\<>\. This psalm was written in later times, after many of the distresses of Israel; very probably upon the Jews return from the Babylonish captivity, by Ezra, or some other godly person.

Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth That is, the enemies of Israel, afterwards called “ploughers”. This may be understood of literal Israel, the posterity of Jacob; whose youth was the beginning of their constitution as a nation and church, or the first times of it; when they were…

Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth This is repeated for the confirmation of it, to excite attention to it, and to express the vehement affection of the speaker; yet they have not prevailed against me; the Egyptians could not prevail against literal Israel; the more they were…

The ploughers ploughed upon my back “Sinners”, as the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions, render it; such that plough iniquity, and sow wickedness, ; which may be understood of their carrying Israel captive, when they put yokes and bonds upon their necks, as upon oxen when they plough,…

The Lord is righteous Or gracious and merciful; hence acts of mercy are called righteousness in the Hebrew language; the Lord has compassion on his people under their afflictions, and delivers them; or is faithful to his promises of salvation to them, and just and righteous to render tribulation to…

Let them all be confounded Or “ashamed”: as all the enemies of God’s people will be sooner or later, either in this world, or however when Christ shall come in the clouds of heaven; or let them be disappointed of their views, aims, and ends, when they will be confounded, as disappointed persons…

Let them be as the grass upon the housetops The tops of the houses in Judea were flat, and so grass grew upon them, being covered with plaster of terrace; though it was but small and weak, and being on high was exposed to the scorching sun, and soon withered [[1]]; and Menochius says [[2]] he saw…

Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand Such grass never rises high enough to be mowed, nor is of that account to have such pains taken with it; nor the quantity so large as to fill a mower’s hand, and carry it away in his arms; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom; when corn is mowed or reaped,…

Neither do they which go by say, the blessing of the Lord be upon you As was usual with passengers, when they went by where mowers, and reapers, and binders, were at work in the field in harvest time; who used to wish the presence and blessing of God with them, and upon their labours; and who…