Psalm 118:1-18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 118:10

All nations compassed me about ,.... Not all the nations of the world, but all the neighbouring nations about Judea; as the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Amalekites, and Syrians; and these not all at one time, but sometimes one, and sometimes another, whom David fought with and subdued: and these, applied to Christ, design Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel; who were gathered together against him, to do what God had determined should be done, Acts 4:27 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 118:11

They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about ,.... Which is repeated not only for the confirmation of, it, but to denote the frequency and fury of their attacks, and their obstinate persisting therein; See Gill on Psalm 118:10 ; but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them ; which also is repeated to show the strength of his faith, and the continuance of it, notwithstanding his numerous enemies, and their violent efforts against him. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 118:12

They compassed me about like bees ,.... In great numbers F23 ηυτε εθνεα μελισσα ων , Homer. Iliad. 2. v. 87, Vid. Virgil. Aeneid. 12. v. 587. ; as a swarm of bees, which, being irritated and provoked, will fly upon persons in a body, and with great fury; to which the Amorites and the Assyrian army were compared, Deuteronomy 1:44 . They will attack horses and kill them, as Aristotle F24 Hist. Animal. l. 9. c. 40. says; and places besieged have been delivered by throwing out... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 118:13

Thou hast thrust sore at me, that I might fall ,.... Or "pushing, thou hast pushed me F1 רחה רחיתני "impellendo impulisti me", Pagninus, Montanus, Musculus, Michaelis; "trudendo trusisti me", Cocceius. , that I might fall": an apostrophe to some particular enemy, as Saul was to David; who thrust sore at him to take away his life, by casting a javelin at him; speaking to his servants to kill him; sending messengers to watch his house and slay him, and by, pursuing him from place to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 118:14

The Lord is my strength and song ,.... It being in the name of the Lord the enemies of the psalmist were destroyed; and having obtained help of him when sore thrust at, he gives him all the glory, and ascribes nothing to himself. It was the Lord that strengthened him, helped him, and gave him the victory. The Lord is the author and giver of strength, natural and spiritual; he is the "strength" of the hearts and lives of his people, and of their salvation; and therefore is their "song", the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 118:15

The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous ,.... In all the dwellings of good men, throughout the land of Israel, was heard nothing but the voice of joy, on account of David's accession to the throne; the deliverance of him from a persecuting Saul, and of them from his real administration; and the victories David obtained over all his enemies: for, "when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice", Proverbs 29:2 . And still much more occasion is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 118:16

The right hand of the Lord is exalted ,.... Lifted up, very eminent and conspicuous, easily to be observed in the instances before given, and become great and glorious in power; see Exodus 15:6 . The power of God is superior to all enemies; and is beyond conception and expression; and is able to do for his people above all they are able to ask or think; the right hand of the Lord doth valiantly : or "acts powerfully". This is repeated for the confirmation of it, and to show how much... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 118:17

I shall not die, but live ,.... Not that he should never die, David knew he should; but that his present afflictions would not issue in death; or he should not die by the hands of his enemies, he sometimes feared he should; but now believed he should live, as he did, to a good old age: he knew he should live spiritually and eternally, and not die a second death; and so may all true believers and members of Christ say. Yea, these words may be considered as the words of Christ; who, though he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 118:18

The Lord hath chastened me sore ,.... Or, "in chastening hath chastened me" F4 יסר יסרני "corripiendo corripuit me", Pagninus, Montanus, Cocceius; "castigando castigavit me", Musculus, Vatablus, Michaelis. . David was exercised with many afflictions; and though these were sore ones to the flesh, yet they were only the chastenings of a Father, and were all in love and for his good; as are all the afflictions of God's people; for whom he loves he chastens. Indeed the chastisement of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 118:2

Let Israel now say - Seeing the hand of the Lord so visibly, and the deliverance gained, that God's mercy endureth for ever. read more

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