PSALM 35 THE ARGUMENT This Psalm was penned by David when he was slandered and persecuted by Saul and his stewards, as is manifest from the whole body of it. David prayeth for his own safety, PSALMS 35:1,2, and his enemies destruction, PSALMS 35:3; showeth their falsehood, and unthankfulness, and ma... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE HOLD OF SHIELD AND BUCKLER; therewith to cover and defend me. Compare PSALMS 91:4 PROVERBS 2:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPEAR; thy offensive weapons. He alludes to the practice of soldiers in battle. THE WAY, in which they are marching directly and furiously against me. But divers interpreters, both Hebrews and others, take this Hebrew word for a noun, and render it a _sword_; or, as the word may signify, _a clos... [ Continue Reading ]
CONFOUNDED, i.e. frustrated in their wicked designs and hopes against me. Concerning this, and the like, and following imprecations, which may seem strange and severe, it must be considered, 1. That they did not proceed from any passionate or revengeful spirit in David towards his enemies, (from whi... [ Continue Reading ]
AS CHAFF BEFORE THE WIND, i.e. dispersed and chased from place to place, finding rest and safety no where. THE ANGEL OF THE LORD; whom God useth to defend his people, and to destroy their enemies.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR WAY, by which they flee, being chased, as was now said. DARK AND SLIPPERY; so as they can neither discern the right path, nor be able to stand in it, and much less to run away, especially from so swift a persecutor as an angel, whereby they must unavoidably fall into their enemies hands, and b... [ Continue Reading ]
Out of mere malice, without any injury or provocation on my part, and without any necessity on their parts. They are no common, but the worst of enemies; and therefore I may justly pray against them, as I do. These expressions aggravate their sins, and signify that their persecution of him was not t... [ Continue Reading ]
UPON HIM, i.e. upon each of thine and mine implacable enemies, of whom he hath hitherto spoken.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE LORD; in and for his glory and service, which shall be advanced by this means, and for his favour to me, otherwise I am far from rejoicing in their calamities.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL MY BONES, i.e. my whole body, by a synecdoche, as PSALMS 34:20, as well as my soul, mentioned PSALMS 35:9. I will glorify thee, both with my soul and with my body. SHALL SAY: speech is ascribed to the bones figuratively, as elsewhere they are said to fear and to rejoice, PSALMS 6:2, PSALMS 51:8,... [ Continue Reading ]
They accused me to Saul of treachery and designs against his crown and life, and other crimes whereof I was wholly innocent and ignorant.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR GOOD; for the good offices which did to divers of them when I had favour and power in Saul's court and camp. TO THE SPOILING OF MY SOUL, i.e. to the stripping of my person of all my comforts and hopes, and of my life itself.... [ Continue Reading ]
SICK; or in any other great misery. SACKCLOTH; which was the habit of mourners, GENESIS 37:34 MATTHEW 11:21 REVELATION 11:3. I HUMBLED MY SOUL, Heb. _I afflicted my soul_, (of which phrase see LEVITICUS 16:29,31 LEVITICUS 23:27,32, &c.,) partly with fasting, and partly with compassion and fervent pr... [ Continue Reading ]
I BEHAVED MYSELF, Heb. _I walked_; either to him, to visit and comfort him; or about the streets, whither my occasions led me. Though walking is oft put for a man's carriage or conversation. I BOWED DOWN; went hanging down my head, as mourners used to do, ISAIAH 58:5. MOTHER; he mentions the _mother... [ Continue Reading ]
IN MINE ADVERSITY, Heb. _in my halting_, i.e. when I was in great danger of falling into mischief; when I had any sickness, or ill success in my affairs, and was almost lost; for such are said to halt, MICAH 4:6,7 ZEP 3:19. See also PSALMS 38:17 JEREMIAH 20:10. GATHERED THEMSELVES TOGETHER, to wit,... [ Continue Reading ]
HYPOCRITICAL, or _profane_, as this word signifies, JOB 8:13, JOB 13:16 15:34 17:8, and, as some add, in all other places. MOCKERS; whose common practice it is to scoff at and deride others, and me in particular. IN FEASTS; or, _of_ or _for a cake_; or, _a morsel of bread_, as this word signifies, 1... [ Continue Reading ]
LOOK ON, like an idle spectator, without affording me any pity or help. _My darling_, to wit, MY SOUL, as it is in the former clause. Heb. _my only one_; which is now left alone and forsaken by my friends, and hath none to trust to but God. SEE POOLE ON "PSALMS 22:20".... [ Continue Reading ]
When I shall be restored to the liberty of the public assemblies and solemn feasts.... [ Continue Reading ]
WINK WITH THEIR EYE, i.e. mock me, or insult over me, as this phrase signifies, PROVERBS 6:13, PROVERBS 10:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 20. They are enemies to all peaceable counsels; they breathe out nothing but threatenings and war. They use not only open violence, but deceit, and subtle artifices, against me and my followers, who desire nothing more than to live quietly and peaceably under Saul's government.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY OPENED THEIR MOUTH WIDE AGAINST ME; either, 1. To devour me. It is a metaphor taken from wild beasts, when they come within reach of their prey. Or; 2. To pour forth whole floods of scoffs, and slanders, and contumelies. _Aha, aha_; an expression of joy and triumph. SEE POOLE ON "JOB 39:25 PS... [ Continue Reading ]
As they say they have seen, so my comfort is, thou also hast seen, and dost observe all their plots and threats, and all my distresses and calamities, which I suffer for thy sake. KEEP NOT SILENCE; or, _be not deaf_, to wit, to my prayers. The same word signifies both _to be silent_ and _to be deaf_... [ Continue Reading ]
At last undertake to plead my cause against mine adversaries.... [ Continue Reading ]
THY RIGHTEOUSNESS; whereby thou usest and lovest to defend the innocent, and to punish their oppressors.... [ Continue Reading ]
AH, SO WOULD WE HAVE IT; Heb. _Aha, our soul_, i.e. Oh our soul crieth, _Aha_; an expression of mirth, as before, PSALMS 35:21. Or, _Aha_, we have our wish or desire, as the _soul_ is taken, PSALMS 41:2. David is now as low as we could wish him.... [ Continue Reading ]
As they gathered themselves together to deride and oppose me, so do thou gather them together to destroy them. Or, _in like manner_, one as well as another; let the proud and great ones of them be disappointed and ashamed as well as the meanest among them. THEMSELVES; the same ellipsis we have PSALM... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT FAVOUR MY RIGHTEOUS CAUSE; that wish well to it, although they want either strength or courage to plead it. MAGNIFIED, i.e. exalted and praised for his righteousness, and truth, and goodness manifested in my deliverance. Mine enemies great design is to _magnify themselves_, PSALMS 35:26, but my... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]