43:5 cast down. Compare Psalm 42:5,11. Evidently Psalm 43 is essentially continuing the theme of Psalm 42.

43:5 O my soul! Note that, when Psalm 42 and 43 are combined into a continuous poem of sixteen verses, the first five verses, the next six verses, and the last five verses form a symmetrical pattern of three stanzas, each ending in essentially the same self-directed question and assurance.

43:5 health of my countenance. Note that the “help of [God’s] countenance” in Psalm 42:5 became the “health of my countenance” in Psalms 42:11 and 43:5. The Hebrew words for “help” and “health” are actually the same.

Psalm 44 (title) sons of Korah. This is the second psalm written for “the sons of Korah” as well as another Maschil psalm (see notes on the titles to Psalm 32 and 42. Although Korah and some of his sons were slain by God when they rebelled against Moses (Numbers 16:32), some of the sons of Korah had separated themselves from the rebellion, and so survived (Numbers 16:25-27).