Chapter One Hundred Nineteen

Under the name “song of ascents” or in Greek “song of degrees” is known an entire series of psalms, beginning with 120 and ending with 133. Most of these psalms were written either during the Babylonian captivity or shortly after it. They received their name because these psalms were ordinarily sung in the post-captivity period by Levites standing in two rows on the steps of the temple at the time when the high priest in a golden vessel carried water from the Siloam spring into the temple, that is, the “songs of degrees” were sung on the steps of the temple. The Hebrew name “song of ascents” is explained in the sense of indicating that psalms with such a heading were sung either by the Hebrews upon their return from captivity, that is, from Babylon, which is situated in a plain, upon their ascent to the mountains of Judea, or in general by pilgrims approaching and ascending Zion’s mountain during the great annual sacred festivals of the Hebrew people.

Ps 119 can be considered written during the captivity, before its end, when the Hebrews were full of expectations of returning to their homeland. The stay in captivity is indicated by verse 5.

When I cried to the Lord, He heard my prayer. Deliver me now from the wicked enemy (1–2). What wickedness can bring to the enemy? Only the arrows of the Mighty One and coals of broom (3–4). It is difficult for me to live among strangers. I am peaceful, but whenever I speak, my speech provokes hostile actions from their side (5–7).

Psalm 119:1. To the Lord I cried in my distress, and He heard me. Comfort for the captive Hebrew came from remembrance of the many mercies that the Lord showed the Hebrews in moments of their distress, when they turned to Him with prayer. This instilled in him confidence that in his present condition his prayer to the Lord would also be heard.

Psalm 119:2. O Lord! deliver my soul from lying lips, from a wicked tongue. By “lying lips” and “wicked tongue” are meant the pagan nations surrounding the Hebrews. They are lying and wicked because they could not sympathize with the Hebrews in their dreams of returning to their homeland, since they could see in this a threat to the dissolution of their own powerful monarchy, and therefore in dealings with the Hebrews they could be distrustful and false.

Psalm 119:3. What will a wicked tongue give you and what will it add to you? Psalm 119:4. Sharp arrows of the mighty, with burning coals of broom. The writer asks, what profit comes from lies to his enemies? What can it give them? Nothing but to provoke the wrath of the Mighty One, that is, the Lord, who will send upon them punishment (“arrows”) with coals of broom. Broom is a shrubby plant in Palestine. Its coals are distinguished by the property of burning slowly, which is why they long maintain fire and heat. Coals of broom here are an image of the prolonged misfortunes that for “lies” will be sent by God.

Psalm 119:5. Woe to me, that I dwell at Mosoch, that I live in the tents of Kedar. Mosoch or the Mosks, a region in Armenia, near the Black Sea. “Tents of the Kedarites” — a nomadic tribe, according to some roaming between Mesopotamia and the stony Arabia, according to others living in Egypt. In this verse there is an indication that the writer depicts in the psalm the condition of Hebrews who were still scattered among various pagan nations.

Psalm 119:6. Long has my soul dwelt with those who hate peace. Psalm 119:7. I am peaceful: but when I speak, they turn to war. The Hebrews complain that they have long lived among “those who hate peace,” that is, among the pagans; from this the time of origin of the psalm can be related to the end of the captivity. – “I am peaceful: but when I speak, they turn to war” – a general indication of the position of the Hebrew people in captivity: all deeds and words of the captive Hebrew were met with hostility and interpreted by his enemies in an evil way, which served as a cause of unfriendly actions from their side.