A.M. 2981. B.C. 1023.
This is the most melancholy of all the Psalms: it is all lamentation, and mourning, and wo. Here we have the pressure of spirit which the psalmist was under, Psalms 88:1-9. His humble pleading with God, Psalms 88:10-14. A further declaration of his affliction, Psalms 88:15-18.
Title. Upon Mahalath Leannoth Dr. Waterland renders this, The hollow instrument for answering; and Houbigant, For the choirs that they may answer. But Mudge renders the latter word, To create dejection; to raise a pensive gloom or melancholy in the mind; agreeably to the tenor of the Psalm; but probably the words are only the name of the tune to which it was set to music, or of the instrument on which it was played. Maschil of Heman Probably the same person who was famous in David's time, both for his skill in music and for general wisdom: see 1 Kings 4:31; 1 Chronicles 6:33.