* V. 13. The fear of Jehovah, etc., is the usual construction, and the only natural one. It is fully justified, against such objections as Bertheau's, by the import of the verse as a whole, viz., that to wisdom belongs this fear of Jehovah. † VV. 14-16 (see Expl. Notes). , true wisdom, what is really and truly such, in distinction from what often passes for it among men. In the second member, the expression is varied with happy effect (I am, etc., alternating with mine is), giving emphasis as well as variety to the form. There is, therefore, no occasion for construing as a dat. (with implied), suggested by Bertheau as a possible alternative. ? VV. 15, 16. The idea is: Without these qualities (which are mine, and imparted by me, v. 14), there can be no government, * C. B. Michaelis: Timor Domini est odisse malum. Ewald: Jahve fürchten-das ist Böses hassen. Maurer: Timor Jove est odisse malum. Hitzig: Die Furcht Jahve's ist das Böse hassen. † Maurer: Quibus ostendit, timoris Jovæ se magistram esse. So Bertheau: Mit mir gehört, wechselt ich bin Einsicht. Stuart's construction (as for me, my might is understanding) is altogether inadmissible, the use of 5, in this clause, being determined by the other two clauses in immediate connection with it. Such a statement, moreover, is out of place here. The Jewish accentuation gives, without doubt, the true relation of the words. ? Doch könnte man auch vor dem Pronom. das aus a ergänzen; in welchem Falle, eben weil nicht wiederholt ist, לי stehen muss in der Bedeutung von אני no administration of justice. Rightful authority, which alone is government in distinction from usurpation and oppression, is such as is claimed and exercised in obedience to her dictates. The reading (for 7, end of v. 16) in many MSS. and some Edd. (so Chald., Syr., Vulg., * Gr. Ven.), adopted by Norzi as the reading of the text, has too much the appearance of a gloss, or of a repetition from the end of v. 15. The limitation, all righteous judges, is out of place here; on the contrary, all the judges of the earth is in harmony with the previous clauses, and the statement is to be understood in the same sense. V. 17. That love me (the Qeri), as in many MSS. and Edd., † the Sept., Chald., Syr., Vulg. 2 The Chethibh (margin) is to be referred to wisdom herseif (as an object already before the mind of the reader), not to (v. 13), as supposed by Hitzig. V. 18. Of the ȧnaš. lɛy. pry, the most reliable as well as appropriate sense is, long continuing, enduring.||__ And righteousness (see Expl. notes). V. 22. possessed himself of me | Or, established me the beginning of his way (or, in the beginning of his way). Others: created me. V. 19. 7; see note on ch. 3 : 14. its purest state. refined gold, gold in | does not make this necessary),* has been adopted by many,† viz. There is to bestow on those who love me ; this is not wanting, I V. 20. "I lead" (Common Version) is not a recognized use of q. d., it is within my power. Michaelis' objection to this construction (footnote, first col.) is not obviated by reference to 1 Sam. 21:5 (Gesenius, Thes. II., p. 637). Moreover, the connection the Piël form in this verb. * V. 21., substance, as in the Sept. and Vulg.;t so many of the passage (vv. 18-21) is destroyed; for the connecting of the earlier and later Jewish and Christian hebraists. ‡ The construction attributed to Jarchi (though his expression thought ? between vv. 20, 21 and the previous context (giving superbæ, pr. vetustæ, i. e., intactæ et illibatæ. Lee (Heb. Lex.): veyed by the good will of another. רש לו * As expressed by Gesenius (though not his own latest view; see footnote †, 2nd col.), Thes. II., p. 637: Pr. substantiam, essentiam alicujus; vel, quod præstaret, quod alicui præsto est, id quod habet, 3. LXX.: Trαožis. Gr. Venet.: Ovoía. Aben Υπαρξις. Esra Est pro possessione perpetua acquisita in hereditatem æternam. Also in his Hdwbch. (Dietrich's Ausg., 