Psalms 91:13

13. Lion… adder Two deadly enemies, the one representing open violence, the other secret cunning; both formerly, and the adder (Hebrew, pethen, see note on Psalms 58:4,) still, infesting the Arabian desert. To “tread upon the lion,” may be understood in the sense of triumphing over a vanquished enemy, as Judges 5:21; Isaiah 63:3; or, in the sense of an accidental treading upon, from being too near the monster as he lies concealed in the path. This danger is the common terror of the natives where this animal abounds. Wood says: “In the dark there is no animal so invisible as the lion. Almost every hunter has told a similar story of the utter inability to see him, though he was so close that they could hear his breathing. Sometimes, when he has crept near an encampment, he crouches closely to the ground, and in the semi-darkness looks so like a large stone, or a little hillock, that one might pass close to it without perceiving its real nature. This gives the opportunity for which the lion has been watching, and in a moment he strikes down the careless straggler.” This is especially true of the “old lion,” לישׁ , layish, who is too feeble to roam at large for prey. See Job 4:11.

Tread upon the… adder This allusion to a common danger arising from the serpent lying concealed in the path though here spoken of the pethen, (see note on Psalms 58:0,) applies well to the שׁפיפן , ( shephiphon,) the cerastes, or horned adder. See on Genesis 49:17.

Young lion Proverbially bloodthirsty and ferocious in its youthful strength. See Ezekiel 19:3.

Dragon The Hebrew may denote a monster either of the serpent or crocodile family, whether inhabiting the land or water, but here denotes some formidable land serpent.

Trample under feet A stronger expression than “tread,” in preceding verse, denoting the most perfect triumph over them. On this power over beasts and reptiles see Daniel 6:22; Mark 16:18; Luke 10:19; Acts 28:3-5. It is difficult to imagine how the Israelites, with their flocks, herds and families, could pass through the desert safely without superhuman protection from the evils enumerated in this psalm.