Psalms 27:2

"When evil-doers came upon me to eat my flesh,

Even mine adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell.

Though a host should encamp against me,

My heart shall not fear:

Though war should rise against me,

Even then will I be confident."

"Came upon me to eat my flesh." The RSV has greatly weakened these words by changing them to, "uttering slanders against me." As Kidner said, "They needlessly relegated to the margin this powerful metaphor of the enemy as a pack of vicious animals."[6]

Of course, as Barnes pointed out, "We are not to suppose that the enemies here were cannibals, intent, literally, on eating David's flesh; the metaphor is drawn from the fierceness of wild beasts rushing upon the prey."[7]

The mention of "slanders" in the RSV is explained by some as the charges David's enemies made against him alleging his mistreatment of the members of the house of Saul; and, of course, Absalom slandered David in his vicious charges of incompetence in his kingship.