Ps. viii. 1. Pro torcularibus. Item Psal. lxxxi. 1. lxxxiv. 1.GITTITH. This word occurs frequently in the beginning of the Psalms, and is generally translated Wine-presses. The conjectures of Interpreters are various concerning this word Gittith.1 Some think it signifies a sort of musical instrument; others, that the Psalms with this title were sung after the vintage; lastly, others, that the hymns of this kind were invented in the City of Gath. We are rather of opinion, that it was given to the class of young women, or songstresses of Gath, to be sung by them. See the Argument of Psalm viii. Gittith does not signify Wine-presses, but a woman of Gath. If Wine-presses were meant by it, it should be Gitteth.
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Footnotes
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Translators’ note. Dr. Hammond thinks, that the Psalms with this title were all set to the same tune, and made on Goliah the Gittite. See Hammond on Psalm viii. ↩