1857): Eig. Subst. Sein, Dasein, Vorhandensein, daher was vorhanden ist, ovoía, Vermögen (vergl. ), Schätze. So wahrscheinlich Spr. 8 21, meinen Freunden Schätze zu verleihen. V. 22. Possessed, etc., a usage naturally arising from the ordip nary meaning of (as shown in the analogous case of zráoua, and in the derivative p), and recognized by the best authorities. || This is clearly the use of the word in Is. 1 : 3, the לְהַנְחִיל אֹהֲבֵי יֵשׁ : יש אתי נחלה רבה * Gesenius, Thes. II., p. 637 (formerly, as in footnote *, first col.) Est mihi quod impertiar diligentibus me. To the objections to this construction he replies (ibidem): † Sept.: Iva ueqiow rots èuè àɣañwow iñaoží. Vulg.: Sunt qui opponunt huic rationi, sic infinitivo præponendum Ut ditem diligentes me. fuisse, et deesse accusativum rei post ; sed illud refellitur So, e. g., Ewald translates: Dass ich meinen Freunden erbe loco 1 Sam. 21:5, hoc verbis Deut. 32 : 8, ubi Habe. accusativus rei itidem omissus est. Hitzig: Erkläre mit Jarchi und Winer im WB.: es ist etwas da, meinen Freunden es in Besitz zu geben. in the way of righteousness, so must they who love me; but the inde (4) possedit. Winer (Simonis Lex.): 1. acquisivit, compara So the earlier Christian hebraists (after their Jewish teachers). E. g., Pagnino (Thes. ling. sanct.): Dominus possedit me initium (principium) viæ ejus (vel initio viæ suæ, Mercerus); and in his version: Dominus possedit me principium viæ suæ. Munster (Dictionarium Heb., 1523): Possedit, procuravit, emit, ox knows his owner; where the meaning is not (as asserted by Maurer) knows his buyer,* as is evident from the nature of the case, and from the parallelism with a. The marginal rendering, possessed himself of me (comparavit sibi), † gives by far the most common signification of the verb in the actual usage of the Heb. Scriptures, viz., to get, to obtain, in whatever manner. But the evidence of its appropriateness here does not seem to me sufficient to justify setting aside from the text the old vernacular rendering, found in all the earlier Eng. versions, and retained in the Common Version. According to Gesenius and others, the word here means created, or prepared. But the signification to establish (regarded by Gesenius as the primary one) would be more apposite. The sense would then be the same as in the parallel passage, Job 28: 27, he established it (n), viz., as the perpetual and unchanging law, both for the material and the moral world. In the beginning, etc., the adverbial accus. (3 118, 2, a), common in Hebrew. There is, therefore, no ground for the assertion: "To supply before, and then translate in the beginning, is manifestly a departure from the text " (Stuart). Vulg.: In initio viarum suarum. So the Chald. and Syr. acquisivit; (Proverbia Salomonis, 1524): Dominus possedit me initium viæ suæ; (Biblia Heb., 1546): Dominus possedit me in initio viæ suæ. Mercier (Pagnini Thes.): Utrumque significat hoc verbum, ut τãoda Græcis, et parare, seu comparare labore, seu industria, vel pretio, et in potestate sua habere, quod et absolute dicimus habere. So C. B. Michaelis: Recte Vulg. possedit me, vel habuit_me. Le Clerc: Jehova possedit me, initio viæ suæ. Schultens: Tanquam peculium eximie carum vel acquirere vel possidere. Castellio: Me Jova principio instituti habuit. Dathe: Me Jova possedit in prima mundi creatione. * Heb. u. chald. Hdwbch.: Part. Käufer Jes. 24 : 2, auch an Stellen wie Jes. 1: 3. με. REVISED VERSION. 