Introduction
A Psalm and Song; or, A Psalm of Song; i.e. either,
1. A Psalm to be sung with the voice to an instrument. Or,
2. A Psalm of joy and praise; for so this is. And this Hebrew word schir may be here taken not simply for a song, but for a joyful song, as it is Genesis 31:27; Exodus 15:1; Psalms 33:3; Psalms 42:8; Proverbs 25:20; Isaiah 30:29; Amos 8:3,Amos 8:10. At the dedication of the house of David; either,
1. At the dedication of the temple, called the house, or that house, eminently and emphatically. So the Chaldee paraphrast and the Hebrew doctors understand it. And then the last words, of David, are to be joined with the first, a Psalm and Song. But this seems not probable, because the temple was not built by David, nor in his days, although he might prescribe a Psalm to be used afterwards upon that occasion. Or,
2. At the dedication of David’s house, which was built, 2 Samuel 5:11, and doubtless was dedicated, as God had commanded. See Deuteronomy 20:5; Nehemiah 12:27. Or,
3. At the second dedication of David’s house, after it had been polluted by Absalom and his concubines. But there is no law of God for any re-dedication of houses in such cases, nor any evidence that David did so. And indeed it seems strange, if this Psalm was made upon this occasion, or upon any of these dedications here mentioned, that there should not be one line in it suitable to that occasion. Others therefore make these words,
Be the first to react on this!
