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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comKeil and Delitzsch Commentary - Psalms 47:1 - 47:1
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(Heb.: 47:2-4) “Thereupon the fear of Elohim” - so closes the chronicler (2Ch 20:29) the narrative of the defeat of the confederates - “came upon all kingdoms of the countries, when they heard that Jahve had fought against the enemies of Israel.” The psalmist, however, does not in consequence or this particular event call upon them to tremble with fear, but to rejoice; for fear is an involuntary, extorted inward emotion, but joy a perfectly voluntary one. The true and final victory of Jahve consists not in a submission that is brought about by war and bloodshed and in consternation that stupefies the mind, but in a change in the minds and hearts of the peoples, so that they render joyful worship unto Him. In order that He may thus become the God of all peoples, He has first of all become the God of Israel; and Israel longs that this the purpose of its election may be attained. Out of this longing springs the call in Psa 47:2. The peoples are to show the God of revelation their joy by their gestures and their words; for Jahve is absolutely exalted (עֶלְיֹון, here it is a predicate, just as in Psa 78:56 it is an attribute), terrible, and the sphere of His dominion has Israel for its central point, not, however, for its limit, but it extends over the whole earth. Everything must do homage to Him in His own people, whether willingly or by constraint. According to the tenses employed, what is affirmed in Psa 47:4 appears to be a principle derived from their recent experience, inasmuch as the contemporary fact is not expressed in an historical form, but generalized and idealised. But יִבְחַר, Psa 47:5, is against this, since the choosing (election) is an act done once for all and not a continued act; we are therefore driven to regard the futures, as in Num 23:7; Jdg 2:1, as a statement of historical facts. Concerning יַדְבֵּר, He bent, made to stoop, vid., Psa 18:48. There is now no necessity for altering יִבְחַר into יַרְחֵב, and more especially since this is not suited to the fact which has given occasion to the Psalm. On the contrary, יבחר presupposes that in the event of the day God has shown Himself to be a faithful and powerful Lord {lit. feudal Lord] of the land of Israel; the hostile confederation had thought of nothing less than driving Israel entirely out of its inheritance (2Ch 20:11). The Holy Land is called the pride (גְּאֹון) of Jacob, as being the gift of grace of which this, the people of God's love, can boast. In Amo 6:8 גאון יעקב has a different meaning (of the sin of pride), and again another sense in Nah 2:3 (of the glory of all Israel in accordance with the promise); here it is similar to Isa 13:19. אֶת has a conjunctive accent instead of being followed by Makkeph, as in Psa 60:2; Pro 3:12 (these are the only three instances). The strophe which follows supports the view that the poet, in Psa 47:5, has a recent act of God before his mind.