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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 55:9-15

David here complains of his enemies, whose wicked plots had brought him, though not to his faith's end, yet to his wits? end, and prays against them by the spirit of prophecy. Observe here, I. The character he gives of the enemies he feared. They were of the worst sort of men, and his description of them agrees very well with Absalom and his accomplices. 1. He complains of the city of Jerusalem, which strangely fell in with Absalom and fell off from David, so that he had none there but how own... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 55:9

Destroy, O Lord ,.... Or "swallow up" F19 בלע "degluti", Montanus, Tigurine version; "absorbe", Piscator, Gejerus, Michaelis; so Ainsworth. , as Pharaoh and his host were swallowed up in the Red sea; or as Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, were swallowed up in the earth; so all the enemies of Christ and his church will be destroyed; and death, the last of them, will be swallowed up in victory, Isaiah 25:8 . The Targum interprets it, "destroy", or "scatter their counsel": but this seems to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 55:10

Day and night they go about it, upon the walls thereof ,.... That is, "violence" and "strife" go about the walls of it continually; men of violence and contention are the only watchmen of it: a city must be sadly guarded that has no better watch than this; mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it ; it was full of wickedness within and without; the city, as Aben Ezra observes, was like a circle; violence and strife were as a line round about it, and mischief and sorrow the centre... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 55:11

Wickedness is in the midst thereof ,.... All manner of wickedness; abominable wickedness; wickedness as arrived to its highest pitch, and as having filled up its measure; see Ezekiel 9:4 ; deceit and guile depart not from her streets ; where truth was fallen, and equity could not enter, Isaiah 59:14 ; for these are contrary the one to the other, and are incompatible; where the one prevails, the other must give way. This whole account shows the aboundings of sin in Jerusalem at this... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 55:9

Destroy, O lord - Swallow them up - confound them. Divide their tongues - Let his counsellors give opposite advice. Let them never agree, and let their devices be confounded. And the prayer was heard. Hushai and Ahithophel gave opposite counsel. Absalom followed that of Hushai; and Ahithophel, knowing that the steps advised by Hushai would bring Absalom's affairs to ruin, went and hanged himself. See 2 Samuel 15, 16, and 17. Violence and strife in the city - They have been concerting... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 55:10

Day and night they go about - This and the following verse show the state of Jerusalem at this time. Indeed, they exhibit a fair view of the state of any city in the beginning of an insurrection. The leaders are plotting continually; going about to strengthen their party, and to sow new dissensions by misrepresentation, hypocrisy, calumny, and lies. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 55:9

Verse 9 9.Destroy, (303) O Lord; and divide their tongue Having now composed, as it were, his mind, he resumes the exercise of prayer. Had he indulged longer in the strain of complaint, he might have given his sanction to the folly of those who do themselves more harm than good by the excessive use of this barren species of comfort. There will occasionally escape from the lips of a saint, when he prays, some complaining exclamations which cannot be altogether justified, but he soon recalls... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 55:9

Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues . The second clause contains a reference to the confusion of tongues at Babel ( Genesis 11:7 ). "Introduce confusion into their counsels, and disperse them, as thou didst with the wicked ones who were forced to leave off to build the Tower." For I have seen violence and strife in the city . Such quarrels and broils, i.e ; as usually precede revolutionary disturbance. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 55:9-15

With a sudden transition, the writer passes from his own suffering, fears, and longings, to imprecations on his enemies, and a description of their wicked proceedings. In the course of his description he singles out one individual for special remark—one who had been his own guide, companion, and friend—but who had turned against him, and joined the company of his adversaries ( Psalms 55:12-14 ). read more

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