The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 399

on tile wnlls; only, instead of keeping watch to bring rlestrnction upon the whole mns~ or against the enemy, they 'watch fur i11i- his enemies. Of the two readings in the quity'" (Cheyne). Mischiof n!Go nnd sorrow original, the one e.rlopted by our translators are in the midst of it; mther, ini7uity also seem~ the best," Lc-t death come suddenly and trouble. Compare the "violenc" nod upon them.'' Let them go down quick (i.e. stl'ife" of vcr. 9. Sodcty is disorganized. alive) into hell. There is an allusion to tile It is not only that wickedness prevails, but fate of Kurah and hi, company (~u,r,b. xvi. th1·oughout the city tllc1·e is violence aud 30-33), who " went clown quick into the contention. pit;" but probably the psalmi,t n<Jither Ver. 11.-Wfokeinass is in the midst expected nor desired a literal fulfilment of thereof; deceit and guile depart not from his imprecation. The de:1t.Ls of Al1it hophcl her streets; literally, out of htr street (rnhob) (2 Sam. xvii. 23) and Absalom (2 l'fam. -" the open square, where justice ought to xviii. 14, 15), and of so m.rny of Abanlom'd have been administered" (Kay)," adjoining followers (2 Sam. xviii. 7, 8), were quite e. the multcd passage of thu city gate" sufficient fnltilment. For wickadncsa is (Cheyne); comp. Job xxix. 7. in thair dwel..l.tJ.gs, and among them (comp. Ver. 12.-For it was not an enemy tho.t vers. 3, 9-11). reproached me; then I oould have borne it. •.rue psalmist passes from the general to the Vers.16-23.-In conclusion, the psalmist particulo.r-from the great mass of his turns altogether to God, whom he now opponents to one special individual. Even addresses ns "Jehovah" (vers. 16, 22), and Professor Cheyne allows tliis, o.nd suggests expresses his co11:fi<le:1ce that, in answer to that we have here Jeremiah inveighing his continual prayers (var. 17), Go I will age.inst Pa~hur. But the general sentiment of commentators has al ways been th:.t come to his aid, will deli\·er his soul from Ahithophel is intencied. And, if we allow the mo.chinationa of his enemies, o.nd will the psalm to he David's, we can scaiccly visit them with "ailliction" (vcr. lD) and girn any other explnnntion. Ahilhophel "destruction" (ver. 23). Still gricred was known us "David's counsellor" (2 S:1ru. chiefly by the defection of his nnfo.iti,ful xv. 12), i.e. Lis chief adviser, his "grand vizier," his "prime minister." ,vho.t he friend, he once more tlcs~ribes the treaclicry couuselled wo.s considered as e. so1·t of o.nd heinon,mesa of his conduct ( vers. 20, "oracle of God" (2 So.m. xvi. 23). His 21), before wiuding up with a word of com- defection wo.s the bilterest drop in the cup fort for e.11 the righteous (ver. 22), auil of of tho uuhappy king. Anytlling else he mene.oe ago.inst all the ungodly (ver. 23). "could have borne;' but this wo.s too much. Neither was it he that he.ted mo tho.t did Ver. 16.-As for me, I will-call upon God; magnify himself against ma. It wo.s not and tha Lord (,Jehovah) eho.11 sava me. 'l'he one o.mong my prnfe8sed e.ud open enem:es oall is upon the God known to mnn by -not one of those whose hatred I had long nature as the Almighty Ruler of tllo known o.ml reckoned on. Than I would universe; tile answer is from tlte c,wcno.nt he.ve hid myself from him. In~tcad of open- Goil or Israel, the Selt~existcnt O.ie, in ing all my heo.rt to him, us I have done to whom lsro.el trusts. The two nre dilfcreut Ahitllophel. aspects of one anil the ume Being. Ver. 13.-But it wo.s thou, e. ms.:i mine Ver, 17.-Evening, and morning (comp. eque.l; literally, a m,m according to my Gen. i. 5, 8, etc.), and at neon, will I valuing; i.e. oue of my social rank, with pray, and ory aloud. l!'rom this passago whom I ,,·as on familiar terms. My guide; und from Daniel's conduct (D<Ln. vi. 10) we or, "my companion." But tho LXX. have leo.rn that devout lsraditcs l,ahitunlly ,;-y,µwv. And mine e.oqunints.nce. "lily offered pro.yer to God nt tl,cso threo fo1u·~ coulid1111t" (Kay); "my fo.milinr friend" of the day. Tho "morning" anll u even in:;" (Oheyne, and Revised Version). duvotions were douLtlcs; suggesleu Ly tho Ver. 14.-We took sweet coansel together law of the morning 0.11d evening B:tl'rilic~ (comp. 2 Sam. xv. 12; xvi. 23; I Ullron. (Exo,l. xxix. 38-42); Lnt l11e mi,ld:iy xxvii. 33). Aud wa.J.ked unto the house of pre.yor, being nowhere coww(\nde,1, can only God in comps.ny; rather, in tlia throng be nscribcd to uature.l p.iety. And he sl:all (Cl1eyne, Revised Verlfion); i.e. in the mi,lst hear my voioe. Constant unremitting pmycr of the crowd of worshippers. When Da.vid is cnto.in of an nnswor. Compnro tho p,1mulu went up to tile house of God, who is more of the importnunte friend (Luko xi. 5-8). likely to have o.ccompuniou him tho.n his Ver. 18.-He hath delivered my eoul in cllief ••counsellor" ? pee.ea from the battle tho.t wns against mJ. Ver. 15.-Let dea.th seize upon them. As Once moro "the preterite of proplletio cer- this strophe begins (ver. 9), so it ends, with tainty." Do.viil sec~ his delivcrnuco effected. an imprcco.tion, '.£he psalmist ccil~ ou Goel lie beholds tilo collling battle(:! s~w. xvi;. 416 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PB, LV, 1-23,