14 Thou hast broken the heads of leviathan, Thou makest him food, For the people of the dry places.
And the sons of Israel have done according to the word of Moses, and they ask from the Egyptians vessels of silver and vessels of gold, and garments; and Jehovah hath given the grace of the people in the eyes of the Egyptians, and they cause them to ask, and they spoil the Egyptians.
Dost thou draw leviathan with an angle? And with a rope thou lettest down -- his tongue? Dost thou put a reed in his nose? And with a thorn pierce his jaw? Doth he multiply unto thee supplications? Doth he speak unto thee tender things? Doth he make a covenant with thee? Dost thou take him for a servant age-during? Dost thou play with him as a bird? And dost thou bind him for thy damsels? (Feast upon him do companions, They divide him among the merchants!) Dost thou fill with barbed irons his skin? And with fish-spears his head? Place on him thy hand, Remember the battle -- do not add! Lo, the hope of him is found a liar, Also at his appearance is not one cast down? None so fierce that he doth awake him, And who `is' he before Me stationeth himself? Who hath brought before Me and I repay? Under the whole heavens it `is' mine. I do not keep silent concerning his parts, And the matter of might, And the grace of his arrangement. Who hath uncovered the face of his clothing? Within his double bridle who doth enter? The doors of his face who hath opened? Round about his teeth `are' terrible. A pride -- strong ones of shields, Shut up -- a close seal. One unto another they draw nigh, And air doth not enter between them. One unto another they adhere, They stick together and are not separated. His sneezings cause light to shine, And his eyes `are' as the eyelids of the dawn. Out of his mouth do flames go, sparks of fire escape. Out of his nostrils goeth forth smoke, As a blown pot and reeds. His breath setteth coals on fire, And a flame from his mouth goeth forth. In his neck lodge doth strength, And before him doth grief exult. The flakes of his flesh have adhered -- Firm upon him -- it is not moved. His heart `is' firm as a stone, Yea, firm as the lower piece. From his rising are the mighty afraid, From breakings they keep themselves free. The sword of his overtaker standeth not, Spear -- dart -- and lance. He reckoneth iron as straw, brass as rotten wood. The son of the bow doth not cause him to flee, Turned by him into stubble are stones of the sling. As stubble have darts been reckoned, And he laugheth at the shaking of a javelin. Under him `are' sharp points of clay, He spreadeth gold on the mire. He causeth to boil as a pot the deep, The sea he maketh as a pot of ointment. After him he causeth a path to shine, One thinketh the deep to be hoary. There is not on the earth his like, That is made without terror. Every high thing he doth see, He `is' king over all sons of pride.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 74
Commentary on Psalms 74 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 74
Ps 74:1-23. If the historical allusions of Ps 74:6-8, &c., be referred, as is probable, to the period of the captivity, the author was probably a descendant and namesake of Asaph, David's contemporary and singer (compare 2Ch 35:15; Ezr 2:41). He complains of God's desertion of His Church, and appeals for aid, encouraging himself by recounting some of God's mighty deeds, and urges his prayer on the ground of God's covenant relation to His people, and the wickedness of His and their common enemy.
1. cast … off—with abhorrence (compare Ps 43:2; 44:9). There is no disavowal of guilt implied. The figure of fire to denote God's anger is often used; and here, and in De 29:20, by the word "smoke," suggests its continuance.
sheep … pasture—(Compare Ps 80:1; 95:7).
2. The terms to denote God's relation to His people increase in force: "congregation"—"purchased"—"redeemed"—"Zion," His dwelling.
3. Lift … feet—(Ge 29:1)—that is, Come (to behold) the desolations (Ps 73:19).
4. roar—with bestial fury.
congregations—literally, "worshipping assemblies."
ensigns—literally, "signs"—substituted their idolatrous objects, or tokens of authority, for those articles of the temple which denoted God's presence.
5, 6. Though some terms and clauses here are very obscure, the general sense is that the spoilers destroyed the beauties of the temple with the violence of woodmen.
was famous—literally, "was known."
6. carved work—(1Ki 6:29).
thereof—that is, of the temple, in the writer's mind, though not expressed till Ps 74:7, in which its utter destruction by fire is mentioned (2Ki 25:9; Isa 64:11).
7. defiled—or, "profaned," as in Ps 89:39.
8. together—at once, all alike.
synagogues—literally, "assemblies," for places of assembly, whether such as schools of the prophets (2Ki 4:23), or "synagogues" in the usual sense, there is much doubt.
9. signs—of God's presence, as altar, ark, &c. (compare Ps 74:4; 2Ch 36:18, 19; Da 5:2).
no more any prophet—(Isa 3:2; Jer 40:1; 43:6).
how long—this is to last. Jeremiah's prophecy (Jer 25:11), if published, may not have been generally known or understood. To the bulk of the people, during the captivity, the occasional and local prophetical services of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel would not make an exception to the clause, "there is no more any prophet."
10. (Compare Ps 31:1).
how long … reproach?—us, as deserted of God.
blaspheme thy name—or, "perfections," as power, goodness, &c. (Ps 29:2).
11. Why cease to help us? (Compare Ps 3:7; 7:6; 60:5).
12. For—literally, "And," in an adversative sense.
13-15. Examples of the "salvation wrought" are cited.
divide the sea—that is, Red Sea.
brakest … waters—Pharaoh and his host (compare Isa 51:9, 10; Eze 29:3, 4).
14. heads of leviathan—The word is a collective, and so used for many.
the people … wilderness—that is, wild beasts, as conies (Pr 30:25, 26), are called a people. Others take the passages literally, that the sea monsters thrown out on dry land were food for the wandering Arabs.
15. cleave the fountain—that is, the rocks of Horeb and Kadesh; for fountains.
driedst up—Jordan, and, perhaps, Arnon and Jabbok (Nu 21:14).
16, 17. The fixed orders of nature and bounds of earth are of God.
18. (Compare Ps 74:10; De 32:6). The contrast is striking—that such a God should be thus insulted!
19. multitude—literally, "beast," their flock or company of men (Ps 68:10).
turtledove—that is, the meek and lonely Church.
congregation—literally, "the company," as above—thus the Church is represented as the spoiled and defeated remnant of an army, exposed to violence.
20. And the prevalence of injustice in heathen lands is a reason for invoking God's regard to His promise (compare Nu 14:21; Ps 7:16; 18:48).
21. oppressed—broken (Ps 9:9).
return—from seeking God.
ashamed—(Ps 35:4).
22, 23. (Compare Ps 3:7; 7:6). God hears the wicked to their own ruin (Ge 4:10; 18:20).