Psalms 74:5

“A man was famous, etc.] Or, “it was”, or “is known” f1048; the desolations the enemy made, the wickedness they committed, the terror they spread, and the signs they set in the sanctuary of the Lord: according as he had lifted up, or “as one that lifts up” axes upon the thick trees f1049; that is, the above things were as visible, and as well known, being as easy to be seen as such an action is, a man being obliged to lift his axe above his head, to cut down a thick tree: or rather the sense is, formerly a man was famous for, and it gave him some credit and esteem, to be an hewer of wood in the forest of Lebanon, where he lifted up his axe, and cut down the thick trees for the building of the…”

“A man was famous - literally, “He is known;” or, shall be known. That is, he was or shall be celebrated. According as he had lifted up axes - literally, “As one raising on high axes;” that is, as one lifts up his axe high in the air in order to strike an effectual stroke. Upon the thick trees - The clumps of trees; the trees standing thick together. That is, As he showed skill and ability in cutting these down, and laying them low. His celebrity was founded on the rapidity with which the strokes of the axe fell on the trees, and his success in laying low the pride of the forest. According to our common translation the meaning is, that “formerly” a man derived his fame from his skill and…”

“Famous - The temple was so noble a structure, that it was a great honour to any man to be employed in the meanest part of the work, though it were but in cutting down the trees of Lebanon. Psalms 74:6”

“Kg1 5:6; Ch2 2:14; Jer 46:22, Jer 46:23 Psalms 74:6”