BOOK II.

FROM DAVID TO THE CAPTIVITY.

HEN we pass from the age of David, we pass from growth

enthusiasm of a golden age of spiritual elevation to a time of cold materialism or debasing superstition. The whole period from David to Hezekiah is one of degeneracy and decay. Notwithstanding some attempts at reformation, it is probable that the mass of the southern tribes deserted the Temple for the more attractive worship of the High Places. If the people of that time paid but little honour to the material temple, which was already completed, much less could they proceed with the building of that spiritual temple, of which David had laid the foundation. That temple was composed of the noblest utterances of the Hebrew religion; it was destined to attract the devotion of the world for ages after the material temples had passed away, and it required in its builders a purity of heart and a devotion of spirit that was rarely reached except in moments of national enthusiasm. There is no indication of such a national revival till the time of the signal deliverance from the host of Senna

cherib'. Before this revival, with the exception of a few Psalms' which are a part of the outcome of the Davidic epoch, the only considerable additions made to the Psalter are personal thanksgivings and elegies. There can be no stronger proof of the decay of religious life in the nation at large.

1 §§ 35-39. xlvi. xlviii. lxxvi. lxxv. lxv.

2 §§ 21-25. There are only two, the 27th and 23rd, which are deeply marked with the impress of David's time; these, even in their present shape, are, if not actually his, at least close imitations of his style and thought. The 20th is evidently a Temple hymn, though it breathes much of David's spirit. There remain the 21st and 45th. Ewald suggests the possibility that these may have emanated from the northern kingdom and have been memorials of the brighter interval 'when Jeroboam the son of Joash restored the coast of Israel according to the word of the Lord God of Israel which He spake by the hand of His servant Jonah' (2 Kings xiv. 25—28).

3 §§ 28-30. xxx. xli. lxvi. 12—18. The thanksgiving contained in Jonah ii. should also be classed with this series. For the text of this thanksgiving, see Supplement, (HEBREW LYRICS.)

4 §§ 26, 27. vi. xiii. §§ 31—34. xii. lxii. xxxix. xc.

IN

BOOK II. [SECTIONS 21-63.]

FROM DAVID TO THE CAPTIVITY

§ 21. PSALM XX.

N this Psalm we have a relic of the ancient Liturgy, an antiphonal1 Temple hymn, of which the strophes are sung alternately by the assembled congregation and the priest, while the king is offering sacrifice on the eve of a struggle against the formidable cavalry and chariots of the heathen". Such sacrifices were naturally regarded as unusually solemn and important by all nations of antiquity; as, in the case of the Hebrews is shown by the scene at Gilgal, when the king risked the displeasure of the prophet sooner than enter on the battle without the usual prayers and sacrifice3.

This Psalm is a noble embodiment of the deep conviction that right alone is might, that 'there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.' Such was the spirit which animated the heroes of Israel; in it lay the secret of their success. These were the words with which Jonathan and his armourbearer had triumphed unaided over a host of foes, and made the thousands of chariots and horsemen in which the Philistines trusted melt away in 'trembling' before the power of Jehovah 3.

The People

pray for the success of the king in full assurance of victory. May Jehovah hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee !

I

1 Cp. §§ 3, 4. xxiv. § 22. xxi. etc. Judg. v. 2, 12, &c.

4

3 1 Sam. xiii. 12. Cp. v. 3.

Cp. ib. xiii. 5; xiv. 15, 'it was a trembling of God,' with vv. 1, 5, 7.

2 V. 7.

1 Sam. xiv. 6.

send thee help from the sanctuary,

and strengthen thee out of Sion;

remember all thy offerings,

and accept thy burnt sacrifice;

grant thee thy heart's desire

and fulfil all thy mind!

let us rejoice in thy prosperity,

and set up the name of our God on high;

Jehovah will perform all thy petitions.

The Priest

confirmeth the triumph of their faith.

Now know I that Jehovah helpeth His Anointed, and will hear him from His holy heaven,

even with the saving help of His right hand!

2

4

5

6

some put their trust in chariots and some in horses,

but our trust is in the name of Jehovah our God:

Ver. 2. send thee help from the sanctuary, probably in allusion to the presence of the ark or rather of the ephod in battle. Once the ark was moveable (1 Sam. iv. 4), now the help is to come 'out of the sanctuary of Sion.' Cp. Stanley, Jewish Church, 11. p. 215.

Ver. 5. thy prosperity, they see that the sacrifice of ver. 3 is accepted, and at once change their prayer into a thanksgiving for the victory which they feel is certain.

set up, as an ensign. So the Bible Version, 'in the name of our God we will set up our banners.'

Ver. 6. Now, because the people are so full of trust in Jehovah, and because the sacrifices have been favourably received. know I. The change from the plural to the singular marks the division between the words of the priest and those of the people.

Ver. 7. chariots were part of the Ethiopian force, 2 Chron. xiv. 9. So of the Canaanites, Judg. i. 19; iv. 3, 13; Josh. xvii. 16; and occasionally of the Israelites, 1 Kings x. 26, 29; Is. ii. 7. Ver. 9.

O may He hear us. The change from the second to the third person is characteristic of the Hebrew manner of conquering emotion and sinking into calmer language at the close of a poem. Cp. § 10. cx. 7.