Ps. 80:0 THE ARGUMENT This Psalm was composed either, 1. Upon the same occasion with the former, to wit, the destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans, as most conceive; which yet seems not probable, because here is no mention of the temple, nor of Jerusalem, as there is in the foregoing Psalm; nor…

Shoshannim-Eduth seems to be the name of a musical instrument; though many separate the latter part of the word from the former, and expound Eduth, a testimony, or witness between God and his people, of his relation to them, and of their dependence upon him.

i.e. Before all the tribes of Israel; for whom he mentions only these three tribes, either, 1. Because of their special relation to Joseph here named, Ps. 80:1; Ephraim and Manasseh being his sons, and Benjamin his brother both by his father and mother. Or, 2.

Turn us again; either, l. To our former quiet and flourishing estate; or, 2. To thyself, from whom Ephraim and Manasseh with the rest of the ten tribes have apostatized. See the like prayer of Elijah for them, 1 Kings 18:37.

Thou art so far from answering our prayers whereby we seek to appease thee, that by thy continuance and increase of our miseries thou seemest to be the more incensed against us by them.

With the bread of tears; either with tears instead of bread, which they either want, or cannot eat because their grief hath taken away their appetites; or with tears as frequent and constant as their eating it. See the like phrase Ps. 42:3.

A strife, i.e. the object or matter of their strife or contention; either, 1. They strive one with another who shrill do us most mischief, or take our spoils to themselves; or, 2. They are perpetually quarrelling with us, and seeking occasions against us.

A vine; to which the Israel or church of God is oft compared; as Isa. 5:2, Jer. 2:21, Ezek. 17:6, Matt. 21:32. Out of Egypt; he alludes to the custom of transplanting trees for their more advantageous growth. The heathen; the nations of Canaan.

Thou preparedst room; or, didst purge or cleanse the soil; taking out stones or sticks, or other roots or plants, which might hinder its growth or fruitfulness. Thou didst root out those idolatrous and wicked nations which might either corrupt or destroy them.

They grew so numerous, that they filled not only the fruitful valleys, but even the barren mountains. Goodly cedars; far differing from ordinary vines, whose boughs are weak and small, and creep upon the walls or ground.

They possessed or subdued the whole land from the midland sea to the river Euphrates; which were the bounds allotted to them by God, Gen. 15:18.

Broken down her hedges; taken away thy protection, which was to them for walls and bulwarks. Pluck her; pluck up her grapes and boughs, and strike at her very root.

The wood; where boars use to lodge, as it is noted by many authors; by which he understands their fierce and furious enemies.

The vineyard; or, the root, or stock, or plant, as others render it. Thy right hand hath planted; which thou hast planted or fixed with thy might and power; whereof the right hand is both a sign or symbol and an instrument. The branch, Heb. the son, i.e. either, 1.

It is burned with fire, to wit, thy vineyard or branch. They perish; thy people of Israel, signified by the vine. So now he passeth from the metaphor to the thing designed by it. At the rebuke of thy countenance; through the effects of thine anger, without which their enemies could do them no hurt.

Upon the man, to protect and strengthen him. Of thy right hand; whom thy right hand planted, Ps. 80:15; whom thou hast loved and respected even as thy right hand, which is very dear to us, Matt. 5:30, Matt. 18:8, Zech. 13:7; thy Benjamin, whom he mentioned Ps.

This glorious favour of thine shall oblige us to love and serve thee, and trust in thee so long as we have a being, and no more to revolt from thee to idolatry or wickedness, as we have too oft done. Quicken us; revive and restore us to our former tranquillity and happiness.