14 I behaved H1980 myself as though he had been my friend H7453 or brother: H251 I bowed down H7817 heavily, H6937 as one that mourneth H57 for his mother. H517
Then David H1732 took hold H2388 on his clothes, H899 and rent H7167 them; and likewise all the men H582 that were with him: And they mourned, H5594 and wept, H1058 and fasted H6684 until even, H6153 for Saul, H7586 and for Jonathan H3083 his son, H1121 and for the people H5971 of the LORD, H3068 and for the house H1004 of Israel; H3478 because they were fallen H5307 by the sword. H2719
And David H1732 lamented H6969 with this lamentation H7015 over Saul H7586 and over Jonathan H3083 his son: H1121 (Also he bade H559 them teach H3925 the children H1121 of Judah H3063 the use of the bow: H7198 behold, it is written H3789 in the book H5612 of Jasher.) H3477 The beauty H6643 of Israel H3478 is slain H2491 upon thy high places: H1116 how are the mighty H1368 fallen! H5307 Tell H5046 it not in Gath, H1661 publish H1319 it not in the streets H2351 of Askelon; H831 lest the daughters H1323 of the Philistines H6430 rejoice, H8055 lest the daughters H1323 of the uncircumcised H6189 triumph. H5937 Ye mountains H2022 of Gilboa, H1533 let there be no dew, H2919 neither let there be rain, H4306 upon you, nor fields H7704 of offerings: H8641 for there the shield H4043 of the mighty H1368 is vilely cast away, H1602 the shield H4043 of Saul, H7586 as though he had not been anointed H4899 with oil. H8081 From the blood H1818 of the slain, H2491 from the fat H2459 of the mighty, H1368 the bow H7198 of Jonathan H3083 turned H7734 not back, H268 and the sword H2719 of Saul H7586 returned H7725 not empty. H7387 Saul H7586 and Jonathan H3083 were lovely H157 and pleasant H5273 in their lives, H2416 and in their death H4194 they were not divided: H6504 they were swifter H7043 than eagles, H5404 they were stronger H1396 than lions. H738 Ye daughters H1323 of Israel, H3478 weep over H1058 Saul, H7586 who clothed H3847 you in scarlet, H8144 with other delights, H5730 who put H5927 on ornaments H5716 of gold H2091 upon your apparel. H3830 How are the mighty H1368 fallen H5307 in the midst H8432 of the battle! H4421 O Jonathan, H3083 thou wast slain H2491 in thine high places. H1116 I am distressed H6887 for thee, my brother H251 Jonathan: H3083 very H3966 pleasant H5276 hast thou been unto me: thy love H160 to me was wonderful, H6381 passing the love H160 of women. H802 How are the mighty H1368 fallen, H5307 and the weapons H3627 of war H4421 perished! H6
And G2532 when G5613 he was come near, G1448 he beheld G1492 the city, G4172 and wept G2799 over G1909 it, G846 Saying, G3004 If G3754 G1487 thou hadst known, G1097 even G2532 thou, G4771 at least G2534 in G1722 this G5026 thy G4675 day, G2250 the things G3588 which belong unto G4314 thy G4675 peace! G1515 but G1161 now G3568 they are hid G2928 from G575 thine G4675 eyes. G3788
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 35
Commentary on Psalms 35 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 35
Ps 35:1-28. The Psalmist invokes God's aid, contrasting the hypocrisy, cunning, and malice of his enemies with his integrity and generosity. The imprecations of the first part including a brief notice of their conduct, the fuller exposition of their hypocrisy and malice in the second, and the earnest prayer for deliverance from their scornful triumph in the last, are each closed (Ps 35:9, 10, 18, 27, 28) with promises of praise for the desired relief, in which his friends will unite. The historical occasion is probably 1Sa 24:1-22.
1-3. God is invoked in the character of a warrior (Ex 15:3; De 32:41).
3. fight against—literally, "devour my devourers."
stop the way against—literally, "shut up" (the way), to meet or oppose, &c.
I … thy salvation—who saves thee.
4. (Compare Ps 9:17).
devise my hurt—purpose for evil to me.
5, 6. (Compare Ps 1:4)—a terrible fate; driven by wind on a slippery path in darkness, and hotly pursued by supernatural violence (2Sa 24:16; Ac 12:23).
7, 8. net in a pit—or, "pit of their net"—or, "net-pit," as "holy hill" for "hill of holiness" (Ps 2:6); a figure from hunting (Ps 7:15). Their imprecations on impenitent rebels against God need no vindication; His justice and wrath are for such; His mercy for penitents. Compare Ps 7:16; 11:5, on the peculiar fate of the wicked here noticed.
10. All my bones—every part.
him that spoileth him—(Compare Ps 10:2).
11. False witnesses—literally, "Witnesses of injustice and cruelty" (compare Ps 11:5; 25:19).
12-14. Though they rendered evil for good, he showed a tender sympathy in their affliction.
spoiling—literally, "bereavement." The usual modes of showing grief are made, as figures, to express his sorrow.
13. prayer … bosom—may denote either the posture—the head bowed—(compare 1Ki 18:42)—or, that the prayer was in secret. Some think there is a reference to the result—the prayer would benefit him if not them.
14. behaved—literally, "went on"—denoting his habit.
heavily—or, "squalidly," his sorrowing occasioning neglect of his person. Altogether, his grief was that of one for a dearly loved relative.
15, 16. On the contrary, they rejoiced in his affliction. Halting, or, "lameness," as in Ps 38:17 for any distress.
abjects—either as cripples (compare 2Sa 4:4), contemptible; or, degraded persons, such as had been beaten (compare Job 30:1-8).
I knew it not—either the persons, or, reasons of such conduct.
tear me, and ceased not—literally, "were not silent"—showing that the tearing meant slandering.
16. mockers—who were hired to make sport at feasts (Pr 28:21).
17. darling—(Compare Ps 22:20, 21).
18. (Compare Ps 22:22).
19. enemies wrongfully—by false and slanderous imputations.
wink with the eye—an insulting gesture (Pr 6:13).
without a cause—manifests more malice than having a wrong cause.
20. deceitful matters—or, "words of deceit."
quiet in the land—the pious lovers of peace.
21. On the gesture compare Ps 22:7; and on the expressions of malicious triumph, compare Ps 10:13; 28:3.
23, 24. (Compare Ps 7:6; 26:1; 2Th 1:6). God's righteous government is the hope of the pious and terror of the wicked.
25. swallowed him up—utterly destroyed him (Ps 21:9; La 2:16).
26. clothed—covered wholly (Job 8:22).
27. favour … cause—delight in it, as vindicated by Thee.
Let the Lord, &c.—Let Him be greatly praised for His care of the just.
28. In this praise of God's equitable government (Ps 5:8) the writer promises ever to engage.