Rashi on TanakhPsalms 88

about the sick and afflicted one Heb. על-מחלתלענות, concerning the one sick with love and afflicted, for she is afflicted with the pains of the exile.

of Heman the Ezrahite One of the musicians who played a musical instrument, and the sons of Korah established this psalm that Heman should recite it on the “duchan” [the platform].

of Heman the Ezrahite He was one of the sons of Zerah the son of Judah, for his lineage is delineated in (I Chron. 2:6): “And the sons of Zerah were Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Chalcol, and Darda [sic].” All five were great sages, as is said in reference to Solomon (I Kings 5: 11): “And he was wiser than all men, than Ethan the Ezraite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol,” and they established the Psalms, which were set down in the Book of Psalms. Therefore, they are called the sons of Mahol. So have I found in exact commentaries.

a maskil Wherever it says “maskil,” it was said through an interpreter. The prophet would set up an interpreter before him, and when he perceived a prophecy coming upon him, he would recite the prophecy to the interpreter, who would make it heard.

I cried by day; at night And also at night I am ready before You.

For my soul is sated with troubles He says this concerning the people of Israel.

without strength Heb. איל, as (above 22:20): “My strength (אילותי), hasten to my assistance.”

among the dead, who are free I am among the dead, free from the world, and like the slain, who are free from the world.

and who were cut off by Your hand By Your blows, they were cut off from the world.

You have put me into the lowest pit That is the exile.

lies hard leans and hangs [sic] on me.

and [with] all Your waves You have afflicted [me] constantly Heb. משבריך, an expression of the waves of the sea. They are all the storms of Your wrath; with all of them have You constantly afflicted me.

You have made me an abomination to them The nations, in whose eyes I was esteemed—now I am repugnant to them.

[I am] imprisoned Confined in a prison, and I cannot go out.

Will You perform a wonder for the dead? Do You perform a wonder and miracles for the wicked, who are called dead even in their lifetime?

Will the shades rise and thank You Heb. רפאים, lit. the weak. Will the nations that weakened their [Israel’s] hands from Your service rise and thank You? This is a wonder.

Will Your kindness be told in the grave if we die in the hands of our enemies, will we be able to recite Your praise in the grave?

and close to sudden death Heb. וגוע מנער, dying from the strangulation of sudden death, as (Exod. 14:27): “and the Lord strangled (וינער).” Menachem (p. 123) defines וינער as an expression of beating, as (Isa. 33:15): “who shakes (נוער) his hands from taking hold of bribe”; (Isa. 52:2), “Shake yourself (התנערי) from the dust, arise”; (Isa. 1:31), “And the[ir] strength will become as tow (לנערת)”; (Job 38: 13), “so that the wicked will be shaken (וינערו) from it”; (Neh. 5:13), “even thus may he be shaken out (נעור) and emptied.”

it is well-founded Heb. אפונה. Your fear is settled and based in my heart. אפוּנה is an expression of (Prov. 25:11): “a word spoken with proper basis (אפניו)”; on its basis.

From my acquaintances, I am withdrawn Heb. מחשך. I am withdrawn and withheld from them.