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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comKeil and Delitzsch Commentary - Psalms 13:3 - 13:3
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(Heb.: 13:4-5) In contrast to God's seeming to have forgotten him and to wish neither to see nor know anything of his need, he prays: הַבִּיטָה (cf. Isa 63:15). In contrast to his being in perplexity what course to take and unable to help himself, he prays: עֲנִנִי, answer me, who cry for help, viz., by the fulfilment of my prayer as a real, actual answer. In contrast to the triumphing of his foe: הָאִירָה עֵינַי, in order that the triumph of his enemy may not be made complete by his dying. To lighten the eyes that are dimmed with sorrow and ready to break, is equivalent to, to impart new life (Ezr 9:8), which is reflected in the fresh clear brightness of the eye (1Sa 14:27, 1Sa 14:29). The lightening light, to which הֵאִיר points, is the light of love beaming from the divine countenance, Psa 31:17. Light, love, and life are closely allied notions in the Scriptures. He, upon whom God looks down in love, continues in life, new powers of life are imparted to him, it is not his lot to sleep the death, i.e., the sleep of death, Jer 51:39, Jer 51:57, cf. Psa 76:6. הַמָּוֶת is the accusative of effect or sequence: to sleep so that the sleep becomes death (lxx εἰς θάνατον), Ew. §281, e. Such is the light of life for which he prays, in order that his foe may not be able at last to say יְכָלְתִּיו (with accusative object, as in Jer 38:5) = יָכֹלְתִּי לֹו, Psa 129:2, Gen 32:26, I am able for him, a match for him, I am superior to him, have gained the mastery over him. כִּי, on account of the future which follows, had better be taken as temporal (quum) than as expressing the reason (quod), cf. בְּמֹוט רַגְלִי, Psa 38:17.