Psalms 118:11 - Exposition

They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about (comp. Psalms 88:17 ). The special compassing about alluded to is probably that in the time of Nebuchadnezzar, when not only the Babylonians but the Syrians, the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Edomites took part in hostilities against Israel ( 2 Kings 24:2 ; Psalms 137:7 ). But in the Name of the Lord I will destroy them. The threefold repetition of this trenchant phrase ( Psalms 118:10 , Psalms 118:11 , Psalms 118:12 ) lends it vast additional force. It is no casual utterance, no mere wish, or thought begotten of a wish, but a deep and firm conviction.