Psalms 99:1-8

1 Jehovah reigneth; let the peoples tremble: He sitteth [above] the cherubim; let the earth be moved.

2 Jehovah is great in Zion; And he is high above all the peoples.

3 Let them praise thy great and terrible name: Holy is he.

4 The king's strength also loveth justice; Thou dost establish equity; Thou executest justice and righteousness in Jacob.

5 Exalt ye Jehovah our God, And worship at his footstool: Holy is he.

6 Moses and Aaron among his priests, And Samuel among them that call upon his name; They called upon Jehovah, and he answered them.

7 He spake unto them in the pillar of cloud: They kept his testimonies, And the statute that he gave them.

8 Thou answeredst them, O Jehovah our God: Thou wast a God that forgavest them, Though thou tookest vengeance of their doings.

Psalms 99:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 99

This psalm, with the foregoing from Ps 90:1 is ascribed to Moses by Jarchi and others; but cannot be his, since mention is made of Samuel in it, who lived many years after him. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, more rightly attribute it to David; the inscription of the Syriac version, after saying it is David's, subjoins,

``concerning the destruction of the Midianites, whom Moses and the people of Israel led captive;''

of which there is not the least mention in it; but it more truly adds,

``and a prophecy concerning the glory of the kingdom of the Messiah;''

as it undoubtedly is.