The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1878-01-16

81 will rejoice, / will divide out Shechem, and
mete out the valley of Succoth. "-Ps. * 6, 7, 8.
This Psalm is made plain by noticing that
there are three atrophea; the first, lamen.
tation over disasters the second cry to
God for help and an appeal to Him founded
upon His promises; the third, a triumphant
anticipation of history. These phrases quot
ed above occur in the second strophe. "God
hath spoken in His holiness, " pledged Him
self as Holy God (Amos iv: 2, "Tbe Lord
God has sworn by His holiness'') Then fol
lows a summary of the ancient prophecies,
especially those in the Pentateuch. As soon
as the PSalmist reassured his faith by recall
ing Gods pledges to Israel he cries out,
I" Let me exult, let me portion out Shechem,
etc. 1t seems to accord with the rest of the
psalm to understand Israel or Isrsel's repre-
sentative as speaking; but many commenta-
tors believe the speaker of verses 6-8 to be
Jehovah. Ewald believes this, only that he
regards the words {" will rejoice or Let
me exult' as the words of the Psalmist pa
renthetically injected into his recital of the
words of Jehovah. But Delitsch, Aexan-
der, and others agree in considering the peo-
pie or the peoples representative, the king,
as speaking. He exults in confident antici-
patton of victorious possession of the whole
land.
He mentions two names famous in ancient
times. They represented the two great di-
visions of the country east and west of the
Jordan. Succoth means "booths." 1t was
the first place at which Jacob pitched his
tent on his way from Mesopotamia, Comp.
Gen. xxxiii: 1918 with Judge, viii: 5-17,)
the place took its name from the hutS which
Jacob built there. Shechem, on the west,
may be where Jacob found his permanent
home.
In verse 7, Glead and Msnasseh repre-
sent that portion of the territory of Israel
which lay east Of the Jordan, and Ephraim
and Judah that OH the west of the river
Ephraim on the north and judah on the
south being the most important Of all the
tribes. The mention of these four sums up
all the territorial and political division Of the
kingdom, and presents the idea that the whole
of Canaan rightfully belongs to ISrael.-
"Ephraim is the strength of my head
Ephram was a warlike tribe. See Deut.
xxxii: II. The phrase might be translated
"defense of my head" While the military
power of Ephraim is acknowledged, the civil
supremacy of judah, in fulillment of Gen.
xix 8, is maintained.
In verse 8, neighboring nations are men,
toned as coming under the dominion of Is-
rael. "Moab is my wash-pot" Moab was
a proud people. See Isaiah xvi: g. Ithad
just been reduced to utter subjugation and
this makes the sarcasm the keener. 1t is
likened to common piece of household fur
niture, vessel in which slaves were accus-
toned to wash the feet of their masters
"Oger Elom will | cast out my shoe"
Elom, another enemy of Israel, is here
likened to the slave, to whom the master
Aings his shoes when he uncovers his feet for
the bath. Philistia was the third great enc
my of Israel, 50 the representative of Israel
calls to that people Because of me, Philis-
tia, cry aloud" or " shout aloud;" that is,
utter the vail of conquered people; or,
shout out the acclamation of welcome which
subjects give their sovereign.
Notwithstanding former disasters, Israel
should now in the strength of Jehovah, and
resting on His promises, subdue the whole
land aud conquer neighboring enemies
This is presented in the picturesque descrip-
ton of this psalm.-Rev. DR.. Deems, IN
Frank Lsslie's Sunday Magazine for Feb
o1sJ