Bible Commentaries
Psalms 80

Introduction

BOOK II.— PSS. XLII.– LXXII.

Psalms 42-83 are Elohistic, i.e. they use the word God (Elohim) and avoid the proper name Yahweh, probably from motives of reverence. Here and there, however, the name Yahweh has crept into the text by a natural slip of the scribes.

Verses 1-19

LXXX. Then and Now. The Messianic Hope.— The Ps. depicts Judah’ s forlorn condition, first directly ( Psalms 80:1-7) and then under the figure of a vine ( Psalms 80:8-19). It is divided into strophes by the refrain in Psalms 80:3; Psalms 80:7; Psalms 80:19. (In Psalms 80:3 insert “ of hosts” (LXX) as in Psalms 80:7; Psalms 80:19.) Probably also the refrain has fallen out after Psalms 80:13.

Psalms 80:1 c. A rhetorical reminiscence of the time when the Ark ( 1 Samuel 4:4, 2 Samuel 6:2) represented Yahweh and was carried out to battle.

Psalms 80:2 . The Psalmist looks forward to the recovery of the northern tribes and their union with Judah before the advent of the Messianic age.

Psalms 80:4 . Translate, “ Wilt thou fume at the prayer?”

Psalms 80:5 . Read with LXX, “ fed us,” “ given us.”

Psalms 80:6 . strife: i.e. an object of contention, such as, e.g., Poland or the Italian States have been to the greater powers.— among themselves: read, “ at us.”

Psalms 80:8-11 . The vine in its glory. For the allegory cf. Genesis 49:22, Isaiah 5:1-7, Jeremiah 2:21.

Psalms 80:10 . cedars of God: i.e. so great that they are in a special sense due to Divine action.

Psalms 80:11 gives the ideal boundaries of the Davidic kingdom, viz. the Mediterranean and the Euphrates.

Psalms 80:12 f. The vine in its abandonment.

Psalms 80:14-19 . Prayer for revival.

Psalms 80:15 . stock: a word of uncertain meaning.

Psalms 80:15 b is the original, Psalms 80:17 b is an inferior variant. The context shows that the “ son of man whom thou madest so strong for thyself” is primarily Israel personified.