This Psalm begins with an indignant remonstrance with those in authority, who not only fail to administer justice equitably, but are themselves among the worst of offenders (Psalms 58:1-2). A description of the incurably wicked, among whom, it is implied, such men must be classed, follows (Psalms 58... [ Continue Reading ]
_O congregation_ This rendering of the obscure word _çlěm_, adopted by the scholars of the early part of the 16th century from the learned Rabbi David Kimchi (c. 1160 1235), cannot be defended, and does not suit the context. The word _çlěm_occurs elsewhere only in the title of Psalms 56, and from it... [ Continue Reading ]
An indignant remonstrance with those in authority, who, instead of condemning crime, are themselves the most guilty criminals.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yea_ Or, Nay, for the particle implies a negative answer, and an additional accusation. Far from judging equitably, you are yourselves the greatest offenders. _in heart_ Inwardly they are ever contriving some scheme of injustice, like the nobles against whom Micah inveighs (Psalms 2:1), as "workin... [ Continue Reading ]
_are estranged_ From God and His laws. Cp. Ephesians 4:18, "alienated from the life of God": Colossians 1:21, "alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works," where St Paul uses the word (ἀπῃλλοτριωμένοι) employed by the LXX here. "The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth" (Gen... [ Continue Reading ]
A description of the class to which these wicked judges belong; the deliberately wicked, who are deaf to remonstrance and incapable of reformation.... [ Continue Reading ]
They are not only insidious and venomous as serpents, but obstinately oppose all attempts to control them; like the deaf adder or asp, most venomous of all serpents, which resists all the arts of the charmer. The Arabs distinguish the -deaf" serpent from that which answers the call of the charmer by... [ Continue Reading ]
The figure of the serpent, typical of insidious deadliness, is changed to that of the lion, typical of open ferocity. _Break … break out_ Render them powerless for harm. Two strong words, properly used of breaking down and overthrowing walls. Cp. Psalms 3:7; Job 4:10: Proverbs 30:14. The LXX rende... [ Continue Reading ]
Since they are thus obstinately and incurably evil, nothing remains but that they should be deprived of their power to hurt or altogether destroyed.... [ Continue Reading ]
_as waters_which _run continually_) R.V., restoring P.B.V., as water that runneth apace: like some torrent that rages wildly for a while when swollen by a sudden storm, and then vanishes entirely (Job 6:15 ff.). when _he bendeth_his bow to shoot _his arrows_ A cumbrous rendering of a peculiar phras... [ Continue Reading ]
Let them be like a snail which melts away and is gone: Like the untimely births of women, that have not seen the sun. Two more figures for the destruction of the wicked: let them melt away; nay, vanish as though they had never existed. The word _shablûl_puzzled the ancient translators. The LXX re... [ Continue Reading ]
The general sense of the verse is clear, though the second line is extremely obscure and possibly corrupt. The first line certainly means, _Before your pots can feel the thorns_(possibly a proverbial expression), and the verb in the second line means, _He shall sweep them_(or, _it) away with a whirl... [ Continue Reading ]
_The righteous shall rejoice_&c. On the moral aspects of the triumph of the godly at the just punishment of the wicked see note on Psalms 5:11, and generally, _Introd_. pp. lxxxviii ff. It is important to observe that the rejoicing of the righteous is at the vengeance which God has taken upon the wi... [ Continue Reading ]
The issues of the judgement: the righteous rejoice in the discomfiture of their oppressors: men in general recognise the reality of God's moral government of the world.... [ Continue Reading ]
_So that a man shall say_ Rather, So that men shall say: the mass of men, who are neither -righteous" nor -wicked," but as it were spectators of the conflict between the righteous and the wicked. _Verily_ This particle expresses the recognition of a truth which has been obscured or questioned: -aft... [ Continue Reading ]