Another liturgical Psalm, closely resembling Psalms 135, but distinguished by the refrain which forms the second half of each verse. This refrain was evidently sung as a response, either by a choir of priests and Levites answering the choir or the singer who chanted the first line; or by the whole congregation. We read that at the laying of the foundation stone of the Second Temple the priests and Levites “answered one another in praising and giving thanks to Jehovah, saying, For he is good, for his lovingkindness endureth for ever toward Israel” (Ezra 3:11; cp. 2 Chronicles 7:3; 2 Chronicles 7:6); and an analogy for the congregational response may be found in the statement that on certain occasions the people answered with Amen, or Amen, Hallelujah (Psalm 106:48, note; Deuteronomy 27:15; Nehemiah 5:13; Nehemiah 8:6).

This Psalm was known in the liturgical language of the Jews as “the Great Hallel” (“the Hallel” being Psalms 113-118); but the term was also applied to Psalm 135:4-21, and to the whole group 120–136 (Delitzsch).

The Psalm is arranged in well marked groups of three verses to the end of Psalm 136:18, after which follow two groups of four verses: but as Psalm 136:17-22 are taken from Psalms 135, and Psalm 136:25 is in no obvious connexion with the context, it may be questioned whether the text is in order. Some forms of the LXX, as represented by the Old Latin in the Gallican Psalter, repeated Psalm 136:3 at the end, and the P.B.V. retains the addition.

The Hebrew text of the Book of Ecclesiasticus contains a hymn of thanksgiving which is an obvious imitation of this Psalm, and is largely composed of phrases taken from Psalms in Book 5, particularly 121, 132, 147, 148.

It follows ch. Psalm 51:12, “Therefore I give thanks and will praise, and will bless the name of Jehovah,” and runs thus (the refrain being omitted for brevity):

1. O give thanks unto Jehovah for he is good: for his loving-kindness (endureth) for ever (Psalm 136:1).

1. Cp. Psalm 106:1, note; Psalm 107:1; Psalm 118:1.

his mercy] His lovingkindness, and so throughout the Psalms 2, 3. the God of gods … the Lord of lords] From Deuteronomy 10:17.

1–3. A call to thanksgiving.

2. O give thanks unto the God of praises (Psalm 22:3), for &c.

3. O give thanks unto the keeper of Israel (Psalm 121:4), for &c.

4. O give thanks unto the former of all things (Jeremiah 10:16), for &c.

4. Cp. Psalm 72:18; Psalm 86:10.

4–9. Jehovah the Creator.

5. O give thanks unto the redeemer of Israel (Isaiah 49:7), for &c.

5. by wisdom] By understanding, as Proverbs 3:19; Jeremiah 10:12.

6. O give thanks unto him that gathereth the outcasts of Israel (Psalm 147:2 b; cp. Isaiah 11:12; Isaiah 56:8), for &c.

6. that spread forth the earth upon the waters] Cp. Psalm 135:6, note; Isaiah 42:5; Isaiah 44:24; Psalm 24:2.

7. O give thanks unto him that buildeth his city and his sanctuary (Psalm 147:2 a), for &c.

7–9. Cp. Genesis 1:14-16.

8. O give thanks unto him that maketh a horn to sprout for the house of David (Psalm 132:17), for &c.

9. O give thanks unto him that chooseth the sons of Zadok to be priests (cp. Ezekiel 40:46), for &c.

10. O give thanks unto the Shield of Abraham (Genesis 15:1), for &c.

10–15. Jehovah the Deliverer of Israel. Cp. Psalm 135:8 ff.

11. O give thanks unto the Rock of Isaac, for &c.

12. O give thanks unto the Mighty One of Jacob (Psalm 132:2; Psalm 132:5), for &c.

12. From Deuteronomy 4:34, &c.; cp. Exodus 6:1; Exodus 6:6.

13. O give thanks unto him that hath chosen Zion (Psalm 132:13), for &c.

13. into parts] R.V. in sunder. In two parts of P.B.V. is a printer’s error. The Great Bible of 1539 has into partes.

14. O give thanks unto the King of the kings of kings, for &c.

15. And he hath lifted up a horn for his people, a praise for all his beloved, even the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Hallelujah, (Psalm 148:14).

If this hymn was composed by Ben Sira, it proves that he was familiar with Psalms, some of which have been regarded as among the latest in the Psalter, and it affords a strong presumption that the Psalter was complete before b.c. 180. The hymn, it is true, is not found in the Versions, but Dr Schechter thinks that its authenticity is established, and that its omission is accounted for, by the prominence which it gives to the house of Zadok. It was natural for Ben Sira, who knew that family in its best representative, Simon the Just, to give thanks for its election to the priesthood: it was equally natural for his grandson the translator to omit such a thanksgiving, when the high-priests of the house of Zadok had disgraced their calling, and the house of Zadok had been superseded by the Maccabaean line. See Schechter and Taylor’s Wisdom of Ben Sira (1899), p. 35.

15. overthrew] Lit. shook off, as Exodus 14:27.

16. Cp. Deuteronomy 8:15.

16–22. Jehovah the Giver of the promised land. Cp. Psalm 135:10 ff.

22. Israel his servant] Cp. Isaiah 41:8; &c.

23. in our low estate] The humiliation of the Exile.

23–26. Jehovah the Deliverer of Israel and the Supporter of all things living.

24. And hath redeemed &c.] R.V. and hath delivered us from our adversaries.

25. Cp. Psalm 104:27 f.; Psalm 145:15; Psalm 147:9. All flesh includes all living things. Cp. Genesis 6:13. The mention of the universal Providence of God follows somewhat abruptly on the celebration of His care for Israel, and it is possible that there has been some corruption or dislocation of the text.

26. the God of heaven] A late title, occurring here only in the Psalter. It is found in Ezra 1:2, &c.; Nehemiah 1:4; Nehemiah 2:4; 2 Chronicles 36:23; Jonah 1:9; Daniel 2:18, &c. Cp. Revelation 11:13; Revelation 16:11.

The P.B.V. adds “O give thanks unto the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.” This repetition of Psalm 136:3 is taken from the Gallican Psalter, but is not found in any extant MS of the LXX.