_David, reproving wicked judges, describeth the nature of the wicked, and devoteth them to God's judgments, whereat the righteous shall rejoice._ To the chief Musician, Al-taschith, Michtam of David. _TITLE._ תשׁחת אל _AL TASHCHETH._— Bishop Patrick observes, that the order of time, in placing thi... [ Continue Reading ]
YE WORK WICKEDNESS, &C.— _You work wickedness on the earth; your hands frame violence._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WICKED ARE ESTRANGED FROM THE WOMB— This is a strong hyperbole, a figure often used, as it is here, with great elegance by the finest writers; when, to be more expressive, they speak in such terms as apparently exceed the strict matter of fact. St. John does the same thing, when he says, If all... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKE THE DEAF ADDER, &C.— Dr. Hammond observes from Schindler, that "the _deaf viper,_ or _adder,_ is so called, because, being deaf of one ear, he useth to stop the other with dust, or with his tail, to avoid the force of the charms or incantations wherewith he is wont to be caught." And then, from... [ Continue Reading ]
BREAK THEIR TEETH, O GOD— The mention of _teeth_ in this first place with the relative _their,_ most probably refers to the adder's or serpent's immediately foregoing, whose poison and noxious power is in their teeth; and the way to disarm serpents is to deprive them of their teeth. They who keep se... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE BENDETH HIS BOW, &C.— _When they would shoot their arrows, let them be as it were without arms._ Mudge. See Psalms 64:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS A SNAIL WHICH MELTETH, &C.— _Like the snail which dissolveth, let them flow away; like the untimely birth of a woman, that never saw the sun._ Houbigant and Mudge.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEFORE YOUR POTS CAN FEEL THE THORNS— _Sooner than the bramble can heat your pots, let God's wrath, like a stormy wind, sweep them away._ See Bishop Hare and Green. The author of the _Observations_ remarks, that among the Arabs, the fire of thorns, furze, and things of that kind, is commonly used fo... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL REJOICE— Not from a mere complacence in the destruction of his enemies, but from a zeal for the glory of God, which is thereby displayed. _He shall wash his feet,_ &c. is an allusion to a great conqueror, who, upon returning with a complete victory from the slaughter of his enemi... [ Continue Reading ]