Verse 1

Title. A Psalm. Hebrew mizmor. See App-65.

of Asaph. The eighth of the twelve Asaph Psalms. Compare Psalms 74, the second of the third book. See App-10. The Psalm is said to have "hardly any regular strophical divisions". But see the Structure above.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

heathen = nations.

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5.

temple. See 1 Kings 14:25, 1 Kings 14:26; 2 Chronicles 12:2-10. Pillaged, but not destroyed.

on heaps = in ruins. Compare the prophecy in Micah 3:12.

Verse 2

saints = men of Thy lovingkindness, or gracious ones, or beloved.

Verse 3

shed = poured out. Compare same word in Psalms 79:6.

Verse 5

How long . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6. Compare (Psalms 79:5) with (Psalms 79:10).

Verse 6

Pour out. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6. See note on "shed", Psalms 79:3.

not known Thee. Compare Jeremiah 10:25.

Verse 7

they have. So some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate. Compare Jeremiah 10:25. But other codices read "he hath": i.e. the enemy.

Jacob. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6, for the riches of his descendants.

dwelling place = pasture.

Verse 8

iniquities. Hebrew. "avah. App-44.

prevent us = come to meet us. Eng. usage changed. Original sense obsolete.

Verse 9

purge away = cover, or atone for. Hebrew. kaphar. See note on Exodus 29:33.

Thy name"s sake = Thine own sake. See Psalms 20:1.

Verse 10

Wherefore . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6. Compare Psalms 79:5.

By. Supply Ellipsis from the preceding line: "[Let] the avenging . . . [be known]", &c.

Verse 11

Thy power. Hebrew Thine arm. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), App-6, for the power contained in and put forth by it. By Figure of speech Anthropopatheia (App-6), an "arm" attributed to God.

preserve = reserve.

those that are appointed to die = sons of death. Genitive of Relation. Compare Romans 8:36.

Verse 13

To the chief Musician. See App-64.