Psalm 3:1-2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 3:1-3

The title of this psalm and many others is as a key hung ready at the door, to open it, and let us into the entertainments of it; when we know upon what occasion a psalm was penned we know the better how to expound it. This was composed, or at least the substance of it was meditated and digested in David's thought, and offered up to God, when he fled from Absalom his son, who formed a conspiracy against him, to take away, not his crown only, but his life; we have the story, 2 Sam. 15:1-16:14... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 3:1

Lord, how are they increased that trouble me ?.... David's enemies increased in the conspiracy against him, 2 Samuel 15:12 ; the hearts of the men of Israel were after Absalom, and against him. Christ's enemies increased when Judas with a multitude came to take him; when the body of the common people cried out, Crucify him; when the assembly of the wicked enclosed him, and pierced his hands and his feet. And the enemies of God's people are many; the men of this world are against them;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 3:2

Many there be which say of my soul ,.... Or "to my soul" F21 לנפשי τη ψυχη μου , Sept. "animae meae", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Musculus, Gejerus, Michaelis; so the Targum. , the following cutting words, which touched to the quick, reached his very heart, and like a sword pierced through it: there is no help for him in God ; or "no salvation" F23 אין ישועתה "non est salus", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus; "non ulla salus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Ainsworth. :... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 3:1

Lord, how are they increased that trouble me? - We are told that the hearts of all Israel went after Absalom, 2 Samuel 15:13 ; and David is astonished to find such a sudden and general revolt. Not only the common people, but his counsellors also, and many of his chief captains. How publicly does God take vengeance for the sins which David committed so privately! In the horrible rebellion of Absalom we see the adultery of Bath-sheba, and the murder of Uriah. Now the words of Nathan begin to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 3:2

No help for him in God - These were some of the reproaches of his enemies, Shimei and others: "He is now down, and he shall never be able to rise. God alone can save him from these his enemies; but God has visibly east him off." These reproaches deeply affected his heart; and he mentions them with that note which so frequently occurs in the Psalms, and which occurs here for the first time, סלה selah . Much has been said on the meaning of this word; and we have nothing but conjecture to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 3:1

Verse 1 Sacred history teaches that David was not only dethroned, but forsaken by almost all men; so that he had well nigh as many enemies as he had subjects. It is true there accompanied him in his flight a few faithful friends; but he escaped in safety, not so much by their aid and protection as by the hiding-places of the wilderness. It is therefore not wonderful though he was affrighted by the great numbers who were opposed to him, for nothing could have taken place more unlooked for, on... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 3:2

Verse 2 The translation of some, Many say OF my soul, does not give the true meaning of this passage. The letter ל lamed is indeed sometimes used as meaning of in Hebrew, but David here intended to express something more, namely, that his heart was in a manner pierced with the mockery of his enemies. The word soul, therefore, in my opinion, here signifies the seat of the affections. And it has a corresponding meaning in a passage which we shall meet with in another Psalm, (Psalms 35:3,) “Say to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 3:1

Lord, how are they increased that trouble me: rather, Lord. how numerous are they that trouble me ! We arc told, in the Book of Samuel, that "the conspiracy was strong, for the people increased continually with Absalom ( 2 Samuel 15:12 ), and again, "Absalom, and all the people , the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him" ( 2 Samuel 16:15 ). Ahithophel proposed to attack David with twelve thousand men only ( 2 Samuel 17:1 ), but the actual number which went... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 3:1-8

The composition is made up of three parts—a strophe, an antistrophe, and an epode, each terminated by the word selah. Some critics, however, make out four parts, by dividing the epode. But the absence of the word selah at the close of 2 Samuel 18:7 is against this. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 3:1-8

A morning song in perilous times. In this case, as in others, the words which in our version form the title of the psalm are in the Hebrew its first verse. And they enable us, with less than the usual uncertainty, to fix on the historic occasion on which it was written. This is one of those psalms which come under those in the first division of the introductory homily. It is an historical psalm, and as such it must be studied and estimated, £ As an illustration of the way in which... read more

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