Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsPsalms 3

Psalm of David.

All interpreters agreeably teach, that King David made not the titles, which are before the Psalms ^◦. Nevertheless they are authentical, as indited by the Holy Ghost. And it is most probable Esdras added those titles which are in the Hebrew: and the Seventy interpreters writ the other, in their Greek Edition. Both which S. Jerome translated into Latin.

In these titles five things may be noted ^[1]. First, the former two having no title at all, the general name of Psalm, common to all, is particularly appropriated to some, and other names to others. Which in all are twelve: to wit, Psalm, Inscription, Prayer, Canticle, Psalm of Canticle, Canticle of Psalm, Hymn, Testimony, Understanding, Praise of Canticle, Alleluia, & Gradual Canticle. Secondly, in the titles of some Psalms are the names of certain persons, which by S. Augustine's judgement, cited in the Proemial Annotations, and others, proveth not the same persons to be authors of those Psalms, but signifieth some other thing. Thirdly, in some titles the time is signified, when the Psalm was made, or sung. Fourthly, the matter contained in the Psalm ^[2], or upon what occasion it was made, is expressed in some titles. Fifthly, diverse other terms are often used in the titles of sundry Psalms, as To the end, For the Octave, For presses, and the like, all which we shall briefly explicate, where they first occur.

• 1 Five things to be noted in the titles.
• 2 Psal. 4. 6. 8. 15. 16. &c.
• ◦ Titles of the Psalms added by Esdras and the Septuagint.

first therefore this third Psalm is called the Psalm of David ^◦, not because he is author thereof, for he is also author of the former, where his name is not expressed, as is evident by the testimony of all the Apostles, Act. 4. v. 25. but because it treateth particularly and literally of him.

• ◦ The time and occasion of making this Psalm.

When he fled from the face of Absalom.

Here the time is signified ^◦, when this Psalm was made, to wit, immediately after the overthrow of his rebellious son Absalom, mentioned 2. Reg. 18. before his return to Jerusalem. For albeit of human, natural, and fatherly affection, he greatly lamented the death of his son, yet he rendered thanks and praises to God, as reason and duty bound him.

• ◦ Why this is called the Psalm of David.

I have slept, and have been at rest, and have risen up.

King David by his sleeping in persecution ^[1], and by his resting, and delivery from his persecutors, prefigured Christ's Death, Burial, & Resurrection. As appeareth, Ioan. 2. v. 22. Where the Evangelist saith: that after Christ's Resurrection, his disciples believed the scripture, to wit, this and other like prophecies. For otherwise the old Testament doth not so expressly declare such Mysteries, as the Gospel doth: but one thing in the proper and grammatical signification of the words, and another thing in shadows and figures, and both literal. Whereupon S. Gregory teacheth (li. 20. c. 1. Moral.) that holy Scripture (amongst other incomparable excellencies) surpasseth all other doctrines ^[2], in the very manner of speaking: because by one and the same speech, it reporteth a thing done, and proclaimeth a Mystery: so relating things past, that with the very same words, it foresheweth things to come.

• 1 King David prefigured Christ.
• 2 The same Scripture hath diverse literal senses.