Elsewhere it is said that the enemies have driven over Israel (Psalm 66:12), or have gone over its back (Isaiah 51:23); here the customary figurative language חרשׁ און in Job 4:8 (cf. Hosea 10:13) is extended to another figure of hostile dealing: without compassion and without consideration they ill-treated the stretched-forth back of the people who were held in subjection, as though it were arable land, and, without restraining their ferocity and setting a limit to their spoiling of the enslaved people and country, they drew their furrow-strip (מעניתם, according to the Ker מענותם) long. But מענה does not signify (as Keil on 1 Samuel 14:14 is of opinion, although explaining the passage more correctly than Thenius) the furrow ( equals תּלם, גּדוּד), but, like Arab. ma‛nât, a strip of arable land which the ploughman takes in hand at one time, at both ends of which consequently the ploughing team (צמד) always comes to a stand, turns round, and ploughs a new furrow; from ענה, to bend, turn (vid., Wetzstein's Excursus II p. . It is therefore: they drew their furrow-turning long (dative of the object instead of the accusative with Hiph., as e.g., in Isaiah 29:2, cf. with Piel in Psalm 34:4; Psalm 116:16, and Kal Psalm 69:6, after the Aramaic style, although it is not unhebraic). Righteous is Jahve - this is an universal truth, which has been verified in the present circumstances; - He hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked (עבות as in Psalm 2:3; here, however, it is suggested by the metaphor in Psalm 129:3, cf. Job 39:10; lxx αὐχένας, i.e., ענוק), with which they held Israel bound. From that which has just been experienced Israel derives the hope that all Zion's haters (a newly coined name for the enemies of the religion of Israel) will be obliged to retreat with shame and confusion.

Psalm 130:1 Parallel Commentaries

A.M. cir

3464. B.C. cir

540 A Song.

Psalm 121:1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from where comes my help.

Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

Psalm 123:1 To you lift I up my eyes, O you that dwell in the heavens.

Psalm 124:1 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;

Psalm 125:1 They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but stays for ever.

Psalm 126:1 When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

Psalm 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman wakes but in vain.

Psalm 128:1 Blessed is every one that fears the LORD; that walks in his ways.

Psalm 129:1 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:

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Psalm 18:4-6,16 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid...

Psalm 25:16-18 Turn you to me, and have mercy on me; for I am desolate and afflicted...

Psalm 40:2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet on a rock, and established my goings.

Psalm 42:7 Deep calls to deep at the noise of your waterspouts: all your waves and your billows are gone over me.

Psalm 60:1,2 O God, you have cast us off, you have scattered us, you have been displeased; O turn yourself to us again...

Psalm 71:20 You, which have showed me great and sore troubles, shall quicken me again, and shall bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

Psalm 88:6,7 You have laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps...

Psalm 116:3,4 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell got hold on me: I found trouble and sorrow...

Lamentations 3:53-55 They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone on me...

Jonah 2:2-4 And said, I cried by reason of my affliction to the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and you heard my voice...

Hebrews 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh...