Friday, March 10, 2023

Exposition of the Church on Psalm 22 (at vs. 22)

This Reformed work from 1562, "Exposition of the Church," provides commentary on various books including, Psalms. The following is the commentary on Psalm 22:22.

"And from the horns of unicorns."

The common translators render the Hebrew word רְאֵם as "monoceros" or "rhinoceros," even though these refer to different animals. As Pliny writes and the name itself indicates, one has a single horn on its nose, while the other, born enemy of the elephant. The other (as he also testifies) has one black horn in the middle of its forehead, which is two cubits long. This beast is said to be very fierce and cannot be captured alive, and its body parts are said to be like those of various animals: the head of a horse, the feet of a deer, the tail of an elephant, and the bellowing of a heavy boar. It is conjectured that this animal is referred to by the Hebrew word רְאֵם in the Scriptures for three reasons. First, from the eminence of its horns, which is noted below in Psalm 92:11, "You have exalted my horn like that of a unicorn." If you understand this exaltation as a sign of strength, as it is often taken in the Scriptures. Second, from its invincible strength and power, to which Numbers 23:22 alludes, "His strength is like that of a unicorn." Third, from its indomitable ferocity, as Job writes of it, "Will the unicorn serve you, or stay by your crib? Can you bind the unicorn with a rope to plow furrows, or will it harrow the valleys after you?" (Job 39:9-10). By these words, the Lord meant to indicate that this animal could not be tamed for the use of man. Although the rhinoceros is also a very fierce animal, it is certain that the height of the horn, which is attributed to the animal referred to in the Scriptures as רְאֵם, does not fit it. Nevertheless, David compares his enemies and Christ's adversaries, who appear to be pious, to unicorns, beasts that cannot be tamed by anyone. For this is the nature of hypocrites, that they will yield to no teacher of truth.

(link)


The letters in the text show the various authors from which work is assembled:


(Compare from 1554 and attributed to Bucer)(and this  of Agostino Steuco)(Benedict Aretius 1529)

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