Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 129

1 MAny a time have they afflicted me from my youth , may Israel now say.

Mine enemies or oppressors; which is easily understood both from the nature of the thing, and from v. 3. where they are expressed under the name of plowers.

From the time that I was a people, when I was in Egypt and came out of it, which is called the time of Israels youth, Ier. 2. 2. Ezek. 23. 3.

Marginal references: Or, much.; Psal. 124. 1.

3 The plowers plowed upon my back : they made long their furrows .

They have not onely thrown me down and trod me under foot, but have cruelly tormented me, wounded and mangled me, and had no more pity upon me than the plowman hath upon the earth which he cuts up at his pleasure. He saith, upon my back, either because they did literally scourge the Captives upon their backs with such cords as are mentioned v. 4. although we do not read that the Israelitish Captives were thus used by any of their enemies; or by way of allusion to that usage, which made a sort of furrows in their backs upon which they used to lay on their strokes.

They oft repeated their injuries and prolonged my torments.

4 The LORD is righteous : he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.

Faithful or merciful, as that word is frequently used.

Wherewith the plow was drawn; by which means they were stopped in their course. So he persists in the same Metaphor of a plough. By these cords he understands all their plots and endeavours.

Marginal references: Psal. 140. 5.

5 Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.

Forced to retreat with shame and disappointment.

6 Let them be as the grass upon the housetops , which withereth afore it groweth up .

Which there were flat, and therefore more capable of grass, or green corn growing between the stones, than ours are.

Which having no deep root, never comes to maturity. And so all their designs shall be abortive and never come to perfection.

8 Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the LORD be upon you : we bless you in the name of the LORD.

Which was an usual salutation given by passengers to reapers, as Ruth 2. 4. So the meaning is, It never continues till the harvest comes.