Bible Commentaries

The five first verses of this psalm are taken from Psalms 57., and the remaining eight verses from Psalms 60., with scarcely any variation. By some it is thought to have been thus compounded by David himself, on occasion of Abishai’s victory over Edom. By others, prone to seek the origin of the psalms in Babylon, it is alleged to have been put together by the Jews, to celebrate their return from captivity. The reader is referred to the two psalms of which this is compounded for the notes and reflections, which it is not necessary here to repeat.

Kimchi and Aben Ezra expound the maledictions of this psalm to be against Doëg the Edomite, as noted in 1 Samuel 22. Yet many of the christian fathers associate Ahithophel with Doëg. This however is quite improper: we have no proof that Ahithophel ever cursed David, and his wife was already a widow, 1 Samuel 22:9, before the psalm could have been composed. It is still worse to say that David, from 1 Samuel 22:6-13, does but record the curses and imprecations of his enemies against himself; for even the enemies of David could not reproach him with the iniquity of his fathers, and the sin of his mother: 1 Samuel 22:14. Nor with persecuting the poor, 1 Samuel 22:16; nor affirm that he loved cursing, and clothed himself with it as with a garment: 1 Samuel 22:17-18. The cursing of David was prophetic, dictated by the Spirit of God, and executed by his providence. Peter applies it to Judas, Acts 1:15; who is called the son of perdition. John 17:12. To the Jews, in their hatred of Christ, and consequent calamities, it fully, applies; and in them, all these execrations receive a striking consummation.