A.C. About 444. e Ps. xix. 10. * Heb. palate. + Or, candle. Heb. to do, d Matt. vii, 23. Heb. causest to cease. 100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. 101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. 102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me. C 103 How sweet are thy words unto my * taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. NUN. 105 Thy word is a † lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. 106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. 107 I am afflicted very much quicken me, O Lord, according unto thy word." 108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments. 109 My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law. 110 The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts. 111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever for they are the rejoicing of my heart. 112 I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end. SAMECH. 113 I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love. 114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. d 115 Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God. 116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live and let me not be ashamed of my hope. 117 Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually. 118 Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes for their deceit is falsehood. 119 Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross therefore I love thy testimonies. 120 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments. AIN. 121 I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors. 923 122 Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud A. C. About oppress me. 123 Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness. 124 Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes. 125 I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies. 126 It is time for thee, LORD, to work for they have made void thy law. 127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. 128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way. PE. 129 Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them. 130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. 131 I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments. 132 Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, thou usest to do unto those that love thy name. as 133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. 134 Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts. 135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes. 136 Rivers of water run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law. TZADDI. 137 Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments. 138 Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are +righteous and very faithful. 139 My zeal hath § consumed me, because mine mies have forgotten thy words. it. 444. ⚫e Ps. xix. 10. Prov. viii. 11. * Heb. according to the custom toward those, &c. + Heb. righteousness. ene- ‡ Heb. faith 140 Thy word is very || pure: therefore thy servant loveth 141 I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts. 142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth. 143 Trouble and anguish have * taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights. fulness. aff Heb. cut me || Heb. tried, or, reined. Hcb. found me. A. C. About 444. * Or, that I may keep. + Or, Many. t Heb. the beginning of thy 144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live. KOPH. 145 I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes. 146 I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies. 147 I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word. 148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word. 149 Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment. 150 They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law. 151 Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth. 152 Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever. RESH. 153 Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law. 154 Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word. 155 Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes. 156 +Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments. 157 Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies. 158 I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word. 159 Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness. 160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every word is truc. one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. SCHIN. Heb. they shall have no stumblingblock. 161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word. 162 I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil. 163 I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love. 164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments. 165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and § nothing shall offend them. 166 LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments. 167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them A. C. About exceedingly. 168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee. TAU. 169 Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word. 170 Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word. 171 My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes. 172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness. 173 Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts. 174 I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight. 175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me. 176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments. SECTION VI. Malachi Prophesies against the Corruptions which had been introduced during the Second Absence of Nehemiah. MALACHI I 39. 1 Malachi complaineth of Israel's unkindness, 6 of their irreligiousness, 12 and profaneness. 444. 1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by 433 to 428. Malachi. 39 Malachi was the last of the prophets before the Gospel dispensation. Some writers imagine that Malachi was merely a general name, signifying the angel of the Lord, a messenger or prophet; because the title of Malach Jehovah, or angel of the Lord, was often applied to the prophets. (Compare Haggai i. 13. with Malachi iii. 1.) The Septuagint translators have rendered Malachi his angel instead of my angel, as the original imports; and several of the fathers have quoted Malachi under the name of the angel of the Lord. Calmet, after Jerome and some other ancient writers, thinks that Malachi was the same person as Ezra, who wrote the canonical book that passes under his name, and was governor of the Jews after their return from the captivity. As he revised the Holy Scriptures, and collected the canon of the Old Testament, and performed various other important services to the Jewish church, Ezra has been considered, both by ancient Jewish and also by the early Christian writers, as a very extraordinary person sent from God, and therefore they thought him very appropriately denominated Malach; but for these opinions there is no foundation whatever. Heb. by the hand of Malachi. A. C. 433 ta 428. 2 I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, It is certain that Malachi was a distinct person from Ezra, and (as Rosenmüller observes) the whole argument of his book proves that he flourished after the return from the captivity. He prophesied while Nehemiah was governor of Judea, more particularly after his second coming from the Persian court; and appears to have contributed the weight of his exhortations to the restoration of the Jewish polity, and the final reform established by that pious and excellent governor. Archbishop Newcome supposes Malachi to have flourished about the year 436 before the Christian æra; but Dr. Kennicott places him about the year 420 before Christ, which date is adopted by Dr. Hales, as sufficiently agreeing with the description of Josephus and the varying dates of chronologers. Although the writings of this prophet are almost wholly in prose, yet they are by no means destitute of force and elegance. He reproves the wickedness of his countrymen with great vehemence; and Bishop Lowth observes that his book is written in a kind of middle style, which seems to indicate that the Hebrew poetry, from the time of the Babylonish captivity, was in a declining state, and, being past its prime and vigour, was then fast verging towards the debility of age. But as it appears from the consent of all Jewish and Christian antiquity that the light of prophecy expired in Malachi, we suppose that the termination of his ministry coincided with the accomplishment of the first seven weeks of Daniel's prophecy, which was the period allotted for " sealing the vision and prophecy." (Dan. ix. 24.) Malachi therefore must be considered as completing the canon of the Old Testament, about 400 years before the birth of Christ, when the great designs of Providence were completed in the termination of the prophetic ministry; and when a scheme of prophecy was unfolded, which in its entire contexture was to be accommodated to, and to characterise the Messiah. Malachi certainly prophesied some time after Haggai and Zechariah, for in his time the temple was rebuilt, and the worship re-established: (chap. i. 7. 10. 12. and iii. 10.) his ministry therefore must have coincided with, or succeeded that of Nehemiah. He censures the same offences that had excited the indignation of that governor, and which he had not been able entirely to reform. (Compare Malachi ii. 11. with Nehem. xiii. 23-27. and Malachi i. 10. with Neh. xi. 10, 11.) In the first chapter, from 1 to 6, the Jews are reminded of the special favors God had bestowed upon them; they are then reproved for not shewing due reverence to God; and the priests for their prophane and mercenary conduct; their rejection is threatened, the calling of the Gentiles is announced, (ver. 11.) and the divine judgments are denounced against the priests and the people for their disregard of God in their sacrifices, (12-14. and chap. ii. 10.) and likewise for their multiplied divorces, and intermarriages with idolatrous nations. God being wearied with the impiety of Israel, declares (chap. ii.) that the Lord whom they sought should suddenly come to his temple, preceded by that messenger, who like an harbinger should prepare his way, that the Lord when he should appear should purify the sons of Levi from their unrighteousness, and refine them as metal from the dross, (1—4.) (see Isaiah i. 25.) and then "the offering of Judah," the spiritual sacrifice of the heart should “be pleasant unto the Lord as in the days of old," and the Lord would quickly ex |