Commentary on Psalms - Volume 3 - Bible Study Guides

Comm on Psalms (V3)John Calvinthe desert, is, I have no doubt, to be understood of those who, dwelling towards the south, were ata great distance from the land of Canaan. The Prophet immediately adds, that the enemies of theking shall lick the dust in token of their reverence. This, as is well known, was in ancient times acustomary ceremony among the nations of the East; and Alexander the Great, after he had conqueredthe East, wished to compel his subjects to practice it, from which arose great dissatisfaction andcontentions, the Macedonians disdainfully refusing to yield such a slavish and degrading mark ofsubjection. 136 The meaning then is, that the king chosen by God in Judea will obtain so completea victory over all his enemies, far and wide, that they shall come humbly to pay him homage.10. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents. The Psalmist still continues, asin the preceding verse, to speak of the extent of the kingdom. The Hebrews apply the appellationof Tarshish to the whole coast, which looks towards Cilicia. By the isles, therefore, is denoted thewhole coast of the Mediterranean Sea, from Cilicia to Greece. As the Jews, contenting themselveswith the commodities of their own country, did not undertake voyages to distant countries, likeother nations; God having expressly required them to confine themselves within the limits of theirown country, that they might not be corrupted by the manners of strangers; they were accustomed,in consequence of this, to apply the appellation of isles to those countries which were on the otherside of the sea. I indeed admit that Cyprus, Crete, and other islands, are comprehended under thisname; but I also maintain that it applies to all the territories which were situated beyond theMediterranean Sea. By the words , minchah, a present, and , eshcar, a gift, must be understoodany tribute or custom, and not voluntary offerings; for it is vanquished enemies, and the mark ortoken of their subjection, which are spoken of. These terms appear to be used intentionally in thisplace, in order to mitigate the odium attached to such a mark of subjugation; 137 as if the inspiredwriter indirectly reproved subjects, if they defrauded their kings of their revenues. By , Sheba,some think Arabia is intended, and by , Seba, Ethiopia. Some, however, by the first wordunderstand all that part of the Gulf of Arabia which lies towards Africa; and by the second, whichis written with the letter , samech, the country of Sabea, 138 the more pleasant and fruitful country.This opinion is probably the more correct of the two. It is unnecessary here to remark how foolishlythis passage has been wrested in the Church of Rome. They chant this verse as referring to thephilosophers or wise men who came to worship Christ; as if, indeed, it were in their power ofphilosophers to make kings all upon a sudden; and in addition to this, to change the quarters of theworld, to make of the east the south or the west.11. And all kings shall prostrate themselves before him. This verse contains a more distinctstatement of the truth, That the whole world will be brought in subjection to the authority of Christ.The kingdom of Judah was unquestionably never more flourishing than under the reign of Solomon;appears to be most suitable, both here and in Psalm 74:14. Hence it is used Isaiah 13:21; 34:14; Jeremiah 50:39, for the animals,— the wild beasts that inhabit jungles and deserts.” The LXX. translate it Αιθιοπες, “the Æthiopians;” and in like manner theVulgate, Æthiopic, and Arabic versions. Boothroyd is of opinion that the wild Arabs may be intended.136 The kings of Persia never admitted any into their presence without exacting this act of adoration, and it was the Persiancustom which Alexander wished to introduce among the Macedonians. — Rollin’s Ancient History, volume 4, p. 288. Thiscustom is still extant among the Turks. As soon as an ambassador sees the Sultan, he falls on his knees and kisses the ground.137 , minchah, properly signifies a friendly offering; and , eshcar, a compensative present made on account of benefitsreceived, — a gift which a person presents as a token of gratitude. — See Appendix.138 Supposed to be in Arabia Felix. “The Septuagint reads, ‘The kings of the Arabs, and Sabaeans, shall bring gifts.’ So thatanciently, perhaps, Sheba was the general name of Arabia; and Seba, or Sabaea, was that particular province of it called ArabiaFelix, lying to the South, between the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea.” — Hewlett.67