throne in a later day. In fact, Solomon himself is made to say, after his father's death, Thou hast shewed unto Thy servant David, my father, great mercy and Thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that Thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne as it is this day.' 1K.iii.6. So, too, in 1K.viii.24-26, he says, 'Who hast kept with Thy servant David my father that Thou promisedst him, &c.' And in v.66 we read that the people went unto their tents, joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that Jehovah had done for David, His servant, and for Israel, His people.'

443. Hence, while HENGSTENBERG contends strongly for the general accuracy of the Titles, yet DE WETTE, EWALD, HITZIG, HUPFELD, &c., regard them as very uncertain, and assign to other, and often much later, writers, many of the Psalms attributed to David.

But, as far as these Titles are of any value, as far as their statements are confirmed by any internal evidences from their contents, they help us to maintain the ground already taken. They show that all the Psalms in question, and, therefore, we may justly infer, in the absence of plain proof to the contrary, any other decidedly Jehovistic Psalms, which really belong to David, whether ascribed to him or not, were written, not in the earlier or middle part of his life, when his compositions, as we have seen, were decidedly Elohistic, but towards the close of it.

444. We must now examine carefully all the Psalms of Books I,III,IV,V, whether ascribed to David or not, which exhibit any signs of the time when they were composed.

Book I.

Ps.ii (E.0,J.3, A.1) is not ascribed to David by any Title, but is generally attributed to him. If it be his, it speaks of a time, when kings and rulers were fretting under his yoke, as God's vicegerent, the Anointed king, whom Jehovah had 'set upon His holy hill of Zion,' v.6, and were 'taking counsel together, saying, Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their cords from us.' It is true, the history says nothing of any uneasy movement of this kind, among the nations

whom David had actually subdued. Yet, as he was obliged to 'put garrisons' in Syria of Damascus and Edom, 28.viii.6,14, and as these countries rebelled, and regained their independence immediately after Solomon's accession, 1K.xi.14-25, it is very possible that, in the last years of David's life, he may have seen indications of turbulence among these and other subject peoples, which gave the occasion for such a Psalm as this. It can scarcely be correct to translate in v.12 by 'Son. The word is nowhere used in this sense except in Pr.xxxi.2, and in Chaldaic passages, Ezr.v. 1,2, vi.14, Dan.iii.25, v.22,31, vii.13. In the LXX, Chald., Ethiop., and Arab. versions, instead of 'Kiss the Son' the original is rendered by 'Give heed to instruction.'

Ps.xiv (E.3,J.4) is only another version of the Elohistic Psalm, Ps.liii. In this, besides one or two other verbal alterations, the word Elohim has been in four places changed to Jehovah, so that what was originally (E.7,J.0) now appears as (E.3,J.4). These changes may certainly have been made, as HENGSTENBERG maintains, by David himself; but, if so, we have every reason to believe, from what we have seen of his spare use of the Name Jehovah in the earlier part of his life, that they must have been made in his later days.

Ps.xx (E.3,J.5) and Ps.xxi (E.0,J,4) appear to have been composed for David by one of the devout persons of that time, with reference to his day of trouble' by reason of his son's rebellion. The mention of the Sanctuary and Zion, in xx.2, seems to confirm the Title as to this being a Psalm of David's age. Both would appear to have been written before the fight in which Absalom was killed. The expressions in xxi.4, 'He asked life of Thee, and Thou gavest him a long life, even length of days for ever and ever,' would indicate that David was now advanced in years.

Ps.xxxviii (E.2,J.3,A.3) is ascribed to David, and, if written by him, must have been written, evidently, with reference to his great sin, in the fifty-first year of his life, and would, therefore, be of the same age as Ps.li (E.6,J.0, A.1). This Psalm indeed, can hardly be considered as decidedly Jehovistic, though Jehovah occurs in it thrice and Elohim twice, since Elohim and Adonai occur in it together five times.

Ps.xl (E.4,J.9, A.1) in its last five verses are almost identical with the Elohistic Ps.lxx (E.3,J.2): but the Elohim of the latter is changed twice to Jehovah and once to Adonai in the former, and the converse change is made of Jehovah to Elohim in one instance: comp. Ps.xl.13 and Ps.lxx.1. It is possible that David, in the latter days of his life, may have annexed this older Psalm of five verses to one which he had just composed, making a few verbal alterations in it.