23 From everlasting was I anoint- 23 ed, from the beginning, from times before the earth. * Gussett's objections to this use of are unsatisfactory. Such a transfer as this (the remote object construed as the direct one, and the latter as the instrument or medium) is a common and natural phenomenon of language; as, to sprinkle water upon one, and to sprinkle one (or, to be sprinkled) with water. In place of this happy and natural figure of speech, so facile in conception, and so common in language, is proposed the idea of casting, founding (a molten image), to express forming, bringing into being. So in Ps. 2 : 6, I have formed my king on Zion, my holy hill; † and here, from everlasting was I formed (prop. cast in a mould). The objection made by Lengerke and others, that, with this sense of the verb, Ps. 2 : 6 can not be applied to David, because he was not anointed on Zion, is not valid; for the words " on Zion" do not denote the place of anointing, but the seat of the sovereignty to which it was the consecrating symbol. The anointing might be done where it was most convenient; but, wherever performed, its design and purport was to establish this divine sovereignty on Zion, as its earthly, visible seat. ‡ Second member :-, plur. intensive of p (id quod ante est). Gesenius, and some others: || From the first beginnings of zoia tòv faoiléa nov. So Gesenius (Thes. and Lex.). Winer (Simonis Lex.): Perfudit oleo, unxit. C. B. Michaelis: Perfusa, h. e., unda sum in reginam ac principem, etc. Rosenmüller: Inde ab æterno inuncta sum. De Wette: Von Alters her ward ich gesalbt. Ewald: Von Ur her ward ich gesalbt; zu ihrem ewigen Amte, als Ordnerin der Welt gesalbt oder eingeweiht. Umbreit: Ward ich gesalbt. Bertheau: Von Alters her bin ich gesalbt, zu meinem hohen königlichen Berufe. Maurer (Handwörterbuch): Niph. gesalbt werden, die Weisheit zu ihrem königlichen Berufe. So the earlier Christian hebraists. E. g., Mercier (Pagnini Thes.): Metaph. pro constituere, ordinare, creare autorare, inaugurare, quod id oleo fuso fieret. Cocceius (Lex.): A seculo uncta sum, h. e., constituta et declarata sum domina omnium. Fürst (Hdwbch.): To concrate, to install, with_the offering of a libation (3); übertr. weihen, einsetzen, unter Darbringung von Ps. 2: 6. * Virgil, Æn. III. 625: Sanieque exspersa natarent limina. Lengerke: Und Ich doch habe gebildet meinen König auf Zion. erklärt man gemeinhin: Ich habe gesalbt; was dann wenigstens von David nicht gelten könnte, da dieser nicht auf Zion, sondern zu Bätlechem and Hebron gesalbt ist. So Hengstenberg (Kommentar, Ps. 2:6): Und ich habe meinen König gebildet auf Zion. Dr. Alexander's objection (The Psalms, Ps. 2: 6) is obviated by the common use of the word ZION for the Messiah's universal kingdom, with reference always, at least in the Heb. Scriptures, to the local seat of this sovereignty under the Old Testament dispensation. Sept.: 'ExtioÉ μɛ. So the Chald. and Syr. Gesenius (Thes.): Jova creavit me sapientiam ut primitias operum ejus. Müntinghe: Jehova schuf mich, das Erste seiner Werke. Rosenmüller: Jova me paravit (formavit) principium viæ suæ, me omnium primam creavit. Ewald: Jahve schuf mich als der Schöpfung Erstes. Umbreit: Jahve schuf mich, als den ? Schultens In Hebræo est, ab anterioritatibus terræ. C. B. Anfang seines Weges. Bertheau: Schuf mich. Maurer: Jova Michaelis: A primordiis, vel potius ab anticipationibus terræ creavit me primitias actionis suæ, i. e., omnium primum me crea- h. e., inde ab eo quod terræ creationem prævertit. Dathe: Ant, De Wette: Jehova bereitete mich als den Anfang seines ortum terræ. vit. Handelns. Hitzig: Jahve erschuf mich als Erstling seines Thuns. || Gesenius (Lex.): primordia. Ewald: Von der Erde ? As this verb is translated by Symmachus, Ps. 2 : 6, xayo Uranfängen. Umbreit: Von der Erde Anfangszeiten. the earth (Stuart: From the earliest period of the earth); but this | figure of the earth, and of the vault of heaven seeming to rest does not express the true force of the original word. * V. 24, second member. The form is strictly in apposition with ; and, as suggested by Bertheau, † it takes the more naturally the masc. gender, as there is also a plural form, מעינים V. 25. Were sunken. The same word (1927) is applied in Job 38: 6, to the foundations of the earth. The meaning is: were sunken, till they rested firmly in the depths of the earth, for