Psalms Chapter 70

“[Make haste], O God, to deliver me, etc.] The phrase, “make haste”, is supplied from the following clause in (<194013>Psalm 40:13); it is, “be pleased, O Lord”, or “Jehovah”. The Targum renders it, “to deliver us”; very wrongly; make haste to help me, O Lord; (see Gill on “<192219>Psalm 22:19”).”

“The Psalmist, probably in old age, appeals to God for help from his enemies, pleading his past favors, and stating his present need; and, in confidence of a hearing, he promises his grateful thanks and praise. (Psa. 71:1-24) (Compare Psa 30:1-3).”

“Make haste - These words are supplied by our translators. The first word in Psalms 40:13, rendered “be pleased,” is here omitted in the original. The psalm in the Hebrew begins abruptly - “O God, to deliver me,” - leaving the impression that this is a fragment - a fragment commencing without even the care necessary to make the grammatical construction complete. O God - Hebrew, אלהים 'Elohiym. In the corresponding place in Psalms 40:13 the word is “Yahweh.” Why the change was made is unknown. The remainder of the verse is the same as in Psalms 40:0. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Ps 70 This psalm, nearly identical to 40:13-17, contains an urgency (70:1, 5) that fits with the surrounding psalms (cp. 69:17; 71:12). 70:title asking God to remember him: The meaning of this phrase is unknown (also found in 38:title).”

“to bring: Psa 38:1 \*title O God: Psa 40:13-17, Psa 69:18, Psa 71:12, Psa 143:7 to help me: Heb. to my help Psalms 70:2”

“We see at once at the very beginning, in the omission of the רצה ( Psa 40:14), that what we have here before us is a fragment of Ps 40, and perhaps a fragment that only accidentally came to have an independent existence. The להצּילני, which was under the government of רצה, now belongs to הוּשׁה, and the construction is without example elsewhere. In Psa 70:3 (= Psa 40:15) יחד and לספּותהּ are given up entirely; the original is more full-toned and soaring. Instead of ישׁמּוּ, torpescant, Psa 70:4 has ישׁוּבוּ, recedant (as in Ps 6:11, cf. Psa 9:18), which is all the more flat for coming after יסגו אחור. In Psa…”