Verse 1

(1) O thou that dwellest.—O thou throned one.

Verse 2

(2) Eyes.—As the eyes of the slave are fixed on the hand of the master or mistress, waiting for a sign or direction, so Israel waits, expectant of the hint of Divine interference to deliver from the tyrant. The picture will be so familiar to readers of Oriental stories as hardly to need actual illustration; but Savary’s (Letters on Egypt, p. 135, quoted by Perowne) description exactly reproduces the intention of the poet: “The slaves stand silent at the bottom of the rooms, with their hands crossed over their breasts. With their eyes fixed upon their master, they seek to anticipate every one of his wishes.” Comp. “Cave oculos a meis oculis quoquam demoveas” (Ter. Adelph. Ii. 1, 16).

Verse 3

(3) Exceedingly filled.—Or, sated more than enough.

Verse 4

(4) The scorning.—The Hebrew offers a rare use of the article—probably it should be reproduced by our demonstrative, this scorning. The LXX., however, have, “The scorn for those at ease, and the contempt for the proud,” which requires only the substitution of a letter, removes an anomaly in construction, and gives a better sense: “Let our desire be satisfied to the full with the scorn for those at ease, and the same contempt for the proud.” Notice how the figure is retained. The oppressors are the masters and mistresses, living in luxury, while the slaves wait. Gesenius quotes Sallust (secundis rebus ferox) in illustration of the wantonness of secure and luxurious power. As we read the verse, we seem to feel

“The whips and scorns of time,

The oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s contumely.”