9 Why should you be like a scared man, as a mighty man who can't save? Yet you, Yahweh, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; don't leave us.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Astonied - The word may possibly mean "one who is taken by surprise and loses his presence of mind."
Yet thou, O Lord, art in the midst of us - Thy ark, temple, and sacred rites, are all here; and thou thyself, who art every where present, art here also: but alas! thou dost not reveal thyself as the Father of mercies, who forgivest iniquity, transgression, and sin.
We are called by thy name; leave us not - Let us call thee our Father, and say thou to us, "Ye are my sons and daughters!" O leave us not!
Why shouldest thou be as a man astonished, as (h) a mighty man [that] cannot save? yet thou, O LORD, [art] in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not.
(h) That takes no care for us.
Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied,.... Astonished, and so surprised as not to know what to say or do; or "asleep", as the Septuagint; taking no notice of us, and being altogether unconcerned what becomes of us; or, as one "dumb" (i); that will give no answer to our prayers:
as a mighty man that cannot save? who, though he is able to save, yet, through want of a heart or will, does not exert his power:
yet thou, O Lord, art in the midst of us; having his residence and dwelling in the temple at Jerusalem; and therefore was not a stranger and foreigner among them; and this carries in it an entreaty and an argument that he would not in his providence conduct towards them in such manner as though he was:
and we are called by thy name; the people of God, the Israel of God, and the like:
leave us not; in our distress and trouble, but deliver us out of it.
(i) "obmutefactus", Fosterus, Mercerus,
astonied--like a "mighty man," at other times able to help (Isaiah 59:1), but now stunned by a sudden calamity so as to disappoint the hopes drawn from him.
art in the midst of us-- (Exodus 29:45-46; Leviticus 26:11-12).
called by thy name-- (Daniel 9:18-19) as Thine own peculiar people (Deuteronomy 9:29).
The pleader makes further appeal to God's almighty power. It is impossible that Jahveh can let Himself look like a man at his wit's end or a nerveless warrior, as He would seem to be if He should not give help to His people in their present need. Since the time of A. Schultens the ἁπ. λεγ. נדהם is rendered, after the Arab. dahama, to make an unforeseen attack, by stupefactus, attonitus, one who, by reason of a sudden mischance, has lost his presence of mind and is helpless. This is in keeping with the next comparison, that with a warrior who has no strength to help. The passage closes with an appeal to the relation of grace which Jahveh sustains towards His people. ואתּה comes in adversatively: yet art Thou in our midst, i.e., present to Thy people. Thy name is named upon us, i.e., Thou hast revealed Thyself to us in Thy being as God of salvation; see on Jeremiah 7:10. אל־תּנּחנוּ, lit., lay us not down, i.e., let us not sink.
Astonished - In such disorder through some great passion, that he is able to do nothing. A mighty man - Like a man who in his own nature is strong, but through sickness so weakened, that he cannot put forth any strength for the succour of his friends. Yet - Yet (saith the prophet) thou art in the midst of us; of the whole land, according to what God had declared, Numbers 5:3, Numbers 35:34. Defile not the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the Lord dwell among the children of Israel.
*More commentary available at chapter level.