on the bottom of the abyss. The same poetic conception is found in Jonah 2:6; properly, I went down to the bases of the mountains. V. 26. Fields, etc. See the note on Job 5: 10. Second member:—Lit. head (i.e. first) of the clods. Bertheau, and others, as in the margin; but less pertinently in this connection. (, Gesenius, Lex., C, 1.) תבל The word is a poetic designation of the earth, expressive of its fertility or productive power, hence habitable earth, ǹ οἰκουμένη. upon it. V. 28. Gesenius (Thes. and Lex.): "When the fountains of the deep waxed strong; i. e., flowed with violence."* Hitzig paraphrases: "When the fountains of the deep rushed wildly on; as also De Wette: "And the fountains of the deep broke forth with violence.” † Fountains of the deep; refering to the outlets of the abyss of waters, through which it breaks forth to the earth's surface, forming streams and rivers. An instructive allusion to this is found in Ezek. 31:4; (Common Version): The deep ‡ (n) set him up on high with her rivers running about his plants, and sent out her little rivers unto all the trees of the field. So in v. 15 it is restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed, etc. said: I covered the deep for him (for his wickedness), and I There is the same allusion in Gen. 49 : 25, blessings of the deep land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the that lieth under; and in Deut. 33 : 13, blessed of the Lord be his deep that coucheth beneath. Compare also Gen. 7:11, and 8 : 2. Became strong; pouring forth, in measureless abundance, the V. 27, second member; compare Is. 40 : 22, and Job 26 : 10, | waters that fill the channels of mighty rivers. where the expression is drawn, as it is here, from the apparent * Hitzig: Daher die Apposition (als keine Quellen waren, die befrachtet mit Wasser). † Als noch nicht waren die Quellen, die wasserschweren; neben auch das Masc. , Ps. 104 : 10, wesshalb das Masc. des Adject. - um so weniger auffällt. So Rosenmüller : Participium masculinum (cum Dagesch euphonico in ) refert se ad formam nominis masculinum, Ps. 104: 10. † Bertheau: Ehe noch die Berge hineingesenkt waren in der Erde Tiefen, Job 38: 6. ? Und die Summe (wx. Ps. 139:17) oder die Masse der Staubschollen des Erdkreises. By fountains, in this passage, some understand those from which the deep itself was originally poured forth. 2 (Compare * Quum fontes maris invalescerent, h. e., vehementer æstuarent. Winer (Simonis Lex.): Cum valerent (h. e., magna cum vi prorumperent) fontes maris. † Da die Quellen der Fluth anstürmten wild. De Wette: Und gewaltig hervorbrachen die Quellen der Tiefe. As rightly understood by Rosenmüller (and Hitzig): cıan Gen. 49: 25; Deut. 8: 7, 33: 13. de laticibus subterraneis fontibusque, qui plantas alunt, dicitur et ? C. B. Michaelis (and Rosenmüller): Fontes abyssi, per quos aquæ Oceani ex terræ utero eruperunt et auctæ sunt, Gen 7 : 11 Cf. supra v. 24. note on Job 38: 8.) But the above quotations make it clear, | strongest objection is obviated by the construction here given that these are not meant by fountains of the deep; nor is such to the verb. an origin ascribed to the primeval ocean. It is thought by others, with still less probability, that the writer refers to the mass of waters collected in the clouds above; and that by "strong" (or, “firm") is meant (as in Job 26: 8) that "the cloud is not rent under them.”