Bible Commentaries
Psalms 144

Verses 1-15

CXLIV. Ascribed by LXX and also by T. “ to David against Goliath,” but without any shadow of reason.

Psalms 144:1-11 is really a mosaic chiefly taken from Psalms 18, but also from Psalms 8, 33, 104. It is a song of anticipated triumph. The Psalmist is in conflict with foreign enemies (“ strangers” ( Psalms 144:7) can only mean foreigners). God teaches his fingers to fight, for it is the fingers which grasp the bow and subdue “ peoples” (not “ my people” ) under him. He prays that a display in storm and lightning may discomfit his foes. They can be bound by no treaty, for the right hand ( Psalms 144:8), which is raised in taking an oath, is false and treacherous. But the Psalmist’ s triumph is secure. “ David” ( Psalms 144:10) is an erroneous gloss on “ his servant.”

Psalms 144:12-15 is a Ps., or more probably the fragment of a Ps., describing the blessed lot of Yahweh’ s people. Observe that the blessing is wholly material. “ When” ( Psalms 144:12) has in Heb. no intelligible meaning, and may have belonged to the original continuation of Psalms 144:1-11. The daughters of the Jews in Psalms 144:12 are compared, according to one interpretation with “ corner pillars carved after the fashion of a palace.” But there is no authority for the rendering “ pillars,” and it is unlikely that the Psalmist knew anything of Caryatides.