Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 124

If it had not been. —For this motto of the covenant, see Psalms 94:17.

Men. —Better, man. In this use of the general term, we must, as Reuss points out, see an indication of the time of composition of the psalm. One who could so speak of the whole world as separated into two parts (Jews and heathen), discloses a sense of isolation and exclusiveness which brings us far down from the time of the prophets.

They, indeed, spoke of it as the ideal of the future. This psalmist regards it as an accomplished fact.

Then. —Critics disagree regarding both the form and meaning of the word—whether it is an archaism or an Aramaism, expressing time or logical sequence.

Swallowed ... quick (alive).—No doubt this is an allusion to the fall of Korah (Numbers 16:32–33), where the same verb and adjective occur together. (See also Psalm 55:15.)

Waters. —The sudden transition in the imagery from the earthquake to the flood is characteristic of Hebrew poetry. (For the flood, see Psalms 18:4; Psalms 18:16; Psalms 69:14; Psalms 144:7.)

Stream. —The torrent swollen with the winter rain. (Compare to Isaiah 8:7-8.)

Proud. —The Hebrew presents a rare form, which is considered indicative of later composition. For the epithet, compare Æ schylus, Prom. Vinct. 717:

“And you will reach the scornful river—well it deserves
the name.”

Snare. —Another rapid transition to a favourite figure, that of the hunter’s net. (Compare to Psalm 10:9 and others.)