Many Conjectures have been about the meaning of this Title, A Song of Degrees, here put upon fifteen of the Psalms. Kimchi says, They were Sung in the Ascent of the Jews from the Babylonian Captivity. [We have the same Word, Ezra VII. 9.] R. Saadias will have the Psalms to be Sung in an higher Note, or an higher Place than ordinary. Aben-Ezra thinks. The Term only distinguishes the Tune, to which the Psalms were fisted. R. Obadiah thinks, The Psalms to be Composed for every Degree of Persons. Many think the Psalms to be called thus, because they are Excellent in the Superlative Degree. There are those who fancy them Calculated for the Time, when the Sun went back by the Degrees on the Dial, to foretell the Fifteen Years of Hezekiah's Life. A Worthy Scotchman, Mr. Hutcheson, thinks the Psalms were Sung by the Priesis and Levites, about the Altar, while ⟨p. 348⟩the Burnt Offerings and Sacrifices, were As•••• in Smoke from thence. Good Old Arnobius will […] at least an agreeable Similitude upon it. Veluti•• ali•• qui•in foveam cec•dit, ponatur scala. By th•• Pravers and Frames, we are to be fetched up […] Depths of Calamities. Some, who seem to come […] the matter than the rest, will have the Psalms […] Sung, either on the Stairs of the Temple; or […] Stains belonging to the Tower of David. [Neh•• 15. XII. 37.] But in the Nouvelles de la Repub••• des Letters, I find a Gentleman offering a Conje•• more ingenious than any yet mentioned. These […] Psalms were et apart by the Directors of the […] sia••cal Polity of Israel, to be Sung on the Top […] Stairs, during the Night Watch of the Guard a••• the Temple. What more agreeable Song could th•• be, to entertain and animate their Piety? The […] •ites are so descrio•d. Mal. 11.12. Him •hat wa••• and him that answereth. It is ••tably Explained in […] last of there fifteen Psalms. It is a Dialogue, […] the first that spea•s, […] he tha• maketh, namely […] Levite who stood C•ntiael witho•• the Court of […] at the Place most proper for him to look out, ex••• his Companions to Sanctify the Hours of the Night, praisin of GOD, unto the Service of whom they were vote•. The other •hat Answereth, blesses him […] Waketh, by way or an Holy Acknowledgement for sub an holy Exhortation; The Lord Bless thee out […] Zion.
MAny Conjectures have been about the meaning of this Title, A Song of Degrees, here put upon fifteen of the Psalms. Kimchi says, They were Sung in the Ascent of the Jews from the Babylonian Capti•ity. [We have the same Word, Ezra VII. 9.] R. Saadias will have the Psalms to be Sung in an higher Note, or an higher Place than ordinary. Aben-Ezra thinks. The Term only distinguishes the Tune, to which the Psalms were fisted. R. Obadiah thinks, The Psalms to be Composed for every Degree of Persons. Many think the Psalms to be called thus, because they are Excellent in the Superlative Degree. There are those who fancy them Calculated for the Time, when the Sun went back by the Degrees on the Dial, to foretell the Fifteen Years of Hezekiah's Life. A Worthy Scotchman, Mr. Hutcheson, thinks the Psalms were Sung by the Priesis and Levites, about the Altar, while ⟨p. 348⟩the Burnt Offerings and Sacrifices, were As•••• in Smoke from thence. Good Old Arnobius will 〈…〉 at least an a•reeable Similitude upon it. Veluti•• ali•• qui•in foveam cec•dit, ponatur scala. By th•• Pravers and Frames, we are to be fetch'd up 〈…〉 Depths of Calamities. Some, who seem to come 〈…〉 the matter than the rest, will have the Psalms 〈…〉 Sung, either on the Stairs of the Temple; or 〈…〉 Stains belonging to the Tower of David. [Neh•• 15. XII. 37.] But in the Nouvelles de la Repub••• des Lettres, I find a Gentleman offering a Conje•• more ingenious than any yet mentioned. These 〈…〉 Psal••s were et apart by the Directors of the 〈…〉 sia••cal Polity of Israel, to be Sung on the Top 〈…〉 Stairs, during the Night Watch of the Guard a the Temple. What more agreeable Song could th be, to entertain and nimate their Piety? The ites are so descriod. Mal. 11.12. Him hat wa and him that answereth. It is tably Explained in last of there ifeen Psalms. It is a Dialogue, the first that speas, he tha maketh, namely Levite who stood Cntiael witho the Court of at the Place most proper for him to look out, ex his Companions to Sanctify the Hours of the Night, praisin of GOD, unto the Service of whom they were vote. The other hat Answereth, blesses him Waketh, by way or an Holy Acknowledgment for sub an holy Exhortation; The Lord Bless thee out Zion.
