Psalm 144:1-6

1 Ein Psalm Davids. Gelobet sei der HERR, mein Hort, der meine Hände lehrt streiten und meine Fäuste kriegen,

2 meine Güte und meine Burg, mein Schutz und mein Erretter, mein Schild, auf den ich traue, der mein Volk unter mich zwingt.

3 HERR, was ist der Mensch, daß du dich sein annimmst, und des Menschen Kind, daß du ihn so achtest?

4 Ist doch der Mensch gleich wie nichts; seine Zeit fährt dahin wie ein Schatten.

5 HERR, neige deine Himmel und fahre herab; rühre die Berge an, daß sie rauchen;

6 laß blitzen und zerstreue sie; schieße deine Strahlen und schrecke sie;

Psalm 144:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 144

\\<>\\. This psalm was written by David; not on account of the return of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity, by a spirit of prophecy, as Theodoret; but on his own account, after he was come to the throne, and was king over all Israel; and was delivered from the was between him and Israel, and from the war of the Philistines, as Kimchi observes, having gained two victories over them: or it was written between the two victories, and before he had conquered all his enemies; since he prays to be delivered from the hand of strange children, Ps 144:7,11. R. Obadiah thinks it was written on the account of his deliverance from Absalom and Sheba; but the former is best. Some copies of the Septuagint, and also the Vulgate Latin, Ethiopic, and Arabic versions, have in their titles these words, ``against Goliath;'' and so Apollinarius; as if it was written on account of his combat with him, and victory over him; but this clause is not in the Hebrew Bibles; nor could Theodoret find it in the Septuagint in the Hexapla in his time. The Syriac inscription is still more foreign to the purpose, ``a psalm of David, when he slew Asaph the brother of Goliath.'' R. Saadiah Gaon interprets this psalm of the times of the Messiah; and there are several things in it which are applicable to him.