Psalms 62:3

How long For the indignant remonstrance cp. Psalms 4:2, noting also the connexion of that verse with Psalms 62:4; Psalms 62:7; Psalms 62:9of this Psalm. God is on his side; they cannot harm him; how long will they persist in the futile attempt?

will ye imagine mischief against a man? This rendering, adopted from Jewish authorities by the scholars upon whom Coverdale largely relied, and passing on from him to the later versions, rests upon an impossible derivation. Render with R.V., following LXX and Vulg., will ye set upon a man. The corresponding Arabic word is said to be still used in Damascus in the sense of -to intimidate," -to threaten with violence."

ye shall be slain This is the reading of R. Aaron ben Asher, a famous Jewish scholar of the 10th century, whose authority was generally followed in the West. But the reading of his rival, R. Moses ben Naphtali, which makes the verb active (the difference is one of vowel points only) suits the context better. Render with R.V., that ye may slay him, or better still, returning to the primary meaning of the verb in connexion with the metaphor of the next line,

Battering him, all of you,

Like a toppling wall, like a tottering fence.

The blows of calamity have already taken effect, and they are eager to complete his ruin. Wycliffe gives a graphic rendering of the Vulg.; -a wal bowid, and a wal of stoon with out morter cast down." "The metaphor of the falling wall is common in Eastern proverbs. -The wall is bowing," is said of a man at the point of death. -By the oppression of the headman the people of that village are a ruined wall." " (Aglen.)

all of you In contrast to -a man"; fur though the Psalmist was not alone (Psalms 62:8) he was the principal object of attack. Cp. 2 Samuel 17:1 ff.