The rich man shall lie down, &c.— He may lie down rich, but it is the last time: a rendering which the latter part of the verse fully justifies. It describes the case of a tyrant, who lies down to rest in quiet; but those who conspire against him come upon him while he sleepeth: he openeth his eyes, but it is but for a moment; to see his own destruction. Heath; with whom Houbigant agrees. But Mr. Peters explains it thus: "The wicked rich man shall die, but shall not be gathered to the assembly of good and pious souls: he openeth his eyes in the other world, and finds himself quite lost and miserable;" for, that the word ףּאס asap, gathered was sometimes put for being gathered to their fathers, or their people, we have a plain example, Numbers 27:13 where, of Aaron it is only said, that he was gathered; and yet the same, no doubt, was meant by it, that he should be gathered to his people; i.e. to the assembly of good and pious souls.

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