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Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:2

Thou art fairer than the children of men - By whom are these words spoken? As this is a regular epithalamium, we are to consider that the bride and bridegroom have compliments paid them by those called the friends of the bridegroom, and the companions or maids of the bride. But it seems that the whole Psalm, except the first verse, was spoken by those who are called in the title ידידת yedidoth , the beloved maids, or female companions, who begin with his perfections, and then describe... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:3

Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty - This clause should be translated, O hero, gird thy sword upon thy thigh! This, I think, cannot be spoken of Solomon. He was not a warlike prince: he never did any feats of arms. It has been said he would have been a warrior, if he had had enemies; it might have been so: but the words more properly apply to Christ, who is King of kings, and Lord of lords; whose sword with two edges, proceeding from his mouth, cuts all his adversaries to pieces. ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:4

In thy majesty ride prosperously - These words cannot be spoken of Solomon; they are true only of Christ. His riding is the prosperous progress of his Gospel over the earth. He uses no sword but the sword of the Spirit; and what religion, system of truth, pretended or real, ever made such progress as the religion of Christ has done, without one sword being ever drawn to propagate it from the first introduction of Christianity to the present time? His Gospel is Truth, proclaiming Humility, ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:5

Thine arrows are sharp - The arrows here may mean the convictions produced in the hearts of men by the preaching of the Gospel. The King is God himself; his enemies are sinners of all sorts. The people, the Jews, thousands of whom were pricked in their hearts under the preaching of Peter and others. All fall before Christ; those who received the word rose again by repentance and faith; those who did not, fell down-all down! read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:6

Thy throne, O God, is for ever - ועד עולם אלהים כסאך kisacha Elohim olam vaed . "O God, thy throne is for ever, and eternal!" The word Elohim here is the very first term or name by which the Supreme God has made himself known to the children of men. See Genesis 1:1 ; and this very verse the apostle, Hebrews 1:8 , has applied to Jesus Christ. On this I shall make a very short remark, but it shall be conclusive: If the apostle did not believe Jesus Christ to be the true and eternal... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:7

Oil of gladness - As an evidence that all causes of mourning, sorrow, and death, were at an end; as in the state of mourning the ancients did not anoint themselves. I have mentioned above that the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, Hebrews 1:8 , Hebrews 1:9 , quotes Psalm 45:6 , Psalm 45:7 , of this Psalm. I shall subjoin the substance of what I have written on these verses in that place: - Hebrews 1:8 ; Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever - read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:8

All thy garments smell of myrrh - The Asiatics are very partial to perfumes; every thing with them is perfumed, and especially their garments. And the ivory palaces mentioned are the wardrobes inlaid with ivory, in which their numerous changes of raiment were deposited. Myrrh and aloes are well known; cassia is probably the bark or wood of the cinnamon tree. These with frankincense, galbanum and other odoriferous drugs, were and are frequently used in the perfumes of the Asiatic nations. ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:9

Kings' daughters were among - Applied to Solomon, these words have no difficulty. We know he had seven hundred wives, princesses; and the mention of those here may be intended only to show how highly respected he was among the neighboring sovereigns, when they cheerfully gave him their daughters to constitute his harem. If we apply it to Solomon's marriage with the daughter of the king of Egypt, it may signify no more than the princesses and ladies of honor who accompanied her to the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:2

Verse 2 2.Thou art fairer than the sons of men. The Psalmist commences his subject with the commendation of the beauty of the king, and then he proceeds also to praise his eloquence. Personal excellence is ascribed to the king, not that the beauty of the countenance, which of itself is not reckoned among the number of the virtues, ought to be very highly valued; but because a noble disposition of mind often shines forth in the very countenance of a man. This may have been the case with Solomon,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 45:3

Verse 3 3.Gird thy sword upon thy thigh. Here Solomon is praised as well for his warlike valor, which strikes terror into ]his enemies, as for his virtues which give him authority among his subjects, and secure him their reverence. On the one hand, no king will be able to preserve and defend his subjects, unless he is formidable to his enemies; and, on the other hand, it will be to little purpose to make war boldly upon foreign realms, if the internal state of his own kingdom is not established... read more

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