Psalms 44:11-14 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Thou hast given us like sheep, &c. Some of us they killed in the pursuit, without any mercy, like sheep appointed for the shambles. And hast scattered us among the heathen Those of us who were not slain have been carried into captivity, and dispersed in several places. Thou sellest thy people for naught Sufferest them to be sold for slaves at very inconsiderable prices. The expression implies the low esteem in which they were with God. And dost not increase thy wealth by their price “We are thus sadly handled, without the comfort of bringing in any honour to thee by our calamities; since thy church among us is defaced, and no other people taken instead of us, by whom thy name may be glorified.” Hammond. Or, as Poole interprets the words, “Thou hast not advanced thy honour and service thereby; for thy enemies do not serve thee more than thy people, nor yet so much.” Thou makest us a scorn and derision, &c. They contemn our persons, and sport themselves with our miseries. Thou makest us a by-word Or a proverb, as משׁל, mashal, signifies. Thou hast brought upon us the curse pronounced by thy servant Moses, Deuteronomy 28:37. For we are become a by-word among the heathen, who, when they would express the wretchedness of any person, say, He is viler or more miserable than a Jew. A shaking of the head When they say nothing, they signify their contempt and derision of us, by the scornful motion of their heads.