Psalm 17:10-15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 17:8-15

We may observe, in these verses, I. What David prays for. Being compassed about with enemies that sought his life, he prays to God to preserve him safely through all their attempts against him, to the crown to which he was anointed. This prayer is both a prediction of the preservation of Christ through all the hardships and difficulties of his humiliation, to the glories and joys of his exalted state, and a pattern to Christians to commit the keeping of their souls to God, trusting him to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 17:10

They are enclosed in their own fat ,.... Or "their fat has enclosed them"; either their eyes, that they can hardly see out of them, or their hearts, so that they are stupid and senseless, and devoid of the fear of God; the phrase is expressive of the multitude of their wealth and increase of power, by which they were swelled with pride and vanity, and neither feared God nor regarded man; so the Targum paraphrases it, "their riches are multiplied, their fat covers them;' see Deuteronomy... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 17:11

They have now compassed us in our steps ,.... The sense is, they could not stir a step but they were at their heels, surrounding them on every side. This was true of David, when he was pursued by Saul, and followed by him to Keilah and the wilderness of Maon, 1 Samuel 23:8 ; according to the "Cetib", or textual writing, it should be rendered, "they have compassed me"; but, according to the "Keri", or marginal reading, and the points, it is as we have translated it, and which is followed by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 17:12

Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey ,.... Or "the likeness of him is as a lion" F9 דמיונו כאריה "similitudo ejus, vel cujusque est tanquam leonis", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius; so Musculus, Gejerus, Michaelis. ; meaning Saul, as Kimchi interprets it; or everyone of them that compassed them about, as Aben Ezra observes; sometimes wicked and persecuting princes are compared to lions, for their strength and cruelty; see Proverbs 28:15 ; so the devil is called... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 17:13

Arise, O Lord ,.... See Psalm 3:7 ; disappoint him , or "prevent his face" F11 קדמה פניו "praeveni faciem ejus", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Musculus, Gejerus; "anticipa faciem ejus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. ; be beforehand with him, and so disappoint him, when he is about to seize his prey; who is comparable to the lion, or to the young lion; meaning the chief of his enemies, it may be Saul; cast him down ; everyone of them that set themselves to cast down... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 17:14

From men which are thy hand, O Lord ,.... Some understand these words, with what follows, as independent of the former, and of another set of men, even of good men; so the Targum, "and the righteous who deliver their souls for thy sake, O Lord, unto death in the earth, their portion is in eternal life;' so Jarchi gives the like sense of them: but the words are to be connected with the preceding, as they are by Aben Ezra, Kimchi, and Ben Melech; and the sense is, deliver my soul from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 17:15

As for me ,.... I do not desire to be in their place and stead, with all their plenty and prosperity; I am content with my present condition and situation: for I will , or "shall" behold thy face in righteousness ; that is, appear before God in public worship, where was the ark, the symbol of the face of God; enjoy his gracious presence, have the discoveries of his love, and see his face and favour; than which nothing was more desirable by him and delightful to him. Or God himself... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 17:10

They are enclosed in their own fat - Dr. Kennicott, Bishop Horsley, Houbigant, and others, read the passage thus: סגרו חבלמו עלי alai chablamo sageru , "They have closed their net upon me." This continues the metaphor which was introduced in the preceding verse, and which is continued in the two following: and requires only that עלי ali , "upon me," should began this verse instead of end the preceding; and that חלב cheleb , which signifies fat, should be read חבל chebel ,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 17:11

They have now compassed us in our steps - Instead of אשרנו ashshurenu , "our steps," Dr. Kennicott and others recommend אשרינו ashreynu , "O lucky we, at last we have compassed him." He cannot now escape; he is sure to fall into our hands. They have set their eyes bowing down to the earth - All the commentators and critics have missed the very expressive and elegant metaphor contained in this clause. Kennicott says, They drove the hart into toils, and then shot him. Bishop... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 17:12

Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey - This is the picture of Saul. While his huntsmen were beating every bush, prying into every cave and crevice, and examining every foot of ground to find out a track, Saul is ready, whenever the game is started, to spring upon, seize, and destroy it. The metaphors are well connected, well sustained, and strongly expressive of the whole process of this persecution. In the ninth verse the huntsmen beat the forest to raise and drive in the game. In... read more

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