however, that it was to emphasize the original meaning, "strong one," as I, or that it was predicate as EV. after H, I; for the personal pronoun "Thou" was an interpretative insertion, making the line too long.-earnestly I seek thee], as one rising with the dawn, cf. Ps. 7834; || thirst for Thee], cf. 422 || long for Thee || faints for Thee; with the simile of a dry land ], greatly in need of rain, cf. Je. 4 Ps. 143. This is explained by a gloss, "where no water is," interpreting the previous adj. as an additional attribute of land, so Vrss., "dry and weary land without water."— my soul my flesh], the whole man.

31

Str. II. Two antith. syn. couplets.-3,5. As in the sanctuary], in the worship of the temple at Jerusalem in my past experience. -so in my life], in my future experience. I beheld Thee], explained as seeing Thy strength and Thy glory], in the contemplation of public worship, cf. 291 5917 6835 967. In the future life will I bless Thee], in perpetual worship: || I will lift up my palms in Thy name], a gesture especially of invocatory prayer, cf. 282 1412. This Str. has been enlarged by two glosses.-4. For better than life is Thy kindness]. Not only did they behold the strength and glory of Yahweh in public worship, but also His kindness; and it was not only earnestly sought and thirsted after, it was better than life itself. This beholding of Yahweh in His temple was in oral worship: my lips laud Thee. As the former public worship was thus emphasized, so the future worship.-6. As with marrow and fatness my soul will be satisfied]. Doubtless the poet is thinking of the sacrificial feasts which characterised seasons of rejoicing before God in the worship of the temple, cf. 222 235 369. It is true that the fat pieces of animals always went to the altar. The poet is not thinking of them, but of the flesh of the fat young animals which alone were suitable for sacrifice, where the fat meat was eaten by the offerers and their friends, together with bread and wine. But these provisions for the flesh had as their accompaniment provisions for the soul also; so that soul and flesh were alike and together satisfied. The glossator is evidently thinking more of the satisfaction of soul, for he adds: and with lips of jubilation will my mouth praise]. This tautology of is dubious, especially as it is not in G, which omits "my mouth," and adds to the verb "Thy name." It is probable that both

are explanatory additions, and that the original was, "and my lips will praise with jubilation."

Str. III. Two synth. syn. couplets. When on my couch || in the night watches]. Awake during the night in the excitement due to the thirst of soul and flesh, he counted the three watches as they passed, cf. La. 21o. — I remembered Thee || was musing on Thee], recalling the joyous experiences of public worship in the temple described in the previous Str., and doubtless also the experiences of the strength and glory of God in private and public life. — 8. A glossator inserts a syn. couplet, For Thou art a help to me; I rejoice in the shadow of Thy wings], a statement only suitable to one enjoying the privilege of worship in the temple, cf. 178 368 57.-9. My soul did cleave after Thee], in close adherence, not willing to be apart from God; a phr. usual in connection with following the divine word or commands, cf. Dt. 102, also Ho. 63; but here in the more personal relation, seeking comfort and strength. Yahweh also adheres closely to His servant. -on me did take hold Thy right hand]. The right hand of God is usually stretched forth with power against enemies, here with tenderness to sustain His servant, cf. 3o.

The editor of E added a fragment of a royal Psalm.

As for them that seek (his) life,

They shall go down into the nether parts of the earth;

They shall be delivered over unto the power of the sword;

A portion for jackals shall they become;

But the king will rejoice in God;

Every one that sweareth by Him will glory.

This little piece has a syn. tetrastich and an antith. syn. couplet. -10. As for them that seek his life], to take the life of the king. The attachment of this part of the royal Ps. to the Ps. of personal experience led to the variation "my soul," as referring to the poet. This line is intensified by a gloss: that he may go down into Sheol, the place of desolation, || nether parts of the earth, a phr. used in Ez. 260 3218. 24, and subsequently Is. 44 Ps. 13915, for the deeper regions of Sheol. The enemies sought to send the king of Israel thither, but they shall go down thither themselves. Their descent, however, will not be that of ordinary death. They will be slain in battle. — 11. They shall be delivered over unto the

23

power of the sword]. It will be not in victory, but in defeat; for their bodies will be abandoned on the battle-field, a portion for jackals, which will devour them. EV., "foxes," is erroneous. "It is the jackal rather than the fox which preys on dead bodies, and which assembles in troops on battle-fields to feed on the slain" (Tristram, Nat. Hist. Bible, p. 110).-12. On the other hand, the victorious king will rejoice in God, who gave him the victory; and the people, every one that sweareth by Him, loyal servants, united in the oath of the covenant to God, will glory. A Maccabean editor appends to the Ps. a thought appropriate to the affliction of his time: The mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.

