Bible Commentaries
Psalms 98

Introduction

XCVIII.

This psalm plainly belongs to that cycle of literature produced by the joy of the Restoration, and is in fact little more than a compilation from Isaiah 40:26, and from other psalms, especially Psalms 96:0. The psalm is irregular in form.

Title.—This is the only hymn of the whole collection with the bare inscription “a psalm.”

Verse 1

(1) Victory.—The word more commonly rendered “salvation,” as, indeed, in next verse.

Verse 4

(4) Make a joyful noise.—Better, Break out into songs and music.

Verse 5

(5) Sing . . .—Rather, Play to Jehovah on a harp. on a harp, and with melodious sound of music.

Verse 6

(6) Trumpets . . . cornet.—(See Numbers 10:2; Exodus 19:16; and Bible Educator, ii. 231, 232.) This is the only place in the psalm where the chatsotsereh, or “straight trumpet” is mentioned.

Verse 7

(7) See Psalms 96:11.

“Listen! the mighty Being is awake
And doth with His eternal motion make
A sound like thunder everlastingly.”
WORDSWORTH.

Verse 8

(8) Clap their hands.—This expression, descriptive of the lapping sound of waves, occurs also in Isaiah 55:12.

Let the hills be joyful together.—

“Far along,
From peak to peak, the rattling crags among,
Leaps the live thunder! Not from one long cloud,
But every mountain now hath found a tongue,
And Jura answers through her misty shroud
Back to the joyous Alps who call to her aloud.”
BYRON: Childe Harold, canto iii.

Verse 9

(9) See Psalms 96:13.