Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, David Brown (1871). Conservative evangelical (Church of Scotland and Anglican); concise and critical.
Praise is given to God for victory, perhaps that recorded (Ch2 20:20-30); and His dominions over all people, Jews and Gentiles, is asserted. (Psa 47:1-9)
clap . . . hands . . . people — literally, "peoples," or "nations" (compare Deu 32:43; Psa 18:49; Psa 98:9).
He shall . . . inheritance — the heathen to be possessed by His Church (Psa 2:8), as Canaan by the Jews.
excellency of Jacob — literally, "pride," or, that in which he glories (not necessarily, though often, in a bad sense), the privileges of the chosen people —
whom he loved — His love being the sole cause of granting them.
God, victorious over His enemies, reascends to heaven, amid the triumphant praises of His people, who celebrate His sovereign dominion. This sovereignty is what the Psalm teaches; hence he adds,
sing . . . praises with understanding — literally, "sing and play an instructive (Psalm)." The whole typifies Christ's ascension (compare Psa 68:18).
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Psalms 47
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, David Brown (1871). Conservative evangelical (Church of Scotland and Anglican); concise and critical.
Introduction to chapter 47
Praise is given to God for victory, perhaps that recorded (Ch2 20:20-30); and His dominions over all people, Jews and Gentiles, is asserted. (Psa 47:1-9)
clap . . . hands . . . people — literally, "peoples," or "nations" (compare Deu 32:43; Psa 18:49; Psa 98:9).
Psalms 47:2
His universal sovereignty now exists, and will be made known.
Psalms 47:3
under us — that is, His saints; Israel's temporal victories were types of the spiritual conquests of the true Church.
Psalms 47:4
He shall . . . inheritance — the heathen to be possessed by His Church (Psa 2:8), as Canaan by the Jews.
excellency of Jacob — literally, "pride," or, that in which he glories (not necessarily, though often, in a bad sense), the privileges of the chosen people —
whom he loved — His love being the sole cause of granting them.
Psalms 47:5
God, victorious over His enemies, reascends to heaven, amid the triumphant praises of His people, who celebrate His sovereign dominion. This sovereignty is what the Psalm teaches; hence he adds,
sing . . . praises with understanding — literally, "sing and play an instructive (Psalm)." The whole typifies Christ's ascension (compare Psa 68:18).
Psalms 47:8
The instruction continued.
throne of . . . holiness — or, "holy throne" (see on Psa 2:6; Psa 23:4).
Psalms 47:9
princes — who represent peoples. For —
even — supply, "as," or, "to" — that is, they all become united under covenant with Abraham's God.
shields — as in Hos 4:18, "rulers" [Margin].
Public domain text from the HelloAO Free Use Bible API. Bible references link to the King James text.