Psalm 109

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:6

Let Satan stand at his right hand - As the word שטן satan means an adversary simply, though sometimes it is used to express the evil spirit Satan, I think it best to preserve here its grammatical meaning: "Let an adversary stand at his right hand:" i.e., Let him be opposed and thwarted in all his purposes. All the Versions have devil, or some equivocal word. The Arabic has eblees , the chief of the apostate spirits; but the name is probably corrupted from the Greek διαβολος ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:7

Let him be condemned - רשע יצא yetse rasha . "Let him come out a wicked man;" that is let his wickedness be made manifest. Let his prayer become sin - Thus paraphrased by Calmet: "Let him be accused, convicted, and condemned, and let the defense which he brings for his justification only serve to deepen his guilt, and hasten his condemnation." I once more apprise the reader, that if these are not the words of David's enemies against himself, (see on Psalm 109:20 ; (note)), they are... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:8

Let another take his office - The original is פקדתו pekuddatho , which the margin translates charge, and which literally means superintendence, oversight, inspection from actual visitations. The translation in our common Version is too technical. His bishopric, following the Septuagint, επισκοπην , and Vulgate, episcopatum and has given cause to some light people to be witty, who have said, "The first bishop we read of was bishop Judas." But it would be easy to convict this witticism... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:9

Let his children be fatherless, etc. - It is said that Judas was a married man, against whom this verse, as well as the preceding is supposed to be spoken; and that it was to support them that he stole from the bag in which the property of the apostles was put, and of which he was the treasurer. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:10

Set his children - beg - The father having lost his office, the children must necessarily be destitute; and this is the hardest lot to which any can become subject, after having been born to the expectation of an ample fortune. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:11

Let the strangers spoil his labor - Many of these execrations were literally fulfilled in the case of the miserable Jews, after the death of our Lord. They were not only expelled from their own country, after the destruction of Jerusalem, but they were prohibited from returning; and so taxed by the Roman government, that they were reduced to the lowest degree of poverty. Domitian expelled them from Rome; and they were obliged to take up their habitation without the gate Capena, in a wood... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:13

Let his posterity be cut off - It is a fact that the distinction among the Jewish tribes in entirely lost. Not a Jew in the world knows from what tribe he is sprung; and as to the royal family, it remains nowhere but in the person of Jesus the Messiah. He alone is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Except as it exists in him, the name is blotted out. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:16

Persecuted the poor and needy man - In the case of Jesus Christ all the dictates of justice and mercy were destroyed, and they persecuted this poor man unto death. They acted from a diabolical malice. On common principles, their opposition to Christ cannot be accounted for. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:17

As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him - The Jews said, when crucifying our Lord, His blood be upon us and our children! Never was an imprecation more dreadfully fulfilled. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:18

Let it come into his bowels like water - Houbigant thinks this is an allusion to the waters of jealousy; and he is probably right, - the bitter waters that produce the curse. See Numbers 5:18 . read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:11

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 109:18

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