Bible Commentaries
Psalms 88

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.