But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.
Psalm 74 belongs among the psalms expressing the sorrow and desolation of the Jewish captives in the Babylonian captivity and their longing and prayers for deliverance, and that setting frames the account of the destruction of sacred carved work. That carved work belonged to God's dwelling place built by Israel, first connected with the tabernacle and afterward with the temple on Mount Moriah. The verse pictures enemies abruptly attacking and breaking down that carved work at once with axes and hammers. That destruction of the dwelling place included its being destroyed by fire and burned to the ground.
The joining of axes and hammers to the action denotes instrumentality, meaning with rather than under. The image of axes raised against the sanctuary's carved work illustrates modern higher criticism as an assault on the foundations of the Bible, urging caution before accepting conclusions that may prove unsound.
Psalm 74 belongs among the psalms expressing the sorrow and desolation of the Jewish captives in the Babylonian captivity and their longing and prayers for deliverance, and that setting frames the account of the destruction of sacred carved work. That carved work belonged to God's dwelling place built by Israel, first connected with the tabernacle and afterward with the temple on Mount Moriah. The verse pictures enemies abruptly attacking and breaking down that carved work at once with axes and hammers. That destruction of the dwelling place included its being destroyed by fire and burned to the ground.
The joining of axes and hammers to the action denotes instrumentality, meaning with rather than under. The image of axes raised against the sanctuary's carved work illustrates modern higher criticism as an assault on the foundations of the Bible, urging caution before accepting conclusions that may prove unsound.