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PSALM 82
THE ARGUMENT
This Psalm contains an admonition, either,
1. To the chief rulers of Israel, whether judges or kings, or their great council called the Sanhedrim. Or rather,
2. To all the rulers of the several nations of the world, to whom this word might come; as may be gathered, partly from the expressions here used, which are general, and not peculiar to the governors of Israel, and therefore not rashly and unnecessarily to be restrained; and partly from the last verse, where he mentions the whole earth and all nations as concerned in the contents of this Psalm.
The psalmist, exhorting and expostulating with the judges, Psa_82:1-4, reproveth their want of judgment and negligence, Psa_82:5-7, and prayeth the Lord to judge, Psa_82:8.
Standeth, as a judge, diligently to observe all that is said or done there; and to give sentence accordingly. The judge sits when he heareth causes, but standeth up when he giveth sentence. Or standing doth not note the posture, but only the being or presence of a person, as Isa_11:10 Dan_11:20 Joh_3:29; whence this Hebrew word is by some learned interpreters rendered is present, and by others, presideth, as this word is used, 1Sa_19:20 22:9.
Of the mighty; or, of the gods, as it is explained and expressed in the next clause; the singular number being here, as it is frequently elsewhere, put for the plural. By gods, or the mighty, he understands kings, or other chief rulers, who are so called, because they have their power and commission from God, and act as his deputies, in his name and stead, and must give an account to him of all their actions. And by their congregation he understands not a convention or assembly of such persons which seldom meet together, but either,
1. All congregations or assemblies of people in which magistrates sit to execute justice. Or,
2. All persons whatsoever of this high and sacred order or number; for the Hebrew word here rendered
congregation doth not always signify an assembly of persons met together in one place, but sometimes notes all the particular persons of or belonging to such a sort and body of men, though dispersed in divers places, as Psa_26:5, I have hated the congregation of evil-doers, i.e. all evil-doers; Pro_21:16, he shall remain in the congregation of the dead, i.e. shall be one of that number and state. See also Jos_22:20 Psa_74:19. Some render it as it is in the Hebrew, in the congregation of God, in his own congregation, the noun being put for the pronoun, as is usual in the Hebrew text, i.e. in the conventions or tribunals of princes or rulers, which he rightly calls his, because their authority is wholly derived from him. But the former exposition seems more agreeable, both to the following words, and to the scope and whole body of the Psalm. Judgeth; accurately observeth all their carriages, and passeth sentence upon them accordingly. Gods, i.e. judges and magistrates, who are called gods, below, Psa_82:6 Exo_12:12 12:28, compared with Act_23:5 Psa_138:1, and of whom this is expounded, Joh_10:34,35.