translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: PSA

label: NET study note

text: . The author of this lengthy didactic psalm rehearses Israel’s history. He praises God for his power, goodness and patience, but also reminds his audience that sin angers God and prompts his judgment. In the conclusion to the psalm the author elevates Jerusalem as God’s chosen city and David as his chosen king.


text: They retreated . This could refer to the northern tribes’ failure to conquer completely their allotted territory (see ), or it could refer generally to the typical consequence (military defeat) of their sin (see vv. 10-11 ).


text: The region of Zoan was located in the Egyptian delta, where the enslaved Israelites lived (see Num 13:22 ; Isa 19:11, 13; 30:4 ; Ezek 30:14 ).


text: Manna was apparently shaped like a seed ( Exod 16:31 ), perhaps explaining why it is here compared to grain.


text: Because of the reference to “heaven” in the preceding verse, it is likely that mighty ones refers here to the angels of heaven. The LXX translates “angels” here, as do a number of modern translations (NEB, NIV, NRSV).


text: The basic sense of the word “holy” is “set apart from that which is commonplace, special, unique.” The Lord’s holiness is first and foremost his transcendent sovereignty as the ruler of the world. He is “set apart” from the world over which he rules. At the same time his holiness encompasses his moral authority, which derives from his royal position. As king he has the right to dictate to his subjects how they are to live; indeed his very own character sets the standard for proper behavior. This expression is a common title for the Lord in the book of Isaiah.


text: Verses 60-61 refer to the Philistines’ capture of the ark in the days of Eli ( 1 Sam 4:1-11 ).


text: Because of the invading army and the ensuing panic, the priests’ widows had no time to carry out the normal mourning rites.