Ps.xli (E.1,J.6), if written by David, must have been written at the time when he fled from Absalom. The words in v.9, 'Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me,' would in that case refer, evidently, to Ahitophel. And, perhaps, the full blessing, poured out in v.1-3 upon those who consider the poor,' may have been drawn from the royal fugitive by the kindness of Shobi, Machir, and Barzillai, in bringing him the necessaries of life for himself and his people, as recorded in 28.xvii.27-29.

lale

food reasons why Ps LV short be ascribed to a
period of his life (as Absalon's rebellion) and the point
of his denying that that Brahm has
that is in the harsh word in it - wh don't occur in

reference to

Lave

Ps XLI. x × 13 14 of LV, Ce doesn't deny may
ferred to abitoffel - he does think that other phrases in
it won't have been afflied by David to one with Abea

445. Book III.

Ps.lxxxiv (E.8,J.7), though not ascribed to David, may have been written by him on the same occasion as the last. The words in v.7, They go from strength to strength; every one of them in Zion appeareth before God,' may refer either to the Tabernacle or Temple. The expressions in v.2, 'My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of Jehovah,' with the description in v.4-7 of the blessedness of those who are able to worship there, correspond to David's state of mind, when driven over Jordan by his son's rebellion. It is an Elohistic Psalm, but not strongly so, as those written at a somewhat earlier period of his life.

Ps.lxxxvi (E.5,J.4,A.7) is ascribed to David, and has all the appearance of being one of his Psalms.

Ps.lxxxvii (E.1,J.2), from the mention of Babylon in v.4, was evidently written after the captivity.

Ps.lxxxviii (E.1,J.4) is inscribed to or for Heman the Ezrahite,' who was, probably, the head of a choir in David's time, 1Ch.xv.19, and, therefore, we may suppose, was in the generation junior to David's. Thus Heman may have written this Psalm in the latter part of David's reign, or David may have written it for Heman in the time of Absalom's rebellion.

Ps.lxxxix (E.3,J.11, A.2) is inscribed to or for Ethan the Ezrahite.' Ethan, also, was probably the head of a choir in David's time, 1Ch.xv.19, and may have written Psalms towards the close of David's life.

But it seems questionable if this particular Psalm could have been written in that age: since it could not have been said, literally, in any part of David's reign, 'Thou hast broken down all his hedges: Thou hast brought his stronghold to ruin: all that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours,' v.40,41. If we understand these words metaphorically, as speaking of the shame and distress, in which David was involved by Absalom's rebellion, yet there is no indication in the history that David's forces were defeated by Absalom's in any engagement, so that it could be written, Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle,' v.43. It seems, however, hardly conceivable that Absalom would have been allowed to raise himself to such power, without his troops, or some portion of them, at all events, having ever once come into collision with the royal forces under Joab. One single defeat — perhaps, of no great importance in itself, so that it would not be noted in such a rapid history of events would be enough to account for the expressions in v.43; and then the whole Psalm may very well be ascribed, like the former, to David himself, who wrote it for Ethan. Most commentators, however, in consequence of the above expressions, suppose it to have been written during the Babylonian Captivity,' when, the family of David being dethroned, and the royal family ruined, the Divine providence had apparently failed.' Bagster's Bible. If so, then Ps.lxxxviii also, whose very similar title is not in any way confirmed by the contents, may also have been written at a much later time than David's.

446. Book IV.

Ps.xc (E.2,J.2, A.1) is ascribed to 'Moses, the man of God.' There is nothing whatever in the Psalm itself to corroborate this Title; or rather-considering the great ages assigned to Aaron, N.xxxiii.39, and Joshua, Jo.xxiv.29, and observing that Caleb was still strong and vigorous at fourscore, Jo.xiv. 10,11, and that it is said of Moses himself, 'Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died; his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated,' D.xxxiv.7,-the expressions in v.10, 'The days of our years are three-score years and ten; and, if by reason of strength they be four-score years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow, for it is soon cut off, and we are gone,' strongly contradict the notion of Moses being the author, if the statements in the Pentateuch are regarded as historically true.

Ps.ci (E.0,J.2) is ascribed to David, but may have been written by any pious king.

Ps.cii (E.1,J.8) is thought by many to have been composed during the Babylonish Captivity. But it seems rather to suit the times of Hezekiah, when distressed by the Assyrians: see v.23,24, comp. with 2K.xx.

Ps.ciii (E.0,J.11) is ascribed to David, probably without reason, as it contains Jehovah so often to the absolute exclusion of Elohim. If written by him, it may have been composed toward the close of his life.

