Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 78:64

Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.

64. and their widows &c.] This line recurs word for word in Job 27:15. In the universal distress the customary rites of mourning were not performed, even for a husband (2Sa 11:26-27).

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Their priests fell by the sword – Compare 1Sa 4:11. It was considered a special calamity that the ministers of religion were cut down in war.

And their widows made no lamentation – That is, the public troubles were so great, the danger was still so imminent, the calamities thickened so fast, that there was no opportunity for public mourning by formal processions of women, and loud lamentations, such as were usual on these occasions. See the notes at Job 27:15. The meaning is not that there was a want of affection or attachment on the part of the friends of the slain, or that there was no real grief, but that there was no opportunity for displaying it in the customary manner.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 64. Their priests fell by the sword] Hophni and Phinehas, who were slain in that unfortunate battle against the Philistines in which the ark of the Lord was taken, 1Sa 4:11.

A Chaldee Targum on this passage says, “In the time in which the ark of the Lord was taken by the Philistines, Hophni and Phinehas, the two priests, fell by the sword at Shiloh; and when the news was brought, their wives made no lamentation, for they both died the same day.”

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

Their priests, Hophni and Phinehas, and others.

No lamentation; no funeral solemnities; either because they were prevented by their own death, as the wife of Phinehas was, or disturbed by the invasion of the enemy; or so overwhelmed with the sense of the public calamity, that the resentment of their private losses was swallowed up by it. See Job 27:15; Eze 24:23.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

64. (Compare 1Sa4:17); and there were, doubtless, others.

made no lamentationeitherbecause stupefied by grief, or hindered by the enemy.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Their priests fell by the sword,…. Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, and other priests; which shows the cruelty of the enemy, not to spare men unarmed, as the priests were; and the justice of God, which pursued these men, who were very wicked, and whose character and office could not secure them from divine wrath:

and their widows made no lamentation; for their husbands the priests, who fell by the sword; particularly the widow of Phinehas, who upon the news fell into labour, and as soon as she brought forth her child died, and while she lived took no notice of the death of her husband, nor lamented that, only that the ark of the Lord was taken, 1Sa 4:19, and which might be the case of others; nor could they attend their funerals, or follow them to the grave with lamentations, they falling in battle; and such was their concern for the public loss, that their private sorrow was swallowed up in it. Some understand it of the disrespect and neglect of others, who came not to lament with them, and comfort them, as was usual: one of the Targums paraphrases the whole thus,

“at the time that the Philistines carried captive the ark of the Lord, the priests of Shiloh, Hophni, and Phinehas, fell by the sword; and at the time they brought their wives the news of it, they wept not, for they died even the same day.”

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(64) And their widows . . .Undoubtedly referring to the fact that the wife of Phinehas died in premature labour, and so could not attend the funeral of her husband with the customary lamentations, which in Oriental countries are so loud and marked. The Prayer-Book version, therefore, gives the right feelingthere were no widows to make lamentations.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

64. Their priests fell Probably those who had, in great numbers, accompanied the ark into the camp with Hophni and Phinehas. 1Sa 4:11; 1Sa 4:17.

Their widows made no lamentation As the bodies received no formal burial, the usual forms of funeral mourning were not observed. See Jer 22:18

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psa 78:64 Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.

Ver. 64. Their priests fell by the sword ] Hophni and Phineas did, 1Sa 4:11 , both in one day, as had been foretold, 1Sa 2:34 .

And their widows made no lamentation ] As being themselves either killed with grief, as Phineas’s wife, or carried captive. Here were ingentia beneficia, flagitia, supplicia.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)