John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 129:1
Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth ,.... That is, the enemies of Israel, afterwards called "ploughers". This may be understood of literal Israel, the posterity of Jacob; whose youth was the beginning of their constitution as a nation and church, or the first times of it; when they were greatly distressed by their enemies, and from thenceforward; as in Egypt, where, and in places near it, they were afflicted four hundred years, according to a prophecy given to Abraham their... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 129:1-4
The church of God, in its several ages, is here spoken of, or, rather, here speaks, as one single person, now old and gray-headed, but calling to remembrance the former days, and reflecting upon the times of old. And, upon the review, it is found, 1. That the church has been often greatly distressed by its enemies on earth: Israel may now say, ?I am the people that has been oppressed more than any people, that has been as a speckled bird, pecked at by all the birds round about,? Jer. 12:9. It... read more