* But such a poetic use of (though possible, indeed) is arbitrarily assumed here, not only without support in usage, but against the clear and invariable use of the word, in numerous other passages. Moreover, "became strong” (or, "firm ") is not properly predicated of fountains, in the sense of being restrained, hindered from pouring forth. Such a predicate belongs to the barrier or obstruction, by which the water is restrained. The Septuagint, taking 28 as = 19 (Cant. 7:1), renders it by áquóĽovoa. † So Gesenius (Thes. and Lex.), Dathe, ‡ and most of the recent critics. But the common and familiar use of the root, and of this consonant form, gives a sense far more in harmony with the rest of the verse, as often pointed out, || and conceded by Gesenius. ¶ Second member :-, plur. intensive (like the Lat. delicia). Its true import and use are shown by Rödiger (Thes. fasc. poster., p. 1485). ** The sense assumed by Bertheau ff is altogether unsuited to the word, in every other passage where it occurs (viz., Ps. 119 : 24, 77, 92, 143, 174; Jer. 31 :20; Is. 5 : 7). The reference is made obvious by the words before him, in the V. 29. Appointed, etc., i. e., determined their extent and posi- next member. tion; compare Job 38 : 4, 5. 60:4, mit 66:12; und schon LXX. and Syr. fassen die Aussage V. 30. (711). The connection begins with the perfect (p, so, als wäre die Weisheit eine Wonne Jahve's v. 22), implied also in the subsequent clauses, and is here continued with the imperfect and Vav consec. One brought up, etc. Compare the use of the verbal root in Esth. 27, and 2 Kings 10: 1, and of the passive part. in Lam. 4: 5, to which this nominal form corresponds in its original consonant elements (like ). This, Hitzig allows, must be conceded, if y is construed in the usual manner. Gesenius' * Ewald: Als der Fluthen Quellen wurden fest. Die Quellen der Fluth könnten die des Meeres auf der Erde sein, allein davon ist kaum erst zu sagen, dass sie fest wurden; wunderbar ist nur, dass die Quellen der obern Wasserfluth im lichten Himmel fest bleiben mit den Wolken, und so ist auch nach dem ersten Gliede bei an das himmlische Meer zu denken. Vergl. Ijob 26: 8. gewesen; wo alsdann passend nach Aquila mit Schultens und Rosenmüller durch alumnus oder nutritius zu übersetzen, und billig (Klagl. 4:5) auszusprechen sein würde. * Thes. I., p. 155: Ne dicam parvuli in sinu gestati imaginem ab hujus loci, qui est de sapientiæ munere dŋuiovoyize coll. Sir I., XXIV., contextu alieniorem esse. † Ἤμην παρ' αὐτῷ ἁρμόζουσα (Itala: Eram penes illum disponens); followed by the Vulgate: Cum eo eram cuncta componens. So the Syr. ‡ Ego ei artifex aderam. ? Umbreit: Da war ich geschickte Künstlerin an seiner Seite. Ewald: Da war ich bei ihm als Künstlerin. Fürst (Hdwbch.): Werkmeisterin, Künstlerin. Maurer: Ego eram juxta eum (ei aderam) opifex. Bertheau: Und da ward ich an seiner Seite eine Künstlerin. Hitzig: Da war ich bei ihm Werkmeisterin. ¶ So formerly: "The rest of the verse agrees best with the idea of a child" (Lex., Dr. Gibbs' trans.); and he still admits (Thes. I., p. 115), aliquam quidem commendationem habet a reliquis hujus commatis imaginibus. + So in the version of Aquila: viðnvovuévn. Pagnino (Thes. || Noldius (Concordant. Annott., 1884): yuyu et npnwa ling. sanct.): Et fui apud eum nutritus (sive educatus). Le non artificum sed puerorum. a Gussett (Comment. ling. Heb., Clerc Aquilam bene vertisse ostendunt sequentia verba, quibus p. 131): In alumno est certe, quod ita venuste apteque possit sapientia sub imagine alumni, quo delectabatur Deus, describitur. alinyoọíÇɛodai. Schultens: Palmam tamen defero alumno, quod subnexa illuc trahat series. C. B. Michaelis: Sapientia se sistit ut alumnum, sive filium èyzókлiov Joh. 1: 18, adeoque Dei Patris delicium. Cocceius (Annott.): Et eram filius in sinu gestatus apud ipsum. Rosenmüller: Et id quidem [de infante, qui gestatur sive nutri** Deliciæ, oblectatio.... proles qua gaudet alitur] omnium optime huc quadrat, ob epitheta, quæ proxime sequuntur, deliciarum et ludentis, quæ sunt puerorum. Mün- quis et delectatur Jer. 31: 20; su plantarium quod in tinghe: Da war ich schon bei ihm, sein liebes Pflegekind. Schel- deliciis habet Jes. 5 : 7. ling: Parvulus tenerrime habitus. ‡ Die Wurzel s konnte an ילד שעשעים †† An entertaining sport, and hence concr. one joyously sporting denken lassen (vergl. Jes. | (da ward ich ergötzliche Spielerei; oder, wie wir sagen würden, |