Matthew 26:30

And when they had sung a hymn - Υμνησαντες means, probably, no more than a kind of recitative reading or chanting. As to the hymn itself, we know, from the universal consent of Jewish antiquity, that it was composed of Psalm 113:1-9, Psalm 114:1-8, 115, 116, Psalm 117:1-2, and 118, termed by the Jews הלל halel, from הללו־יה halelu-yah, the first word in Psalm 113:1-9. These six Psalms were always sung at every paschal solemnity. They sung this great hillel on account of the five great benefits referred to in it; viz.

1. The Exodus from Egypt, Psalm 114:1. When Israel went out of Egypt, etc.

2. The miraculous division of the Red Sea, Psalm 114:3. The sea saw it and fled.

3. The promulgation of the law, Psalm 114:4. The mountains skipped like lambs.

4. The resurrection of the dead, Psalm 116:9. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

5. The passion of the Messiah, Psalm 115:1. Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, etc.

See Schoettgen, Hor. Hebr. p. 231, and my Discourse on the nature and design of the Eucharist, 8vo. Lond. 1808.

And when they had sung a hymn - The Passover was observed by the Jews by singing or "chanting" Psalm 113-118. These they divided into two parts. They sung Psalm 113-114 during the observance of the Passover, and the others at the close. There can be no doubt that our Saviour, and the apostles also, used the same psalms in their observance of the Passover. The word rendered "sung a hymn" is a participle, literally meaning "hymning" - not confined to a single hymn, but admitting many.

Mount of Olives - See the notes at Matthew 20:1.

26:30 And when they had sung the hymn - Which was constantly sung at the close of the passover. It consisteth of six psalms, from the 113th to the 118th. Psalms 113:1 &c.The mount of Olives - Was over against the temple, about two miles from Jerusalem. 14:26 ; Luke 22:39; John 18:1.