was the mouth of the cave, which is entered by a long, winding, narrow passage, with small natural chambers or cavities on either side. We soon came to a large chamber, with natural arches of a great height. From this chamber there were numerous passages leading in all directions, which our guides assured us had never been thoroughly explored, the people being afraid of losing themselves."

The use of caves as burial-places is well known. The cave of Machpelah was the family tomb of Abraham. To this use of such abodes David seems to refer in Ps. cxliii. 3.

PSALM CXLII.

1 I CRY unto the Lord with my voice;

With my voice unto the Lord do I make my suppli

cation.

2 I pour out my complaint before him ;

I show before him my trouble.

3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Then thou knewest my path.

In the way wherein I walk have they privily laid a

snare for me.

4 I look on my right hand, and behold,

But no man will know me;

Refuge faileth me ;

No man careth for me.

5 I cry unto thee, O Lord!

I say, Thou art my refuge,

Ver. 4. Compare Ps. xxxi. 11, page 18.

And my portion in the land of the living.

for I am brought very low;

6 Attend unto my cry,
Deliver me from my persecutors,

For they are stronger than I.

7 Bring me out of prison,

That I may praise thy name;

The righteous shall compass me about,
When thou shalt show me thy favor.

PSALM CXLIII.

1 HEAR my prayer, O Lord! give ear to my supplications;

In thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteous

ness.

2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant,
For in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
3 For the enemy hath persecuted me,

He hath smitten my life down to the ground;
He hath made me to dwell in darkness,

As those that have been long dead.

4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; My heart within me is desolate.

5 I remember the days of old,

Ps. cxlii. ver. 7. "Bring me out of prison," &c.; i. e. deliver me from the necessity of lurking in caves, &c.

Ps. cxliii. ver. 3. "To dwell in darkness," &c. This is an allusion to his forced residence in caves, the usual depositories of the dead. Ps. cxliii. ver. 5. "I remember," &c. Perhaps this verse alludes to those meditations of his early and peaceful life which form the subject of Psalms viii. and xix. See pages 5 and 6.

I meditate on all thy works;

I muse on the work of thy hands.

6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee;

My soul gaspeth after thee, as a thirsty land. 7 Hear me speedily, O Lord!

My spirit faileth ;

Hide not thy face from me,

Lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. 8 Cause me to see thy loving-kindness speedily, For in thee do I trust;

Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, For I lift up my soul unto thee.

9 Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies ; I fly unto thee to hide me.

10 Teach me to do thy will, For thou art my God ;

Let thy good spirit lead me in the right way. 11 Revive me, O Lord, for thy name's sake;

For thy righteousness' sake bring me out of trouble. 12 And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies,

And destroy all them that afflict me ;
For I am thy servant.

PSALM XXXI.

WHEN HE WAS IN THE WILDERNESS OF MAON.

THE incidents particularly referred to in this psalm are those related in 1 Sam. xxiii. David, learning that

the Philistines were attacking Keilah, determined to attempt the rescue of that city. He succeeded, and repulsed the Philistines, and took up his abode in Keilah. Saul, hearing of it, said, "God hath delivered him into my hand; for he is shut in " (see ver. 8)" by entering into a town that hath gates and bars." But David sought counsel of God, and became satisfied that the people of Keilah, notwithstanding his late service to them, would deliver him up if Saul should demand him. He therefore left Keilah (the "strong city" alluded to in ver. 21), and betook himself to the wilderness. In the eighth verse he alludes to his escape, and in the eleventh and thirteenth verses, to the fear which his presence caused to the people of Keilah.

Saul pursued him to his retreat in the wilderness of Maon, and on one occasion almost succeeded in taking him. But Saul passed on one side of a mountain, while David and his men passed on the other, and escaped. Saul immediately after was called away by hearing of the approach of the Philistines, and David "went up from thence, and dwelt in the strongholds of Engedi."

PSALM XXXI.

1 IN thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be put to shame ;

Deliver me in thy righteousness.

2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily; Be thou my strong rock, a house of defence to save

me.

8 For thou art my rock and my fortress;

Therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.

4 Draw me out of the net that they have laid privily

for me,

For thou art my strength.

6 Into thine hand I commit my spirit ;

Thou wilt deliver me, O Lord God of truth!

6 I hate them that regard lying vanities But I trust in the Lord.

s;

7 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy ; For thou hast looked upon my trouble,

Thou hast had regard to my distress,

8 And hast not shut me up in the hand of the enemy; Thou hast set my feet in ample room.

9

Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; Mine eye is consumed with grief;

Yea, my soul and my body.

10 My life is spent with grief,

And my years with sighing;

My strength faileth because of mine affliction,
And my bones are consumed.

11 I have become the scorn of my neighbors,
And a fear to mine acquaintance;

Ver. 7 and 8. "I will be glad," &c. These verses express thankfulness and joy, and seem inconsistent with the ninth verse and the rest, which are in a tone of extreme distress. The most probable explanation seems to be, that in the seventh and eighth verses David refers to his escape from Saul on two recent occasions; but after the momentary exhilaration, recollection of his fugitive and outlawed condition recurs, and brings with it despondency and complaint.

Ver. 11. Compare Ps. cxlii. 4, p. 14.