=

2.] divine name as 6, and not fortitudo mea of J.-N] H, I, not in 6, is a gl., making 1. too long. 77] Pi. impf. 1 sg., strong sf. 2 m. ‡ (1) vb. denom. dawn (579), Pi. to seek with the dawn, early, earnestly 7834 Ho. 515 Is. 269 Pr. 817. —Ap] vb. a.λ., cf. Ar. stem, be pale of face, weak-eyed, be blind, so BDB. faint, Σ iμelperaí σov, I desideravit, so S, T. Ki. compares N, Ra.. Ο ποσαπλῶς σοι, W quam multipliciter, Θ ποσαχώς pp, how often, how long, not suited to context and improbable.—378] phr. 1075 Ho. 25 Je. 26 5012 5143 Is. 4118 532 Ez. 1918 Jb. 220; † my n.f. with the same mng. desert land Is. 351 Zp. 213 Jb. 303 Ps. 7817 10541 (as only pl. dub.); drought Jb. 2419. — ] phr. dub., makes 1. too long, and assonance in is expl. gl., so Bä. ‡ adj. faint, weary, 2525, so prob. Je. 431 (for 7). The simile

as 1436, п

missing.
Je. 3125 Pr.

,כארץ ציה ועיפה therefore rd, here בארץ ציה ועיף dependent on 1436 כארץ עיפה

Neglect of agreement of

with its noun ps, though justified by some, cf. Kö. Syn. § 334 f., is improbable. The original of all is doubtless Je. 481 c.?. Ps. 1436 has also, and is demanded here for assonance. The is an error of interpretation. The adj. agrees with a, and is therefore masc. So in two previous lines should be at the end of 1. -3. ] has as its complement ? v.5. These two couplets belong together in the tetrastich; and v. is a gl.4. Pi. impf. full form with sf. 2 sg. t[n] vb. Aramaism, Pi. (1) laud, praise, elsw. 1171 1454 14712; (2) congratulate Ec. 42 815. Hithp. boast of Ps. 10647 = 1 Ch. 1635. — 5. 7372] Pi. impf. 1 sg., sf. 2 sg., should be at the close of the 1. for assonance; so. The copyists did not regard the n.f. jubilation, elsw. 1002 Jb. 37 205, late form for 737 (v. 171). — -] so I, but G alvéσei Tò dvoμá σov. It is prob. that is late gl. of H to give vb. subj., and that rò ŏvoμá σov is gl. of to give vb. obj.; neither original. But the vb. 3 sg. is difficult in context of fem. nouns. The phr. nupp is a.λ., and the syntax is difficult. We should prob. rd. np as v.4. D is explan. gl. But even as emended this v. is a gl. to the original.—7. 7]. This is prosaic order, and assonance

original order. - 6.

pl.

requires at end of 1. Better euphony is also given by y ̄ON. ON when, as 7834. yay sf. 1 sg. i.p. † [¿w;] n.[m.] spread, couch, as 1323 Gn. 491 (J) I Ch. 51 Jb. 1718. — ] pl. † n.f. a watch of night, elsw. 901 119118 La. 219. -] impf. frequentative.-8. ] archaic f. form; for better euphony with, cf. 34 6013.-10. p] emph. antith.] is dub.

n.f.

