Psalms 31:13 - Exposition

For I have heard the slander of many (see the comment on Psalms 31:11 ). The calumnies circulated against him had reached David's ears, and these had so affected him that he felt as described in the preceding verse. Fear was on every side, while they took counsel together against me. Fear was "on every side"—in his own heart, and in the hearts of all his friends—when it came to the point of his enemies holding a formal council, in which the matter discussed was the best mode of proceeding against him to take away his life. The particulars of such a council are given in 2 Samuel 17:1-14 . They devised to take away my life. That David's life was sought is apparent from the last clause of 2 Samuel 17:2 , "I will smite the king only."