Psalms 80:10

10 (79-11) The shadow of it covered the hills: and the branches thereof the cedars of God.

Psalms 80:10 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 80:10

The hills were covered with the shadow of it
Alluding to the land of Canaan, which was a mountainous and hilly country, at least some part of it; hence we read of the hill country of Judea, ( Luke 1:39 ) and to the nature of vines, which delight to grow on hills and mountains F16: in a figurative sense this may denote the subjection of kings and kingdoms, comparable to hills, to the Israelites in the times of David and Solomon, ( 2 Samuel 8:1 ) ( 1 Kings 4:21 1 Kings 4:24 ) and the exaltation of the church of Christ, in the latter day, over the hills and mountains, ( Isaiah 2:2 ) . The Targum is,

``the mountains of Jerusalem were covered with the shadow of the house of the sanctuary, and of the houses of the schools:''

and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars;
to these the righteous are compared, ( Psalms 92:13 ) , the Targum is,

``the doctors, the mighty preachers, who are like to the strong cedars:''

the words may be rendered, "the boughs thereof cover the goodly cedars", or "cedars of God" F17; that is, overrun and overtop the goodly cedars; alluding to vines running and growing upon high and goodly trees; and so may denote, as before, the power of Israel over the princes and potentates of the earth, comparable to cedars, the most excellent; as things most excellent have often the name of God added to them; see ( Psalms 104:16 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F16 "Bacchus amat colles----" Virgil Georgic. l. 2. v. 113.
F17 (la yzra hypne) "rami ejus cedros Dei", Tigurine version; so Sept. "et ramia ejus cedri Dei", Musculus, Cocceius; "palmitibus ejus cedri altissimae operiebantur", Piscator, De Dieu; "ramis ejus opertae sunt cedri Dei", Michaelis.

Psalms 80:10 In-Context

8 (79-9) Thou hast brought a vineyard out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the Gentiles and planted it.
9 (79-10) Thou wast the guide of its journey in its sight: thou plantedst the roots thereof, and it filled the land.
10 (79-11) The shadow of it covered the hills: and the branches thereof the cedars of God.
11 (79-12) It stretched forth its branches unto the sea, and its boughs unto the river.
12 (79-13) Why hast thou broken down the hedge thereof, so that all they who pass by the way do pluck it?
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