Mat 26:30-32 | Clarke | STEP | Verse 30 And when they had sung a hymn - Υμνησαντες means, probably, no more than a kind of recitative reading or chanting. As to the hymn itself, we know, from the universal consent of Jewish antiquity, that it was composed of , , 115, 116, , and 118, termed by the Jews הלל halel, from הללו־יה halelu-yah, the first word in . These six Psalms were always sung at every paschal solemnity. They sung this great hillel on account of the five great benefits referred to in it; viz. 1. The Exodus from Egypt, . When Israel went out of Egypt, etc. 2. The miraculous division of the Red Sea, . The sea saw it and fled. 3. The promulgation of the law, . The mountains skipped like lambs. 4. The resurrection of the dead, . I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. 5. The passion of the Messiah, . Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, etc. See Schoettgen, Hor. Hebr. p. 231, and my Discourse on the nature and design of the Eucharist, 8vo. Lond. 1808.

‏ Matthew 26:30-32

Verse 30

And when they had sung a hymn - Υμνησαντες means, probably, no more than a kind of recitative reading or chanting. As to the hymn itself, we know, from the universal consent of Jewish antiquity, that it was composed of Psa 113:1-9, Psa 114:1-8, 115, 116, Psa 117:1-2, and 118, termed by the Jews הלל halel, from הללו־יה halelu-yah, the first word in Psa 113:1-9. These six Psalms were always sung at every paschal solemnity. They sung this great hillel on account of the five great benefits referred to in it; viz.

1. The Exodus from Egypt, Psa 114:1. When Israel went out of Egypt, etc.

2. The miraculous division of the Red Sea, Psa 114:3. The sea saw it and fled.

3. The promulgation of the law, Psa 114:4. The mountains skipped like lambs.

4. The resurrection of the dead, Psa 116:9. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

5. The passion of the Messiah, Psa 115:1. Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, etc.

See Schoettgen, Hor. Hebr. p. 231, and my Discourse on the nature and design of the Eucharist, 8vo. Lond. 1808. Verse 31

All ye shall be offended - Or rather, Ye will all be stumbled - παντες υμεις σκανδαλισθησεσθε - ye will all forsake me, and lose in a great measure your confidence in me.

This night - The time of trial is just at hand.

I will smite the shepherd - It will happen to you as to a flock of sheep, whose shepherd has been slain - the leader and guardian being removed, the whole flock shall be scattered, and be on the point of becoming a prey to ravenous beasts. Verse 32

But after I am risen again - Don't lose your confidence; for though I shall appear for a time to be wholly left to wicked men, and be brought under the power of death, yet I will rise again, and triumph over all your enemies and mine.

I will go before you - Still alluding to the case of the shepherd and his sheep. Though the shepherd has been smitten and the sheep scattered, the shepherd shall revive again, collect the scattered flock, and go before them, and lead them to peace, security, and happiness.