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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 118:1-18

It appears here, as often as elsewhere, that David had his heart full of the goodness of God. He loved to think of it, loved to speak of it, and was very solicitous that God might have the praise of it and others the comfort of it. The more our hearts are impressed with a sense of God's goodness the more they will be enlarged in all manner of obedience. In these verses, I. He celebrates God's mercy in general, and calls upon others to acknowledge it, from their own experience of it (Ps.... read more

John Gill

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 118:10

All nations compassed me about - This is by some supposed to relate to David, at the commencement of his reign, when all the neighboring Philistine nations endeavored to prevent him from establishing himself in the kingdom. Others suppose it may refer to the Samaritans, Idumeans, Ammonites, and others, who endeavored to prevent the Jews from rebuilding their city and their temple after their return from captivity in Babylon. But in the name of the Lord will I destroy them - Dr. Kennicott... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 118:12

They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns - I shall refer to Dr. Delaney's note on this passage. The reader has here in miniature two of the finest images in Homer; which, if his curiosity demands to be gratified, he will find illustrated and enlarged, Iliad ii., ver. 86. - Επεσσευοντο δε λαοι.π Ηΰτε εθνεα εισι μελισσαων αδιναων,Πετρης εκ γλαφυρης αιει νεον ερχομεναων,Βοτρυδον δε πετονται επ ' ανθεσιν ειαρινοισιν,Αἱ μεν τ ' ενθα ἁλις... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 118:13

Thou hast thrust sore at me - In pushing thou hast pushed me that I might fall. But the Lord helped me - Though he possessed skill, courage, and strength, yet these could not have prevailed had not God been his helper; and to him he gives the glory of the victory. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 118:10

Verse 10 10.All nations compassed me In these verses he relates the wonderful deliverance which he had received, that all might know that it was not of human but divine origin. Once and again he declares, that he was compassed not by a few persons, but by a vast multitude. The people, being all inflamed with anger and fury against him, compassed him so that there were no means for his escape, and he could procure help from no quarter but from heaven. Some consider his complaint, that all... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 118:13

Verse 13 13.Thou hast sorely thrust at me. He either now changes the person, or directs his discourse to Saul, his principal enemy. In the person of one, he sets at defiance all his enemies together. In saying that he had been thrust at, he admits that he did not withstand the onset by his own bravery, as those who are powerful enough to encounter opposition, sustain the assaults of their enemies without flinching. The power of God is more illustriously displayed in raising him up even from... read more

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