Psalms 98 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

XCVIII.

This psalm plainly belongs to that cycle of literature produced by the joy of the Restoration, and is in fact little more than a compilation from Isaiah 40:26, and from other psalms, especially Psalms 96. The psalm is irregular in form.

Title. — This is the only hymn of the whole collection with the bare inscription “a psalm.”

Victory. — The word more commonly rendered “salvation,” as, indeed, in next verse.

Make a joyful noise. — Better, Break out into songs and music.

Sing... — Rather, Play to Jehovah on a harp. on a harp, and with melodious sound of music.

Trumpets... cornet. — (See Numbers 10:2; Exodus 19:16; and Bible Educator, ii. 231, 232.) This is the only place in the psalm where the chatsotsereh, or “straight trumpet” is mentioned.

See Psalms 96:11.

“Listen! the mighty Being is awake
And doth with His eternal motion make
A sound like thunder everlastingly.”
WORDSWORTH.

Clap their hands. — This expression, descriptive of the lapping sound of waves, occurs also in Isaiah 55:12.

Let the hills be joyful together. —

“Far along,
From peak to peak, the rattling crags among,
Leaps the live thunder! Not from one long cloud,
But every mountain now hath found a tongue,
And Jura answers through her misty shroud
Back to the joyous Alps who call to her aloud.”
BYRON: Childe Harold, canto iii.

See Psalms 96:13.