16:4 another god. The danger of worshiping other gods was always present in Israel (cf. 1 Kin. 18). The psalms emphasize that the powers and epithets ascribed to the pagan gods really belong to Yahweh (Ps. 29).

offerings of blood . . . names. That is, of foreign gods. These are two examples of ways that the religious systems of the surrounding nations tried to compel their gods to help them.