Mateo 26:30

And when they had sung a hymn - Υμνησαντες means, probably, no more than a kind of recitative reading or chanting. As to the hymn itself, we know, from the universal consent of Jewish antiquity, that it was composed of Psalm 113:1-9 , Psalm 114:1-8 , 115, 116, Psalm 117:1-2 , and 118, termed by the Jews הלל halel , from הללו־יה halelu - yah , the first word in Psalm 113:1-9 . These six Psalms were always sung at every paschal solemnity. They sung this great hillel on account of the five great benefits referred to in it; viz.

1. The Exodus from Egypt, Psalm 114:1 . When Israel went out of Egypt, etc.

The miraculous division of the Red Sea, Psalm 114:3 . The sea saw it and fled.

The promulgation of the law, Psalm 114:4 . The mountains skipped like lambs.

The resurrection of the dead, Psalm 116:9 . I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

The passion of the Messiah, Psalm 115:1 . Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, etc.

See Schoettgen, Hor. Hebr. p. 231, and my Discourse on the nature and design of the Eucharist, 8vo. Lond. 1808.