ALEPH. ▼

▼118:1 Aleph: The first eight verses of this psalm in the original begin with Aleph, which is the name of the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The second eight verses begin with Beth, the name of the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet; and so to the end of the whole alphabet, in all twenty-two letters, each letter having eight verses. This order is variously expounded by the holy fathers; which shows the difficulty of understanding the holy scriptures, and consequently with what humility, and submission to the Church they are to be read.(Challoner)