-
Psalms 88:1 open_in_new
Title. Maschil . Instruction. The eleventh of thirteen so named. See note on Title, Psalms 32, and App-65. The title, rearranged as above, removes the difficulty of this Psalm being ascribed to two different writers.
Heman. Celebrated for wisdom (with Ethan, 89), 1 Kings 4:31. 1Ch 6:33, 1 Chronicles 6:44; 1 Chronicles 25:4. He was. Kohathite, while Ethan was. Merarite. See App-63 and App-64.
Ezrahite. Put for Zerahite. Probably the name of. district. Compare the case of Elkanah (1 Samuel 1:1.
The Psalm is prophetic of Messiah's humiliation, corresponding with Psalms 86. See the Structure, p. 789.
LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4).
-
Psalms 88:3 open_in_new
soul. Hebrew. nephesh (App-13), for emphasis.
the grave. Hebrew. Sheol.
-
Psalms 88:4 open_in_new
am. have been.
I am. I am become.
man. Hebrew. geber.
-
Psalms 88:5 open_in_new
Free. Set free: i.e. by death, so as to be free from the Law (according to the Talmud, Shabbath, vol. 151. B).
the grave. sepulchre. Hebrew. keber. See App-35.
-
Psalms 88:7 open_in_new
upon me. Same word as "over me", Psalms 88:16, with which the member corresponds.
Selah. Connecting Psalms 88:6 with its amplification in verses: Psalms 88:8; Psalms 88:9.
-
Psalms 88:10 open_in_new
dead. Hebrew. Rephaim, who have no resurrection. See note on Isaiah 26:14, where it is rendered "deceased"; and 19, where it is rendered "the dead". Compare App-23 and App-25.
Selah. Connecting Psalms 88:10 with its amplification in verses: Psalms 88:11-13. Compare Selah, Psalms 88:7. See App-66.
-
Psalms 88:13 open_in_new
prevent. come before.
-
Psalms 88:14 open_in_new
face. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6.
-
Psalms 88:16 open_in_new
over me. Same word as "upon me", Psalms 88:7.
-
Psalms 88:17 open_in_new
daily. all the day.
-
Psalms 88:18 open_in_new
put far from me. Compare Psalms 88:8, the corresponding member.