composed probably by Hezekiah or Isaiah, on the destruction of the army of Sennacherib. 2 Kings xix. 35–37. and 2 Chron. xxxii. 20-22.

SECTION IV.

Psalms composed on account of the ruin of the city and temple of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, and the Babylonish captivity.

Psalm 145. LXXIX. Complaint and prayer on the destruction of the city and temple of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar; probably composed by Jeremiah. 2 Kings xv. 1-11.

Psalm 146. LXXIV. A second complaint and prayer on the same subject; probably composed by the same prophet at a later period.

Psalm 147. XC. Prayer, supposed by some, amongst whom is St. Augustin, bishop of Hippo, to have been composed during the Babylonish captivity, and in allusion to that calamity; but conceived by St. Jerome and by others, to have been composed, as its title indicates, by Moses, on occasion of the denunciation against the Israelites, who were for their unbelief to perish in the Wilder

ness.

Psalm 148. CXXXVII. Mournful anthem, expressing the sentiments of pious Jews during the captivity of Babylon.

Psalm 149. CII. Prayer, towards the termination of the Babylonish captivity, for deliverance from the Babylonish yoke. Psalm 150. LXXXV. Prayer, composed towards the latter period of the Babylonish captivity.

Psalm 151. CXXVI. Anthem of praise, on oc

casion of the liberty afforded to the Jews, by Cyrus, to depart from Babylon; and to return to Jerusalem, and rebuild their temple. 1 Esdras i. 1–11. This anthem, which was certainly composed by Ezra, marks the sentiment of pious Jews on receiving the edict.

According to this distribution of the psalms, there are one hundred and fifty-one; whereas in our Bible there are only one hundred and fifty. This difference is accounted for by the division of the one hundred and sixteenth psalm into two parts, as it stands in the Septuagint.

THE

BOOK OF PSALMS.

EACH PSALM BEING HEADED BY A PREFATORY TITLE; AND SCRIPTURAL REFERENCE TO THE HISTORIC BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT; POINTING OUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH IT APPEARS PROBABLE IT WAS COMPOSED.

N.B. Observe. The Roman numeral, marks the number of the Psalm as arranged in Holy Writ; the Arabic numeral, points out its number in the preceding Tabular Index; by consulting which, the Reader may at pleasure find the Psalms which precede, or which succeed, it in historical and chronologic order.

The translations of the Hebrew titles substituted to the title in Italics inserted in the authorized version, are collected from Bishop Horsley, Sace, the Vulgate, and one or two from other esteemed versions. They must rest on their own merits, and that of their esteemed Authors.