Psalms 18:43

18:43 You rescue me from a hostile army; ¹ 

you make me ²  a leader of nations;

people over whom I had no authority are now my subjects. ³ 

Psalms 133:2

133:2 It is like fine oil poured on the head

which flows down the beard ⁴  –

Aaron’s beard,

and then flows down his garments. ⁵ 

[18:43]  ¹ tn Heb “from the strivings of a people.” In this context the Hebrew term רִיב (riv, “striving”) probably has a militaristic sense (as in Judg 12:2; Isa 41:11), and עָם (’am, “people”) probably refers more specifically to an army (for other examples, see the verses listed in BDB 766 s.v. I עַם, עָם 2.d). Some understand the phrase as referring to attacks by the psalmist’s own countrymen, the “nation” being Israel. However, foreign enemies appear to be in view; note the reference to “nations” in the following line.

[18:43]  ² tn 2 Sam 22:44 reads, “you keep me.”

[18:43]  ³ tn Heb “a people whom I did not know serve me.” In this context “know” (יָדַע, yada’) probably refers to formal recognition by treaty. People who were once not under the psalmist’s authority now willingly submit to his rulership to avoid being conquered militarily (see vv. 44-45). The language may recall the events recorded in 2 Sam 8:9-10 and 10:19.

[133:2]  ⁴ tn Heb “[it is] like the good oil on the head, going down on the beard.”

[133:2]  ⁵ tn Heb “which goes down in accordance with his measured things.” The Hebrew phrase מִדּוֹתָיו (middotayv, “his measured things”) refers here to the robes worn by Aaron. HALOT 546 s.v. *מַד derives the form from מַד (midah, “robe”) rather than מִדָּה (middah, “measured thing”). Ugaritic md means “robe” and is pluralized mdt.