Vow and pay to Jehovah your God. The faithful are now exhorted to the exercise of gratitude. As under the law the custom prevailed among the Jews of vowing sacrifices for singular blessings which God had conferred upon them, by which they solemnly acknowledged that their safety depended solely upon him, and that to him they were entirely indebted for it, they are called anew to engage in this exercise of religion; and by the word pay it is intended to inculcate steadfastness, -- to teach them that they should not make merely a sudden and inconsiderate acknowledgement, but that they should also testify at all times that the remembrance of their deliverance was deeply fixed in their hearts. Their most important business, no doubt, was seriously to reflect with themselves that God was the author of their salvation; but still it is to be observed, that the solemn profession of religion, by which every man stimulates not only himself but also others to the performance of their duty, is far from being superfluous. In the second clause, those addressed seem to be the neighboring nations; as if it had been said, that such a special manifestation of the goodness of God was worthy of being celebrated even by foreign and uncircumcised nations. [1] But it appears to me, that the sense most agreeable to the context is, that these words are addressed either to the Levites or to all the posterity of Abraham, both of whom are not improperly said to be round about God, both because the tabernacle was pitched in the midst of the camp so long as the Israelites traveled in the wilderness, and also because the resting-place assigned for the ark was mount Zion, whither the people were accustomed to resort from all the surrounding parts of the country. And the Levites had intrusted to them the charge of the temple, and were appointed to keep watch and ward round about it. The word lmvr', lammora, is referred to God by the majority of interpreters, and they translate it terrible. The term fear is, however, sometimes taken in a passive sense for God himself. [2] If it is applied to the Gentiles and to irreligious men, [3] the sense will be, that they shall be tributaries to God; because, being stricken with fear, they shall no longer dare to offer him any resistance. But it is more probable that this word has a reference to God, whom the prophet justly declares to be worthy of being feared, after having given such a remarkable proof of his power.

Footnotes

1 - This is Kimchi's interpretation: He understands by "those round about God," the nations near the land of Israel, and so near God.

2 - In this sense it is employed in Genesis 31:53, "And Jacob sware by the Fear of his father Isaac."

3 - If it is thus applied, the reading will be, "Let all those who are round about him bring presents on account of fear."

vow, and pay unto the Lord your God - That is, Pay your vows, or sacredly observe them. On the word "vow," see the notes at Psalm 22:25. Compare Psalm 50:14; Psalm 56:12; Psalm 66:13. The word refers to a voluntary promise made to God.
Let all that be round about him - All that worship him, or that profess to honor him.
Bring presents - Bring gifts or offerings; things expressive of gratitude and homage. See the notes at Psalm 45:12. Compare Isaiah 16:1, note; Isaiah 18:7, note; Isaiah 60:5, note.
Unto him that ought to be feared - Margin, "to fear." The meaning would be well expressed by the word dread; "to the Dread One." It was not to inspire fear that the presents were to be brought; but they were to be brought to One who had shown that he was the proper object of dread or reverence.

Vow, and pay unto the Lord - Bind yourselves to him, and forget not your obligations.
Let all that be round about him - All the neighboring nations, who shall see God's judgments against his enemies, should
Bring presents unto him - Give him that homage which is due unto him.
That ought to be feared - למורא lammora, "to the terrible One;" lest they be consumed as the Assyrians have been.

Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be (h) round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.
(h) That is, the Levites who dwell about the Tabernacle, or the people among whom he dwells.

Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God,.... Not monastic vows, which the Papists would infer from these and such like words; nor ceremonial ones, but spiritual sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving, such as men sometimes make in times of distress, or when delivered, Psalm 66:13 and which when vowed ought to be paid, Ecclesiastes 5:4, not to creatures, angels, or saints, but to God, from whom the mercy desired must be expected, and from whence it comes, Psalm 50:14, these words are an address to such who were delivered from wrath, either of God or man:
let all that be round about him; who surround the throne of his grace, gather together in his house to attend his word and ordinances, who are his servants, and constantly and faithfully adhere to him; among whom he grants his presence, they are near to him, and he to them. It is a periphrasis of the assembly of the saints; see Psalm 89:7. The Targum is,
"all ye that dwell round about his sanctuary;''
the allusion is to the situation of the camp of Israel, and the tabernacle in the wilderness, Numbers 2:1 compare with this Revelation 4:4,
bring presents unto him that ought to be feared, or "to the fear" (f), which is one of the names of God; see Genesis 31:42 and who is and ought to be the object of the fear and reverence of men; the "presents", to be brought to him are the sacrifices of prayer and praise, yea, the whole persons, the souls and bodies, of men; see Psalm 72:10, compare with this 2-Chronicles 32:22. The Targum is,
"let them bring offerings into the house of the sanctuary of the terrible One;''
of him that is to be feared, with a godly fear by good men, and to be dreaded by evil men, as follows.
(f) "ad verb terrori, timori", Vatsblus; "numini", De Dieu, "venerando et timendo huic numini", Michaelis; so Ainsworth.

Invite homage to such a God (2-Chronicles 32:23), who can stop the breath of kings and princes when He wills (Daniel 5:23).

Vow - A sacrifice of thanksgiving for this wonderful deliverance. Let all - All the neighboring nations submit to the God of Israel.