Psalms 35:5. Let them be Or, They shall be; as chaff before the wind That is, dispersed and chased from place to place, finding rest and safety nowhere. And let the angel of the Lord Whom God employs to defend his people, and to destroy his enemies; chase them Drive them forward to their destruction, as chaff is driven by a fierce wind. read more
Psalms 35:6-7. Let their way By which they flee, being chased, as was now said; be dark and slippery So as that they can neither discern the right path, nor be able to stand in it, and much less to escape, especially from so swift a pursuer as an angel. For without cause Out of mere malice, without any injury or provocation on my part; have they hid, &c. The sundry expressions used in this clause, aggravate their sin, and signify that their persecution of him was not the effect of... read more
Psalms 35:8-10. Let destruction come upon him Upon each of thine and mine implacable enemies, of whom he had hitherto spoken. Or, rather, by this change of the plural number into the singular, he points at Saul, his chief and most implacable enemy. And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord In and for his glory and service, which, by these means, will be advanced, and for his favour to me. All my bones shall say My whole body, with all its members, as well as all the faculties of my soul,... read more
Psalms 35:11-12. They laid to my charge things I knew not They accused me to Saul of treacherous designs against his crown and life, and of other crimes of which I was wholly innocent and ignorant. They rewarded me evil for good For the good offices which I performed to divers of them when I had favour and power in Saul’s court and camp. To the spoiling of my soul That is, to the stripping of my person of all my comforts and hopes, and of my life itself. This interpretation of the... read more
Psalms 35:13. When they were sick Or in any other great misery; my clothing was sackcloth Which was the habit of mourners. I humbled Hebrew, I afflicted, my soul with fasting And with compassion and fervent prayers for them; and, or but, my prayer returned into mine own bosom My fastings and prayers did them no good, neither abated their malice, nor prevailed with God for them, so far as I desired; but returned to me without success, like a gift sent to an uncivil person, who... read more
Psalms 35:14. I behaved myself Hebrew, התהלכתי , hithhalacti, I caused myself to walk, namely, to visit and comfort him; or, I conducted myself toward him, as though he had been my friend, &c. As if I had been in danger of losing a friend or brother. I bowed down heavily Went hanging down my head as mourners used to do, Isaiah 58:5; as one that mourneth for his mother I could not have looked more dejected if I had bewailed the death of the dearest mother. read more
Psalms 35:15-16. But in mine adversity Hebrew, בצלעי , betzalgni, in my halting, that is, 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 often said to halt, in the Scripture; they rejoiced and gathered themselves together These very men (such was their inhumanity!) could not dissemble the joy they conceived when the news was brought of any evil that befell me, but ran to tell one another, and... read more
Psalms 35:17-18. Lord, how long wilt thou look on Like an idle spectator, without affording me any pity or help? Rescue my soul from their destructions Be pleased, at length, to vindicate my innocence from those who have already despoiled me of my peace and good name; my darling from the lions Namely, my soul or life, as it is in the former clause. Hebrew, my only one, for I am left alone, and forsaken by my friends, and have none to trust in but thee: (see on Psalms 22:21;) and now... read more
Psalms 35:19-21. Neither let them wink with the eye That is, mock me, or insult over me, as this phrase signifies. For they speak not peace They are enemies to all peaceable counsels; they breathe out nothing but threatenings and war. They devise deceitful matters They use, not only open violence, but deceit and subtle artifices; against them that are quiet in the land Against me and my followers, who desire nothing more than to live quietly and peaceably under Saul’s government. ... read more
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Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 35:4
Psalms 35:4. Let them be confounded That is, frustrated and disappointed in their wicked designs and hopes against me. Or, they shall be disappointed: for this and the following verses, to Psalms 35:9, may be considered as a prediction of the ruin and destruction which were about to come on the enemies of David, and on those of the Messiah and his church. Accordingly, Dr. Waterland renders them all in the future, whereas our translation by putting them in the optative mood, has given them... read more