Ps.civ (E.3,J.10) is also ascribed to David in the LXX. It contains the same refrain, 'Bless Jehovah, O my soul,' at the beginning and end, as Ps.ciii, so that the two Psalms were, no doubt, written by the same author. But there is nothing in the contents of either to indicate the age of David. The Hallelujah,' which ends the Psalm in the English version, doubtless belongs properly to the beginning of Ps.cv, as we find it in the LXX.

Ps.cv (E.1,J.6) is not ascribed to David by its Title: but in 1Ch.xvi we have the first fifteen verses of it, with one or two variations, followed by Ps.xcvi and Ps.cvi. 47,48, set forth as a Psalm which David 'delivered into the hands of Asaph and his brethren,' on the day when he brought up the Ark to Mount Zion. This seems, however, to be one of the Chronicler's numerous fictions. For Ps.cv is evidently complete in itself, whoever wrote it; and the first sixteen verses had been first written, in connection with the following verses, at the time when the whole Psalm was composed otherwise it would have been a mere unmeaning fragment. If so, it is not to be believed that such a master of sacred song as David, for a ceremony of such great importance, would have patched together pieces from two or three old Psalms, instead of writing a special song for the occasion.

There is no reason, therefore, for ascribing this Psalm to David. And there can be little doubt that Ps.cv was written at the same time as Ps.cvi, with which it entirely agrees in character, and which was, beyond a doubt, written after the captivity, as appears by v.40-47. Both Psalms also begin and end with 'Hallelujah,' Praise ye Jehovah,' which phrase never occurs in any of the genuine Psalms of David, nor even in any of those which are ascribed to David, but only in these later Psalms of Book IV and Book V, written after the Captivity. This circumstance

also intimates that the word Jehovah came freely into use in later times than those of David, not to speak of the age of Moses. But the fact that the Chronicler quotes in the above passage the doxology at the close of Book IV, Ps.cvi.48, shows, as we have said, (228) that the collection of the Psalms was probably completed in its present form at the time when he wrote.

447. Book V.

Ps.cviii (E.6,J.1) has been already considered (439).

Ps.cix (E.2,J.7,A.1) is ascribed to David, and, if written by him, can only be referred to the time of Absalom's rebellion and the cursing of Shimei, v.17-20, which certainly David seems to have resented exceedingly, judging from his words to Solomon, if they are recorded correctly in 1K.ii.9.

Ps.cx (E.0,J.3,A.1) is ascribed to David. If written by him, it may have been composed towards the close of his life, with reference to the promised 'seed,' 28.vii.12, whose kingdom was to be established for ever,' v.13, and whom David himself salutes here as his Lord, seeing mentally beforehand the glories of his reign. BLEEK considers that it was more probably written for David, that is, with respect to him.

Ps.cxxii (E.1,J.4) is ascribed to David, and may have been written by him in his old age: though the expression in v.5, 'the thrones of the house of David,' rather seems to point to a later age.

Ps.cxxiv (E.0,J.4) is also ascribed to David, and may, like the last, have been written in his old age. But there is no internal evidence to fix it upon him. The note in Bagster's Bible is as follows:

It is uncertain what the particular deliverance was, which is celebrated in this Psalm. It is attributed to David in the present copies of the Hebrew text. But it is to be remarked that this Title is wanting in three MSS. and in the ancient versions. Some refer it to the deliverance of Hezekiah from Sennacherib, and others to the return from the Babylonian captivity; while Dr. A. CLARKE refers it to that of the Jews from the massacre intended by Haman.'

Ps.cxxxi (E.0,J.2) is ascribed to David, and may be one of his later Psalms. Ps.cxxxii (E.0,J.6) may have been written by Solomon, or in Solomon's age, when the Ark was taken up into the Temple. The Chronicler inserts v.8,9,10,16, of this Psalm at the end of Solomon's prayer when the Temple was opened. 2Ch.vi.41,42.

Ps.cxxxiii (E.0,J.1) is ascribed to David, and may be one of his later Psalms. Ps.cxxxviii (E.0,J.6) is ascribed to David, and may have been written by him in his old age. But five MSS. omit the Title; and the LXX and Arabic versions assign this Psalm to Haggai and Zechariah.

Ps.cxxxix (E.3,J.3) is ascribed to David, and may be one of his later Psalms. Ps.cxl (E.1,J.7,A.1), Ps.cxli (E.0,J.3, A.1), and Ps.cxlii (E.0,J.3) are all ascribed to David, the last being entitled, 'Maschil of David: a Prayer when he was in the cave.' We have already seen (426) that it is very improbable that this