Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 76

Judah ... Israel. —A comparison with Psalms 114:1-2 leads to the conclusion that these names are introduced here in this order, simply for the rhythm. (Compare “Salem” and “Sion” in the next verse, and notice that the four names offer an instance of introversion, the more restricted terms, Judah and Sion, occupying the first and last clauses, and the more general terms, Israel and Salem, the middle ones.)

Salem. — The Septuagint and Vulgate translate it as “his place was in peace.” Possibly, the poet uses the word Salem with the thought in mind of the peace won by God for Judah. Or, it may simply be a poet’s preference for an ancient name over a modern one. However, the identification of the Salem mentioned in Genesis 14:18 with Jerusalem is too doubtful to give much weight to this view. (See the entire question discussed in Sir G. Grove’s article on “Salem,” in Smith’s Biblical Dictionary.)

Tabernacle ... dwelling-place. — These renderings completely obscure the image, which is that of a beast of prey crouching, ready for its spring. Translate as follows:

“In Salem is his covert,
And his lair in Sion.”

For these meanings of the Hebrew words sokh and meônah, compare Psalms 10:9; Jeremiah 25:38; Psalms 104:22; and Amos 3:4.

There. —This word in Psalms 14:5 does not appear to have a strictly definite local sense; and here may refer to time, possibly to some event, which we are not able to identify with certainty.

Arrows. —Literally, flashes. (See Note, Song of Solomon 8:6.) The image may be derived from the lightning speed of the flight of arrows, or from the custom of shooting bolts tipped with flame (see Note, Psalms 7:13), or the connection may be from the metaphor in Psalms 91:5-6, since the Hebrew word here used denotes pestilence in Habakkuk 3:5.

The shield, the sword, and the battle —Hosea 2:18 is the original of this. (Compare to Psalms 46:9.) Notice the fine poetic touch in the climactic use of battle to sum up all the weapons of war.

You are ... —Better, Splendid are you, glorious one, from the mountains of prey. The construction is somewhat doubtful and favours Hupfeld’s emendation (nora, i.e., to be feared, as in verses 8 and 13, instead of noar, i.e., glorious). Certainly, the comparative of the Authorised Version is to be abandoned.

The poet’s thought plainly proceeds from the figure of Psalm 76:2. The mountains are the mountains of prey of the Lion of Judah. True, a different image, as so frequently in Hebrew poetry, suddenly interrupts and changes the picture. The hero appears from the battle shining in the spoils taken from the foe.

Are spoiled. —Literally, have let themselves be spoiled. The picture is of men rendered powerless, at a glance, a word, from God.

Slept their sleep. —Better, have sunk into a deep sleep.

None of the men of might have found their hands. —This expression for powerlessness naturally grew into an idiom in a language that used the word hand as a synonym for strength. (Compare to Joshua 8:20, margin; Exodus 14:31, margin; Deuteronomy 32:36, margin.) Delitzsch quotes a Talmudic phrase, “We did not find our hands and feet in the school house.” We may compare the Virgilian use of manus , and Shakespeare’s “a proper fellow of my hands,” and for the use of “find” compare the common phrase “find one’s tongue.”