Psalms 58:5

_WHICH WILL NOT HEARKEN TO THE VOICE OF CHARMERS, CHARMING NEVER SO WISELY._ Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers - literally, the voice of those whispering in a low, sweet, and soothing tone. CHARMING NEVER SO WISELY - a different Hebrew word from that for "charmers " - literally, 'binding (by a spell).' Saul could hear; for that his conscience was not dead appears from his more than once expressing his conviction that David would succeed to the throne (1 Samuel 24:20; 1 Samuel 26:21; 1 Samuel 26:25); yet he continued to resist conscience, as well as David's protestations of his innocence of treason, and Jonathan's intercession....

1-5 When wrong is done under the form of law, it is worse than any other; especially it is grievous to behold those who profess to be children of God, joining together against any of his people. We should thank the Lord for merciful restraints; we should be more earnest in seeking renewing grace, more watchful over ourselves, and more patient under the effects of fallen nature in others. The corruption of their nature was the root of bitterness. We may see in children the wickedness of the world beginning. They go astray from God and their duty as soon as possibly they can. And how soon will little children tell lies! It is our duty to take pains to teach them, and above all, earnestly to pray for converting grace to make our children new creatures. Though the poison be within, much of it may be kept from breaking forth to injure others. When the Saviour's words are duly regarded, the s...

Verse Psalms 58:5. _WHICH WILL NOT HEARKEN TO THE VOICE OF CHARMERS_] The old Psalter translates and paraphrases these two verses curiously: - _Vulg_. Furor illis secundum similitudinem serpentis; sicut aspidis surdae et obturantis aures suas: Quae non exaudiet vocem incantantium et venefici in cantantis sapienter. _Trans._ _Wodes_ (madness) _til thaim aftir the liking of the neddir,_ _as of the snake doumb and stoppand her eres._ _Paraph_. Right calles he tham _wod_, (_mad_,) for that hafe na witte to se whider that ga: for that louke thair eghen, and rennys till the are thaire wodness til clumsthed that wil noght be turned as of the snake that festis (_fastens_) the ta ere til the erth, and the tother ere stoppis with hir taile: Sua do thai that thai here not Godis word; that stope thair eris

WHICH WILL NOT HEARKEN TO THE VOICE OF CHARMERS - The word rendered “charmers” - לחשׁ _lachash_ - means properly “whisperers, mutterers,” and it refers here to those who made use of spells or incantations - sorcerers or magicians. See the notes at Isaiah 8:19. These incantations were accompanied usually with a low, muttering sound, or with a gentle whisper, as if for the purpose of calming and controlling the object of the incantation. Such charmers of serpents (or pretended charmers) abounded among the ancients, and still abound in India. The art is carried in India to great perfection; and there are multitudes of persons who obtain a livelihood by this pretended or real power over venomous serpents. Their living is obtained either by “exhibiting” their power over serpents which they carry with them in their peregrinations, or by

EXPOSITION A PSALM of condemnation on unrighteous judges. Some suppose the judges to be superhuman beings, entrusted with the government of the earth (Cheyne). Others suggest heathen rulers of Israel, in Babylonia, during the time of the Captivity. But the language is not stronger than that addressed often to native judges (see Isaiah 1:16; Isaiah 10:1; Jeremiah 5:26-24; Micah 3:9, etc.). And there is no reason for rejecting the statement of the "title," that the psalm was written by David. It may either belong to the early years of David's reign, or to the time immediately preceding Absalom's rebellion.

WHICH WILL NOT HEARKEN TO THE VOICE OF CHARMERS,.... Or "that use enchantments", to enchant serpents, by muttering certain words, or by magical songs; by which means it is said that they have been drawn out of their holes, or caused to fly, or have become stupefied, and have lost their poison, and even burst asunder; as Bochart b relates from Pliny, Aelianus, Lucan, Isidore, Virgil, Ovid, Horace, and others: but an "asp" is unmoved by enchantments, and they are of no avail against its bites and poison c. Nor do these words suppose that the psalmist approved of enchantments, or affirms the virtue of them to be real, but rather suggests the contrary; he only takes his similitude from the seeming deafness and disregard of serpents to enchantments, to set forth the obstinacy of wicked men: and their resolution to continue in their wicked ways; like the serpent that disregards men: CHARMING...

Psalms 58 A Judgment Psalm __ 1. Why God must judge (Psalms 58:1) 2. The judgment executed (Psalms 58:6) “Do ye of a truth in silence speak righteousness?” (literal rendering of the first verse). Righteousness is not heard on earth. Wickedness and violence are on the earth, therefore God must arise and deal with these conditions in judgment. It will overtake the wicked and the imprecatory prayers will be answered. Then the righteous will be glad when he seeth the vengeance and it will be said, “Verily there is a reward for the righteous; verily He is a God who judgeth the earth.”...

LVIII. A PRAYER FOR VENGEANCE ON UNRIGHTEOUS JUDGES. This Ps. is closely allied to Psalms 82. The reproaches in Psalms 58:3, where the enemies of the Psalmist are said to have gone astray from the womb, and Psalms 58:4, where they are compared with deaf adders, point to Jewish tyranny, such, _e.g.,_ as that of the Sadducean priests, rather than to a foreign power. Nobody would have expected heathen to hear the voice of Jewish religion. PSALMS 58:1. We ought certainly to read, Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O ye gods? (_mg.)._ The title was given in flattery (_cf._ 2 Samuel 17:14, where see _mg.),_ or wit

A description of the class to which these wicked judges belong; the deliberately wicked, who are deaf to remonstrance and incapable of reformation....

PSALMS 58 DESCRIPTIVE TITLE A Significant Warning to Corrupt Judges. ANALYSIS Stanza I., Psalms 58:1-5, Corrupt Judges Apostrophised, Described in their Evil Doings and Training, in the Harm they Do and the Hopelessness of Trying to Reform them. Stanza II., Psalms 58:6-9; Psalms 58:11, the Judgment which has Overtaken them, by the Advent of a Righteous King. (A Maccabean cry for vengeance, Psalms 58:10.) (Lm.)By DavidA Tablet. 1 Do ye indeed ye mighty ones[629] speak righteously? [629] So Gt