Only) to go up in the balances are they, made of breath altogether.

Ps. 62 was originally in D, then in M and E, and subsequently in DK, where it received the assignment (v. Intr. §§ 27, 31, 32, 33, 34). The original Ps. was composed of two hexameter couplets, v.4b-5a. 10, with Rf. v.2-3.6-7. These use terms of and give evidence of a preëxilic date, being characterised by calm confidence in Yahweh. The Ps. was originally personal, and the author's perils were from crafty personal foes, who strove to thrust him out of a position of dignity. There are two glosses from different hands, of the type of WL., both trimeter tetrast ichs, v.11. 12-13a. Other glosses are: a remonstrance addressed to enemies in 2d pl., v.4a; a description of the enemies as false friends, v.56; a reiteration of the thought of refuge in God, v.8; an exhortation to the whole congregation to trust in Him, a trimeter tristich not earlier than the Greek period, v.9; and a final statement of God's equitable requital of men, v.186. These glosses were added from time to time, in the various editings of the Ps.

The original Ps. was composed of two Strs., each of two couplets; the first couplet in both Strs. is an identical synth. Rf. of confidence in Yahweh, and the final couplets are syn. with each other but synth. in themselves, expressing contempt of the feeble, false foes.

Str. I. 2. Only], characteristic of the Ps. at the beginning of each of its lines; cf. Ps. 39; an emphatic restriction of the con

fidence to Yahweh alone, and antith. to the ability of his enemies to do him harm. The EV. as well as the ancient Vrss. differ greatly in rendering this particle in the several lines, sometimes using the asseverative "surely"; but a uniform rendering alone brings out the real power of the Ps.-be still]. The text of has the noun "silence," "resignation," here, and the imv. vb. v.6. Such a variation in Rf. is improbable. The imv. is better sustained. The soul in calm expectation waits for the divine interposition, cf. 377.—from Him is my hope], so v.; but here "salvation" in texts, assimilated to v.3. The use of "hope" in the original is more probable: "hope" for its object, the thing hoped for, deliverance from enemies.-3. He is my rock and my salvation; my high tower], terms familiar in 4, cf. 183, all emphasizing Yahweh as a refuge. I shall not be moved], also a familiar phr. for the firm, stable position of the one relying upon God, cf. 106 155 168 218 307+. A later editor inserted an enigmatical word, whether as a later form of the adv. greatly, to limit the statement, or as a liturgical exclamation, JPSV.-4. How long will you threaten a man ?]. Remonstrance with enemies, address in 2 pl. inconsistent with objective 3 pl. of original Ps. ; a late gloss. The vb. is a.λ. and dubious, and is variously rendered in Vrss.- to commit murder], so Ben Naphtali, 6, J, RV., which is to be preferred to "ye shall be slain," MT., AV., PBV., which depends upon close connection with the subsequent context. all of them], the enemies of v.5; changed into "all of you" in

by assimilation to previous context. Only has fallen out by mistake.—a leaning wall, a bulging fence]. The enemies are compared to a wall that leans over from its upright position, and therefore is in peril of falling down; and to a fence which has been pushed in, and so bulges and is unsafe. They are only such an unstable wall in antithesis to the psalmist's stability in confidence in his God.-5. From my dignity], so G, which is to be preferred to 3 sg. of MT.; both doubtless interpretations of a noun without sf. Only consult do they]. Their enmity amounts to nothing more than consulting together, making plans to thrust me out. It does not become effective in action, and therefore is not really disturbing. - they take pleasure in falsehood]. They delight in craft; they would be false to the psalmist, but really

they deceive themselves. A glossator explains this by inserting with their mouth they bless, but inwardly they curse.

Str. II. 6-7. The same Rf. as v.2-3 8. A gl. explaining further the Rf. Upon God depends my salvation and my glory]. The glory of the psalmist is the honour and dignity of his position, cf. v..—the rock of my strength], from which strength comes to help. — my refuge is in God], or as Hi., De., Kirk., interpret as essentiae," is God."-9 is also a gloss of exhortation to the late Jewish congregation, a trimeter tristich. Trust in Him, O whole congregation of the people], so 6, which is more probable than, "at every time, ye people."-pour out before Him your heart] in public worship, cf. 425 1021 1423.-10. Only a breath], nothing more substantial, are the sons of mankind, the common people of the enemies, as distinguished from the sons of men, their leaders, cf. 492, which latter are a falsehood to their followers, deceiving them and misleading them to no purpose. unsubstantial are they that when weighed in the balances they are without weight and have only to go up in the weightless scale. -made of breath altogether], the emphatic conclusion. They amount in the aggregate to nothing more than this. Thus the original Ps. reached its striking end. But later editors wished to give it another conclusion, and so in the times of Hebrew Wisdom they added two gnomes. 11. A trimeter tetrastich, Trust not in oppression], antith. the exhortation to trust in God, cf. v.9. and of robbery be not vain], become filled with unsubstantial, delusive hopes, be possessed of unsubstantial self-confidence, cf. Je. 2316.- Wealth, when it beareth fruit], in ill-gotten gains,— do not set the mind on it], as if it were of great value and to be depended upon for salvation. 12-13 a. Another trimeter tetrastich. One thing God spake]. These gnomes were regarded as divine in their origin, just as prophetic words and priestly laws. — Two things are there which I have heard], implying that God had indeed spoken the two things that follow. This method of numerical intensification is familiar in WL., v. Pr. 616 sq. 3015 sq... that strength belongeth unto God], that is the first thing, andthat to Adonay belongeth kindness], that is the second thing. It is improbable that in the original there was a change of subject to the 2d pers. The change was due probably to assimilation to

next clause, 13 b, which is a still later addition to the Ps. from the point of view of the Levitical Law (v. Rom. 26.).

