Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 6 · Book 2 · Commentary on psalm 11 – Commentary on psalm 13
PSAL. LII.
David condemning the shightfulnesse of Doeg prophesieth his destruction; 8 at which the just shall rejoyce. 10 David upon confidence of Gods mercy, giveth thanks.
To the master of the musicke, an instructing Psalme of David. When Doeg the Adomite came and shewed to Saul, and said to him, David came unto the house of Achimelech.
WHy boastest thou in evill, O mighty man? the merciemercy of God endureth all the day. Thy tongue thinketh wofull evils, as a sharpe rasour doing deceit. Thou lovest evill more than good; falshood more than to speake justice Selah. Thou lovest all words of swallowing; the tongue of deceit. Also God will destroy thee to perpetuitie, hee will pull thee away and plucke thee out of the tent, and will root thee up, out of the land of the living Selah. And the just shall see and feare, and shall laugh at him. Behold the man that put not God for his strength, but trusted in the multitude of his riches; hee was strong in his wofull evill. But I, as a greene Olive in the house of God, I trust in the mercy of God ever and aye. I will confesse thee for ever, for thou hast done this; and will patiently expect thy name, for it is good before thy gracious Saints.
Annotations.
DOeg] a servant of King Saul, and master of his herdmen, 1 Sam. 21. 7. the Adomite] that is, an Aedomite, or, Idumean, as the Greeke here translateth: or a man of Adamah a citie of the tribe of Naphtali, Ios. 19. 36. of Acbimelech] David flying from Sauls tyranny, came for comfort to the house of God in Nob, where Achimelech the Priest administred. He gave unto David and his company the showbread …o … armed him with the sword of Goljath the Philistian, and asked counsell of the Lord for him. Doēg saw this, and told King Saul, and after (when no other man would) himselfe at the Kings commandement, ran upon Achimelech and the Priests, and killed 85 persons: and Nob the citie of the Priests he smote with the edge of the sword, both man, woman, childe and beast. But Abj…thar Achimelechs sonne escaped unto David, and told him, who there upon made this Psalme. See 1 Sam. 21. and 22. Matth. 12. 3 4.
Vers. 3. in evill] the Chaldee expounds it, in an evill tongue. O mighty man] or, Potentate, Doëg is thus named, for his chiefe place over King Sauls herdmen, 1 Sam. 21. 7 and his killing of so many Priests of the Lord, 1 Sam. 22. 18. 19. in which mischievous prowesse he vaunted himselfe.
Vers. 4. thinketh] or understand, Why thinketh thy tongue? that is, uttereth the evils thought and premeditated. doing deceit] that is, as a rasour which in stead of cutting the haire, cutteth the throat. Or it may be referred to the man, O doer of deceit, as the Greeke saith, thou hast done deceit.
Vers. 5. justice] that is, truth or faithfulnesse.
Vers. 6. words of swallowing] or of devouring, of perniciousnesse, that is, pernicious words which cause destruction.
Vers. 7. destroy] or pull thee downe: a similitude taken from buildings pulled downe, Levit. 14. 45. applied here to mans overthrow. So Iob 19. 10. pull thee away] or take thee hence, as a coale of fire is taken with the rongs, Esa. 30. 4. plucke thee] as the stakes are plucked up when the tent is removed. This is applied to expulsion ou… of ones setled place; and is opposed to stablishing, Deut. 28. 63. Prov. 2. 22. and 15. …5. root thee up] as a tree plucked up by the roots, Iude 12. So Iob 31. 12. la…d of the living] that is, this world. See Psal. 27. 13.
Vers. 8. shall see] the Chaldee paraphraseth, shalt see thy punishment, and feare before the Lord.
Vers. 9. the man] the mighty … It hath reference to verse 3. he was strong] or, would be strong, and prevaile; as Psal. 9. 20. or; strengthened and hardned himselfe. his wofull evill] or, in that he hath, that is, his substance; the Greeke saith, in his vanitie.
Vers. 10. greene olive] alwayes fresh and flourishing. See Psal. 37. 35. Ier. 11. 1…. aye] continually: see Psal. 9. 6.
Vers. 11. hast done] the Chaldee addeth, hast done the vengeance of my judgement.
PSAL. LIII.
David describeth the corruption of a naturall man, 5 and convinceth them by the light of their consciences. 7 He glorieth in the salvation of God.
To the master of the musicke on Machalath, an instructing Psalme of David.
THe foole saith in his heart there is no God: they have corrupted, and have made themselves abominable with injurious evill; there is none that doth good.
