Maschil means understanding and is attached to 13 Psalms (32:, 42:, 44:, 45:,

52:, 53:, 54:, 55:, 74:, 78:, 88:, 89:, 142:). The maschil Psalms seem

to be public rather than private and therefore have to do with public instructions (see

Psalm 32: 8, 9).

The meaning of shiggaion is uncertain, but the most likely meaning is "crying aloud"

either in joy or trouble. It is found in association with Psa. 7: The plural shigionoth is

found in Hab. 3: 1.

Higgaion is derived from a word meaning to soliloquize, to speak to one's self, hence

to meditate. As a noun it would mean meditation and is found with Psa. 9: 16; 19: 14

and 92: 3.

Neginoth is from nagan to strike, hence its connection with the striking or plucking of

the strings of a musical instrument. The Psalms with which it is associated are 3:, 5:,

53:, 54:, 66:, 75: and Hab. 3: It may well be that the smiting goes deeper than the

playing of instruments with strings, and refers to the smitings of affliction and

The phrase the chief Musician, lamenatzeach occurs 55 times and designates the

Psalms handed over to the leader of the Temple's praise for singing and worship.

Selah. This is the word which has been given more variety of meanings than any

other found in the Psalms. It occurs 74 times in the Bible, 71 times in the Psalms and

many see in it nothing more than a musical direction. One cannot help feeling that a

word occurring so frequently in the inspired Scriptures has a deeper meaning than this. It

seems to mark the end of one section and the beginning of a new one. In other words it is

a connecting link. The word derived from one of two roots, namely salah, to pause or

salal, to lift up. It is a thought link either in development of the teaching or is antithetic

and adds a contrast. The student should carefully note each usage and note what has

preceded it and what follows.

Here again there are many opinions as to the interpretation of the word `degrees'

which means `steps'. Some have asserted that these were Psalms sung on the fifteen

steps of the Temple, but we have no Scriptural or other evidence that there were fifteen

steps. Other ideas include `a higher choir', `a higher key', or perhaps the going up of the

Ark to Zim, or the going up of the Tribe to the feasts.

Dr Thirtle pointed out that the definite article is used--the degrees which makes one

ask what exactly are these degrees? The only degrees we read about in the Scriptures are

those on the sundial of Ahaz, by which the shadow of the sun went backward. These

were a sign from Jehovah in connection with Hezekiah that he would recover from his

sickness. The reader should consult II Kings 20: 8-11. One of the great divines of the