Psalms 35:5-6

Let them be as chaff before the wind,

The angel of Jehovah thrusting them down.

Let their way be all dark and slippery,

The angel of Jehovah pursuing them.

A terrible picture of a pell-mell rout. Does it not read like a recollection of some incident in a warrior's life, perhaps some defeat of the Philistines? Helpless as chaff before the wind (Psalms 1:4; Psalms 83:13) they are driven headlong down a dark and slippery track, where they can neither see nor keep their footing, with the dread Angel smiting them down as they vainly strive to escape. "The tracks down the limestone hills of Palestine are often worn as smooth as marble" (Kay).

Most probably the participles should be transposed. Pursuingsuits the image of the storm-driven chaff (Isaiah 17:13); thrusting down(Psalms 36:12; Psalms 118:13; Psalms 140:4) agrees better with the picture of the stumbling fugitives. For the angel of Jehovahsee note on Psalms 34:7. Cp. the reminiscence of this passage in Jeremiah 23:12.