ארץ with תחתית .adj. louer ; f תַּחְתִּי * .בתחתיות הארץ desolation, 7. 35* || with

Ez. 3114. 16. 18, ↳ Dt. 3222; nnnn with Ps. 8613; pl. nnnn with 2 887 = La. 355; with PN elsw. Ps. 13915 Is. 4423 Ez. 2620 3218. 24, all referring to the deeper, gloomier regions of Sheol. So Tap. For sw, I interficere. Geis μárny, in vanum, sw (123) is improbable. The form is, as Bä., an expl. gl. It makes 1. too long. Dis error of interp. for a referring to the king v.11. −11. 7] Hiph. impf. 3 pl., sf. 3 sg. †[7] vb. Aramaism. Niph. (1) be poured, spilt, as water 2 S. 1414, of the eye with tears La. 349, fig. vanish Jb. 2028; (2) be extended, of the hand Ps. 773. Hiph. (1) throw down stones Mi. 16, (2) extend the wine cup to one Ps. 759; phr. by elsw. Je. 1821 Ez. 355; ✪ napadolhσovrai eis xeîpas poμpaías, BDB deliver over to. Hoph. ptc. Mi. 1a of mts. melting in theophany. The vb. is pl. of indef. subj. The sf. 7, sg. for pl., is of dub. originality. It was not needed and was not in .-] pl. t. n. m. jackal elsw. Ne. 35 Ju. 15a La. 518 Ez. 134 Ct. 215. 15. -12.] Niph. impf. † [20] vb. Aramaism for 20 Niph., be stopped, here of mouth, Gn. 82 (P) of springs. Pi. shut up, deliver up into the hands of, Is. 19. The last half of v. is a pentameter 1. if not prose, and is a gl.

PSALM LXIV., 3 STR. 51.

Ps. 64 is a plaintive cry of Israel to Yahweh for preservation from enemies who slander and plot against him (v.2+7), with the assurance that the plot will fail, because Yahweh will overcome them by their own tongues and make them a lesson to all men (v.76-10). Glosses pray for hiding from evil companionship (v.3), and express the assurance of the eventual joy and glory of the righteous (v.").

HEAR, Yahweh, my voice in my plaint;

From dread of the enemy mayest Thou preserve my life,
Who do whet as a sword their tongue,

Do aim their arrow, a bitter speech,

To shoot in secret places at the perfect.

SUDDENLY they shoot at him without fear;

They strengthen for themselves an evil speech;

They talk to themselves of hiding snares;

They say to themselves: Who can see?

They search out injustice; they have hidden a plot.

IT is plotted, and each one draws nigh with a deep mind.
Then Yahweh doth shoot at them: sudden is their wound;
And He causeth them to stumble by their own tongue;
And all that look on them wag the head,

And declare His doing and His work consider.

Ps. 64 was in, then in M, E, and K (v. Intr. §§ 27, 31, 32, 33). The Ps. has three tetrameter pentastichs. It is a complaint of the community of the early Restoration, encompassed by petty enemies who slander them at the court of Persia. It has two glosses: (1) V.3, which is not in B, and was probably inserted subsequent to the text on which was based; (2) V.11 uses, and was therefore subsequent to E and probably also K.

Str. I. A synth. couplet and a triplet of two syn. lines and a third synth. thereto.-2. in my plaint]. Yahweh is called upon in prayer to hear the voice of His people in their perils, going up to Him in plaintive cry. mayest Thou preserve my life]. The life of the nation is in peril from enemies, who make themselves to be dreaded because of their craft and cruelty.-3.. A glossator enlarges upon these enemies as a council of evil doers] gathered in secret to plot their evil scheme; || companionship of workers of trouble]; cf. 21 5515, which is to be preferred to the "insurrection" of PBV., AV., or the "tumult" of RV., JPSV., neither of which mngs. can be established, or suits the context. From these the Psalmist prays to be hidden.-4. Who do whet as a sword their tongue, || Do aim their arrow]. Speech of a hostile character is compared to weapons of war, the sword and the arrow; so 5522 575 598.—a bitter speech], that which they make in slanderous hostility at the court of Persia against the feeble community of the Restoration, cf. v..—in secret places]. They are like enemies shooting from ambush, cf. 108 1712. at the perfect]. Israel as a people, in the unity of his organisation, is a man of integrity. His conduct has been unexceptionable towards the government of Persia and also towards these crafty foes.

Str. II is stairlike in its advance, the first line resuming the thought of the last line of previous Str. and then explaining it in syn. parallelism.-5. Suddenly they shoot at him], taking him by surprise from ambush, and accordingly without fear], because they have taken him altogether unprepared and unable to defend himself. This shooting is now explained as-6. an evil speech]