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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 58:1-5

We have reason to think that this psalm refers to the malice of Saul and his janizaries against David, because it bears the same inscription (Al-taschith, and Michtam of David) with that which goes before and that which follows, both which appear, by the title, to have been penned with reference to that persecution through which God preserved him (Al-taschith?Destroy not), and therefore the psalms he then penned were precious to him, Michtams?David's jewels, as Dr. Hammond translates it. In... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 58:6-11

In these verses we have, I. David's prayers against his enemies, and all the enemies of God's church and people; for it is as such that he looks upon them, so that he was actuated by a public spirit in praying against them, and not by any private revenge. 1. He prays that they might be disabled to do any further mischief (Ps. 58:6): Break their teeth, O God! Not so much that they might not feed themselves as that they might not be able to make prey of others, Ps. 3:7. He does not say, ?Break... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 58:1

Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation ?.... Of the mighty, as in Psalm 82:1 ; the judges of the land, who were many, and therefore called a congregation, as it is necessary they should; for, being many, they are not so easily bribed; and besides, one may see that in a cause which another does not. The word signifies a "sheaf" F20 אלם "e manipulo", Tigurine version, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "e manipulo justifiae", Cocceius. ; and so it is by some rendered, to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 58:2

Yea, in heart ye work wickedness ,.... So far were they from speaking righteousness, and judging uprightly. The heart of man is wickedness itself; it is desperately wicked, and is the shop in which all wickedness is wrought; for sinful acts are committed there as well as by the tongue and hand, as follows. This phrase also denotes their sinning; not with precipitancy, and through surprise; but with premeditation and deliberation; and their doing it heartily, with good will, and with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 58:3

The wicked are estranged from the womb ,.... Which original corruption of nature accounts for all the wickedness done by men: they are conceived in sin, shapen in iniquity, and are transgressors from the womb; they are alienated from God, and from that godly life which is agreeable to him, and he requires; and from the knowledge and fear of him, and love to him; and they desire not the knowledge of him nor his ways; they are far from his law, and averse to it; and still more so to the Gospel... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 58:4

Their poison is like the poison of a serpent ,.... Either their "wrath" and fury, as the word F24 חמת θυμος , Sept. "furor", V. L. may be rendered, against God, his people, and even one another, is like that of a serpent when irritated and provoked; or their mischievous and devouring words are like the poison of asps under their lips, Romans 3:13 ; or the malignity of sin in them is here meant, which, like the poison of a serpent, is latent, hid, and lurking in them; is very... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 58:5

Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers ,.... Or "that use enchantments", to enchant serpents, by muttering certain words, or by magical songs; by which means it is said that they have been drawn out of their holes, or caused to fly, or have become stupefied, and have lost their poison, and even burst asunder; as Bochart F2 Hierozoic. par. 2. l. 2. c. 6. col. 390. relates from Pliny, Aelianus, Lucan, Isidore, Virgil, Ovid, Horace, and others: but an "asp" is unmoved by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 58:6

Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth ,.... From the description of the wicked, the psalmist passes to imprecations on his enemies; whom he represents as cruel and bloodthirsty, and as being stronger than he; and therefore he applies to God, who could, as he sometimes did, smite his enemies on the cheekbone, and break the teeth of the ungodly; which is done by taking the power and instruments of hurting from them: and it may be by "their teeth in their mouth" may be meant their malicious... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 58:7

Let them melt away as waters which run continually ,.... Let them be disheartened, and their courage fail them, and let there be no spirit left in them, Joshua 7:5 ; or let them be unstable as water that is continually running, ever upon the flux and motion; let them never be settled, but always changing in their state and circumstances, Genesis 49:4 ; or let them "come to nought", as the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions; which is the case of water that runs over or runs away: or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 58:8

As a snail which melteth, let everyone of them pass away ,.... As a snail when it comes out of its shell liquefies, drops its moisture, and with it makes a "path", from whence it has its name שבלול , in the Hebrew language; and so the Targum here, "as the snail moistens its way;' which moistness it gradually exhausts, and melts away, and dies: so the psalmist prays that everyone of his enemies might die in like manner. Some think reference is had to the snail's putting out its... read more

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