God from the heavens looked downe upon the sonnes of Adam, to see if there were any that understandeth, that seeketh God. Every one is gone backe, together they are become unprofitable: there is none that doth good, none, not one. Doe they not know, that worke painfull iniquitie, that eat my people as they eat bread, they call not upon God. There they dreaded a dread where no dread was, for God hath scattered the bones of him that besiegeth thee; thou hast made them abashed, for God hath contemptuously cast them off. Who will give out of Sion the salvations of Israel? when God returneth the captivitie of his people, Iakob shall be glad, Israel shall rejoyce.
Annotations.
MAchalath] this seemeth to be a kind of instrument much like Nechiloth, Psal. 5. 1. It may also be interpreted sicknesse or infirmitie. So in the title of Psal. 88. an instructing Psalme] Maskil: see Psal. 32. 1. This Psalme is the same in effect, and almost in words, with the 14 Psalme, some few things changed. See the notes there.
Vers. 2. with injurious evill] so the Greeke saith, with iniquities they are made abominable. Or, wee may read, they have done abominable ….
Vers. 4. every one is gone backe] Hebr. All he, that is, Each one, or whosoever he be, in particular. In Psalm. 14. 3. he speaketh generally, all is departed.
Vers. 6. where no dread was] that is, no cause of droad. God giveth to the wicked a trembling …eart, Deut. 28. 65. and a sound of feare is in their …ares, Iob 15. 21. yea the sound of a lease chaseth them, and they flee when none pursueth, Lev. 26. 36. Prov. 28. 1. of him that besiegeth thee] or, that pitcheth c…pe against thee, speaking to the godly man. The Greeke turneth it, of men-pleas…rs. hast made them abashed] or, shalt make abashed, (for it is a promise, but set downe as already performed, for the more assurance,) or, shalt put to confusion, to wit, them, or their counsell, as they would have confounded thine. See Psal. 14. 6.
Vers. 7. who will give] a wish; O that therewere given, &c. See the notes on Psal. 14. 7. salvations] that is, full salvation, health or deliverance.
PSAL. LIV.
David complaining of the Ziphims, prayeth for salvation. 6 VponUpon his confidence in Gods helpe hee promiseth sacrifice.
To the master of the musicke on Neginoth, an instructing Psalme of David. When the Ziphims came and said unto Saul, doth not David hide himselfe with us?
O God, in thy name save me, and in thy power judge me. O God, heare my prayer, hearken to the words of my mouth. For strangers are risen up against me, and daunting tyrants seeke my soule, they have not set God before them Selah. Lo… God is mine helper, the Lord is with them that uphold my soule. He will turne the evill to my enviers: in thy truth suppresse thou them. With voluntarinesse I will sacrifice unto thee, I will confesse thy Name Iehovah, because it is good. For hee hath freely rid mee out of all distresse, and mine eye hath seene on mine enemies.
Annotations.
ZIphi…s] or Zipheans. the Inhabitants of Ziph, a citie in the tribe of Iudah, Ios. 15. 24. by which there was a wildernesse and wood, wherein David hid himselfe when he fled from Ke…ah for feare of King Saul, and was bewrayed by these Ziphims unto the King, once and the second time, whereupon he made this Psalme. See the history, 1 Sam. 23. 14, 15. 19, &c. and 26 1, 2.
Vers. 5. strangers] the Ziphims, estranged from God, and alienated from his people, Psal. 58. 4. Isa. 1. 4. So wicked men are called Heathens, Psal. 59. 6. In Psal. 86. 14. his is repeated by David: but for Zarim, strangers, there he calleth them Zedim, proud. daunting tyrants] terrible dismayers, as Saul and his retinue, whose terrour daunted many. See Psal. 10. 18. seeke my soule] my life, to take it away: see the note on Psal. 35. 4.
Vers. 6. with them that uphold] or, among the upholders, the valiant souldiers that helped David in his battels: as 1 Chron. 12. 1. &c. a like manner of speech is, Iudg. 11. 35. thou art among them that trouble me.
Vers. 7. returne the evill] to wit, which they intend against me. For the righteous escapeth out of trouble, and the wicked shall come in his stead, Prov. 11. 8. suppresse them] restraine them, or cut them off. Compare Psal. 143. 12.
Vers. 8. With voluntarinesse] or, In freenesse; that is, freely, liberally, of a willing minde. Such sacrifices the law mentioneth, Levit. 7. 16.
Vers. 9. eye hath seene] to wit, the worke, or reward of God; in Chaldee, the vengeance on mine enemies, mentioned before in vers. 7. and as is expressed in Psal. 91. 8. but often this word is concealed, as Psal. 35. 21. and 92. 12. or hath viewed them with delight: see Psal. 22. 18.