Bible Commentaries
Psalms 81

Verse 1

To the chief Musician. See App-64 .

upon Gittith = relating to the (Art.) wine-press, or the autumn Festival of Tabernacles; or to the vine and the vineyard, which are the subjects of the Psalm. See App-65 .

Title. of Asaph. The tenth of the twelve Asaph Psalms. App-63 . Relating to the worship of the Sanctuary.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Jacob. See Psalms 75:9 .

Verse 2

Take a psalm. = Raise a song.

timbrel. Hebrew. toph. See note on Exodus 15:20 .

psaltery = lute.

Verse 3

trumpet. Hebrew. shophar. See note on Numbers 10:2 .

day. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Aramaean, and Syriac, read "days" (plural): i.e. festivals.

Verse 5

This. No Hebrew for "This".

He: i.e. God.

out = forth.

through = before: i.e. in the sight of. Compare Numbers 33:3 .

I = I [Israel].

Verse 6

I = I [God].

pots = baskets. Depicted in Egyptian paintings as being used in brickmaking. Not same word as Psalms 68:13 , though the same things referred to. Compare 2 Kings 10:7 .

Verse 7

in , or from.

proved. Compare Exodus 17:6 . Numbers 20:1-13 .

Selah. Connecting the merciful deliverance with the reason why Israel should hearken. See App-66 .

Verse 9

strange = foreign, or foreigner ' s.

strange god = god of the foreigner. Not the same as above. For the former, See Psalms 44:20 . Isaiah 43:12 ; for the latter, Deuteronomy 32:12 .

god. Hebrew. 'el . App-4 .

Verse 10

the LORD thy God. Hebrew. Jehovah. thy Elohim. App-4 . The title of the Lawgiver.

Verse 11

would none of Me = had no mind for Me.

Verse 12

gave them up = let him (Israel) go on. The greatest judgment God could have given them; or give us.

lust = stubbornness.

Verse 13

Oh . . . ! Figure of speech Eonismos. .

walked. Plural.

Verse 14

soon. See note on "almost", Proverbs 5:14 .

Verse 15

haters of the LORD: i.e. Israel ' s enemies.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 16

should I have satisfied thee. Some codices read "would I satisfy him". Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "would He satisfy him".