2.

verses.

[אֶל

אלהים

] cf. v.3. 5. 6. 7. 10; asseverative, surely, De W., Hu., Bä.; always same, prob. only, Ki., Che., Dr., Kirk., Ges., Ew., Hi. The Vrss. vary in = v.6; latter required by measure in both. for original .—mpa] n.f. silence, resignation, dub. v. 223, p v., so here Bi., Gr., Che., Du., We., BDB.: Qal imv. 2 f. 007, v. 45. The variation is prob. due to an original p, the sf. afterward taking place of article. — › v.o, lacking here, is prob. gl. — nga] =p v., prob. originally the same, the former an assimilation to v.3.-3. man] used as adv. for nan 6510 (?) 1206 1234 1291. 2; not in v.7, dub. and late usage not suited to early Ps.; prob. gl. Phr. so common without it (v. 106) that change improb.

4.

be תהוללו .Hu

] Polel impf. 2 pl. ♫ shout at, threaten, BDB. si vera, so De., Du., Bä. Wetzstein, cf. Damascene Arab. n rush upon one with cries and raised fist, so MV. SS.; Ges. nnn attack. Form is unknown elsw. frantic against, cf. 1029; but 6 éπitídeode, Aq. èñɩßovλevere, I insidiamini, Σ μATALOTOVÝσETE. — ] Pu. impf. 2 pl. ñ3¬ murder, Ben Napht.

Pi., so 6, 3, Street, De., Bä., al. The absence of obj. is to be noticed. This whole clause is a gl.; change of subj. to 2d pers. from 3d pers. of Ps. — ] ↳ with sf. 2 m. pl., ☞ Távтes, but prob. ɔ in original. This begins third 1. of Str. and should have, which has fallen out by haplog.-] n.m. wall, as Nu. 2225 (J) 351 (P) +.—‡773] n.m. wall, fence, as 8013; but more prob. n.f., as 8941.-] ptc. pass. f. 77, pushed in. The article improb. after articleless n. The goes with previous word, as Ols., De., BDB.-5.] emph. in position, r n.f. exaltation, dignity, elsw. Gn. 498 (poem) Hb. 17; other mngs. not in . has тhy Tiμý μov, which is doubtless correct, the original here as elsw. being without sf.—7] Hiph. inf. cstr. 73 thrust out, cf. 511 and an¬ v.4. — 187] Qal impf. ¬¬, v. 401, so J. ědpaμov év diyei, 177, so S. — vD] with pl. vb., err. for ' as G, S, T. ] v. 126 for ny of original Ps.—14] phr. a.λ., cf. ¡y ›ond 717, 614. This v. is mere repetition of v.7 by another hand: a tetrameter couplet.-9. oy ny ] so J; but by ny is more prob., as Bä. 779, v. 15. — ] cf. similar phr. 425 1021 1423. This v. is an exhortation in 2 pl. in a trimeter tristich; another late hand.-10. D] n. [m.] only dual, scales, balances, Is. 4012 Jb. 316 Ez. 4510 +. This n. emph. It was originally preceded by 7, as other 11. The measure requires this.]

But —8.

ÉK μATαιÓTηTOS; 'n of what they are composed.-11. ] Qal impf. 2 pl. † [an] vb. denom. ban v.1o. Qal become vain, possessed of worthless self-confidence, cf. Jb. 2712 Je. 25 = 2 K. 1715; Hiph. Je. 2316.-29] Qal impft bear fruit, fig., so of tree 9215, fig. Pr. 1031; Po. make flourish Zc. 917. This v. is a trimeter tetrastich, a ben of type of WL.-12-13a. Another trimeter tetrastich, a bep.-] relative, as 916. is improb. The The change was due either to assimilation

וכי לאדני original was doubtless

to next clause, or to transposition of and by error.

PSALM LXIII., 3 STR. 43.

Ps. 63 is the longing of an exile for Yahweh (v.2), remembering the glory of God in temple worship (v.3), and meditating upon Him in the night (v.), with vows of perpetual worship (v.), and adherence to His support (v.). To this was appended a fragment of a royal Ps., expressing confidence in the overthrow of the enemies (v.10-11), and the rejoicing of king and people (v.12.). Several glosses emphasize various parts of the original (v.4. 6. 8. 12c).

Ps. 63 was in, then in M and E. It had the reference to David's life 71) 73723 in in. It was not in R (v. Intr. §§ 27, 31, 32). The original was composed of three trimeter tetrastichs, v.2 v.3. 5 v.7.9, all in assonance, in -. The author seems to be in exile, away from the sanctuary, where he used to behold the glory of Yahweh. Now he can only remember his former privileges and persist in prayer and longing for a return. The situation is similar to that of Ps. 42-43. The Ps. probably comes from the early exile. The statement in the title is probably due to the use of my pana by txt. err. for my p¬ɔ, a simile, and not indicating the locality of the author. To this Ps. was attached in E a fragment of a royal Ps. v. 10-126, a trimeter hexastich which, on account of 7, was preëxilic, and, on account of rasa vann, was not earlier than the reign of Josiah. Possibly both Pss. were from a common author, a companion of Jehoiachin. To these Pss. several glosses were added: v.4. 6. 8, all later than E and all emphasizing temple worship, and therefore making the Ps. more suitable to public use. V.12c is a vindictive conclusion suited to the Maccabean period.

Str. I. A syn. tetrastich.-2. Yahweh, my God], emphasizing the personal relation to Yahweh as his own God. The archaic 'El is for the 'Elohim usual in such combinations. It is improbable,