must be the final dispersion of the Jews; and the passage predicts the general contempt and hatred which they would incur in the latter ages. Upon the whole, however, I think the received reading is preferable, and it is equally consistent with Jerome's exposition of the preceding verses.

Of the latter part of this Psalm, as predictive of the judgements that have fallen upon the Jewish nation, see the excellent exposition of Bishop Horne.

PSALM LX.

למנצח על שושן עדות מכתם לדוד ללמד

Bishop Hare has a conjecture, which, though bold, is esteemed, by Archbishop Secker, not improbable; viz. that the first three verses of this Psalm (i. e. the first six lines in the Hebrew) have changed places with the first three verses (in the Hebrew the first six lines) of the LXXXV. The first three verses of the LXXXV Psalm are evidently the exordium of an Ode, composed after a return from some captivity. This LX Psalm contains, indeed, nothing which necessarily relates to any occurrence in the life of David; but I should guess it to have been written in the reign of Jehoshaphat, when that prince was preparing for an expedition against the Edomites, who rebelled in his reign, but were soon reduced (vid. Ad

versar. Edom.)

The first three verses may allude to the unsuccessful war, in which Jehoshaphat was allied with Ahab against the Syrians.

The whole Psalm consists of five parts. The first five verses make the first part. The 6th, 7th, and 8th make the second. The 9th verse is the third part. The 10th and 11th make the fourth: And the 12th verse is the fifth.

Part I. Sung by the High Priest.

Part II. A voice from the Sanctuary.

Part III. The King's prayer.

Part IV. Semichorus takes up the intercession.

Part V. Grand chorus.

Ver. 2, 3. These two verses seem to allude to an earthquake.

Ver. 4. that it may be displayed because of the truth." For up, the LXX and Jerome, the Syriac and Symmachus, had up, which may seem to give an easy sense,-" to which they may repair from the danger of the bow." But I suspect some more mysterious meaning in this banner, to be unfurled before truth, or purity, for the deliverance of God's beloved, though I cannot explain the passage to my own satisfaction.

Ver. 7. my lawgiver." See Bishop HARE's Note.

Ver. 8. Philistia, triumph thou because of me." The Syriac reads here, as in Psalm cvIII, 9, N. "Over Philistia I will triumph." The first printed edition of the Hagiographa gives this reading. But authorities seem to preponderate against it.

"Over Philistia give a shout of triumph."-Bp. HORNE.

This Psalm consists of three parts. The first five verses make the first part, sung by a single voice, in the character of a King. The 6th and 7th verses make the second part, sung by a chorus of the Priests. The 8th verse is the last part, sung by the single voice again. The Psalm is of the mystic class; the King is evidently the Messiah.

Ver. 7.

O

prepare mercy and truth," &c. For 2, Houbigant and Bishop Lowth would read "Mercy

and truth from Jehovah shall preserve him."

.

The Chaldee

supports this conjecture. Certainly, without something to follow it, has no meaning. For, though Noldius says it is sometimes a mere expletive, the instances he produces are far from satisfactory. In this passage, it is not rendered at all by Aquila or Symmachus. I have sometimes thought that God may be the speaker in this 7th verse, and that the true

.מני ינצרהו reading may have been

JEHOVAH.

7 He shall abide before God for ever;

Mercy and truth from me shall preserve him.

MESSIAH.

8 Therefore will I chaunt thy name for ever,

While daily I perform my vows.

PSALM LXII.

[A] Ver. 2. greatly moved." E. T. Houbigant's con

jecture is plausible, that

has been written by mistake at

סלה the end of this verse for

"I shall not be moved," or

"shaken," is more animated, and more in the Psalmist's

style, than “I shall not be greatly moved."

PSALM LXIII.

[A] Ver. 1.

inhospitable;"; ¿barw, LXX; invia,

JEROME. Literally, weary; i. e. a land that creates weariness, by the roughness of the ways, the steepness of the hills, and the want of all accommodations.

[B] Ver. 4. See Merrick's Annotations, in justification of the sense which I give both here, and in the second verse,

.כן to

[C] Ver. 10. They shall fall"- E. T.; rather, "they would shed it;" it, i. e. my life: for W, which is of the doubtful gender, is the antecedent of the masculine suffix .

Niphal from 787.-Syriac, and KENNICOTT'S Posth.

[B, C] Ver. 5, 6.

who shall see them? They search."

E. T.

Read,