1.
The Title of this eighty-seventh Psalm contains a fresh subject for enquiry: the words occurring here, "for Melech to respond," being nowhere else found. We have already given our opinion on the meaning of the titles Psalmus Cantici and Canticum Psalmi: 1 and the words, "sons of Core," are constantly repeated, and have often been explained: so also "to the end;" but what comes next in this title is peculiar. For "Melech" we may translate into Latin "for the chorus," for chorus is the sense of the Hebrew word Melech. 2 ...The Passion of our Lord is here prophesied. Now the Apostle Peter saith, "Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow His steps;" 3 this is the meaning of "to respond." The Apostle John also saith, "As Christ laid down His life for us, so ought we also to lay down our lives for the brethren;" 4 this also is to respond. But the choir signifies concord, which consists in charity: whoever therefore in imitation of our Lord's Passion gives up his body to be burnt, if he have not charity, does not answer in the choir, and therefore it profiteth him nothing. 5 Further, as in Latin the terms Precentor and Succentor are used to denote in music the performer who sings the first part, and him who takes it up; just so in this song of the Passion, Christ going before is followed by the choir of martyrs unto the end of gaining crowns in Heaven. This is sung by "the sons of Core," that is, the imitators of Christ's Passion: as Christ was crucified in Calvary, which is the interpretation of the Hebrew word Core. 6 This also is "the understanding of Aeman the Israelite:" 7 words occurring at the end of this title. Aeman is said to mean, "his brother:" for Christ deigns to make those His brethren, who understand the mystery of His Cross, and not only are not ashamed of it, but faithfully glory in it, not praising themselves for their own merits, but grateful for His grace: so that it may be said to each of them, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile," 8 just as holy Scripture says of Israel himself, that he was without guile. 9
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On Ps. xlvii. p. 160; also xlvi. p. 155, note 8. ↩
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[The author here adds: "What other meaning then can we attach to the words, for the chorus to respond,' but this, that the choir is to make responses with the singer? And thus we must suppose that not this only, but other Psalms were chanted, though they have received different titles, probably for the sake of variety to relieve weariness: for this Psalm was not the only one held worthy of choral responses, since it is not the only one which relates to our Lord's Passion. If indeed there is any other reason for so great a variety in the titles, by which it can be shown that all the Psalms which are distinguished in their titles are so marked, as that the title of no one of them can be fitted to another, I must confess that I could not discover it, though I tried long; and whatever I have read on the subject in the works of my predecessors has not satisfied my hopes, or, perhaps, my slowness of apprehension. I will therefore explain in allusion to what mystery the words, for the choir to respond,' that is, that the singer should be answered by a choir, seem to me to be used."--C.] ↩
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1 Pet. ii. 21. ↩
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1 John iii. 16. ↩
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1 Cor. xiii. 3. ↩
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Matt. xxvii. 33. ↩
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Israelitae, vulg. Ezrahitae. See also the title of the next Psalm. Ben. conjectures it may be for Zaraite, as Ethan and Heman are called sons of Zara, 1 Chron. ii. 6, and in 1 Kings iv. 31, where Solomon is said to be "wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite and Heman." LXX. has Zarite. ↩
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John i. 47. ↩
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Gen. xxv. 27. ↩
