Title. Maschil = Instruction. The eleventh of thirteen so named. See note on Title, Psalms 32:0 , 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 a Kohathite, while Ethan was a Merarite. See App-63 and App-64 .
Ezrahite. Put for Zerahite. Probably the name of a district. Compare the case of Elkanah (1 Samuel 1:1 .
The Psalm is prophetic of Messiah's humiliation, corresponding with Psalms 86:0 . See the Structure, p. 789.
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 .
Verse 1
Title. Maschil = Instruction. The eleventh of thirteen so named. See note on Title, Psalms 32:0 , 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 a Kohathite, while Ethan was a Merarite. See App-63 and App-64 .
Ezrahite. Put for Zerahite. Probably the name of a district. Compare the case of Elkanah (1 Samuel 1:1 .
The Psalm is prophetic of Messiah's humiliation, corresponding with Psalms 86:0 . See the Structure, p. 789.
LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 ).
Verse 3
soul. Hebrew. nephesh ( App-13 ), for emphasis.
the grave. Hebrew. Sheol.
Verse 4
am = have been.
I am = I am become.
man. Hebrew. geber.
Verse 5
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 .
Verse 7
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 .
Verse 10
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 .
Verse 13
prevent = come before.
Verse 14
face. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .
Verse 16
over me. Same word as "upon me", Psalms 88:7 .
Verse 17
daily = all the day.
Verse 18
put far from me. Compare Psalms 88:8 , the corresponding member.