Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 96

A new song. —See Note, Psalms 33:3. It appears to have been a kind of national and religious “lyric cry” after the Restoration. .

Idols. — Literally, nothings; Heb. elîlîm, with a play on the word el, God. This plainly shows that by Gods, in Psalms 96:4, the heathen deities, and not angels, are meant. (See Note, Psalms 95:3.) The Septuagint sometimes renders the Hebrew word “idols,” sometimes “vanities,” but here “demons.” Symmachus “nonexistences.”

But the Lord made the heavens. — Nothings could not do that, but only Jehovah.

Honour ... The whole universe displays Jehovah’s majesty, but primarily his sanctuary in Israel, where it is symbolized by the magnificent splendor of the building and its rituals. So the version of Apollinaris, “Pureness and stately glory fit his shrine.” The chronicler, having adopted this psalm as suitable for the occasion when the ark was brought to Zion by David, has substituted strength and gladness are in his place possibly because the Temple was not built at that time.

These verses are reminiscent of Psalms 29:1-2 (see Notes on these verses), but instead of being addressed to the angels, it is, in keeping with the new world of ideas and feelings in which Israel lived after the Captivity, addressed to all the people of the world. A truly Messianic character is thus imparted to the psalm.

Offering. —The minchah, or sacrifice of fine flour.