Bible Commentaries
E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes
Psalms 88
Title. Maschil = Instruction. The eleventh of thirteen so named. See note on Title, Psalm 32, 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. 1 Chronicles 6:33, 1 Chronicles 6:44; 1 Chronicles 25:4. He was a Kohathite, while Ethan was a Merarite. See App-63and 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 Psalm 86. See the Structure, p. 789.
LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4).
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.
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.
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-23and App-25.
Selah. Connecting Psalms 88:10 with its amplification in verses: Psalms 88:11-13. Compare Selah, Psalms 88:7. See App-66.
put far from me. Compare Psalms 88:8, the corresponding member.
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