the heavens and rescues David out of great waters, is taken verbatim from Psa 18:17; and the poet has added the interpretation to the figure here. On Psa 144:8 cf. Psa 12:3; Psa 41:7. The combination of words “right hand of falsehood” is the same as in Psa 109:2. But our poet, although so great an imitator, has, however, much also that is peculiar to himself. The verb בּרק, “to send forth lightning;” the verb פּצה in the Aramaeo-Arabic signification “to tear out of, rescue,” which in David always only signifies “to tear open, open wide” (one's mouth), Psa 22:14; Psa 66:14; and the combination “the right hand of falsehood” (like “the tongue of falsehood” in Psa 109:2), i.e., the hand raised for a false oath, are only found here. The figure of Omnipotence, “He toucheth the mountains and they smoke,” is, as in Psa 104:32, taken from the mountains that smoked at the giving of the Law, Exo 19:18; Exo 20:15. The mountains, as in Psa 68:17 (cf. Psa 76:5), point to the worldly powers. God only needs to touch these as with the tip of His finger, and the inward fire, which will consume them, at once makes itself known by the smoke, which ascends from them. The prayer for victory is followed by a vow of thanksgiving for that which is to be bestowed.
Verses 9-11
With the exception of Psa 108:1-13, which is composed of two Davidic Elohim-Psalms, the Elohim in Psa 144:9 of this strophe is the only one in the last two Books of the Psalter, and is therefore a feeble attempt also to reproduce the Davidic Elohimic style. The “new song” calls to mind Psa 33:3; Psa 40:4; and נבל עשׂור also recalls Psa 33:2 (which see). The fact that David mentions himself by name in his own song comes about in imitation of Ps 18:51. From the eminence of thanksgiving the song finally descends again to petition, Psa 144:7-8, being repeated as a refrain. The petition developes itself afresh out of the attributes of the Being invoked (Psa 144:10), and these are a pledge of its fulfilment. For how could the God to whom all victorious kings owe their victory (Psa 33:16, cf. 2Ki 5:1; 1Sa 17:47) possibly suffer His servant David to succumb to the sword of the enemy! חרב רעה is the sword that is engaged in the service of evil.
Verses 12-15
With reference to the relation of this passage to the preceding, vid., the introduction. אשׁר (it is uncertain whether this is a word belonging originally to this piece or one
