Psalms 7:16

His mischief shall return upon his own head,.... That which he conceived and devised in his mind, and attempted to bring upon others, shall fall upon himself, as a just judgment from heaven upon him;

His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate. His mischief - the mischief which be devised against me, but which justly belongs to himself, and falls on him.

Which phrase may note whence this retribution should come, even from heaven, or from the righteous and remarkable judgment of God.

Psalms 7:16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.Ver. 16. His mischief shall return upon his own head] As the Thracians’ arrows did, which they in a rage (because it rained upon them unseasonably) shot up against heaven (Herodot.). And his violent dealing upon his own pate] i.e. Abundantly, and apparently. Various instances might be given hereof. Henry III of France was stabbed in the same chamber where he had helped to contrive the French massacre. His brother, Charles IX, had blood given him to drink, for he was worthy: Quem sitiit vivens seelerata mente cruorem, Perfidus hunc moriens Carolus ore vomit. John Martin of Briqueras, in France, vaunted everywhere, that he would slit the minister’ s nose of Angrogne. But he was shortly after assaulted by a wolf, which bit off his nose, so that he died thereof mad. Dispatch the knave, have done, said Sir Ralph Ellerken, governor of Calais, to the executioner of Adam Davilip, martyr, for I will not away till I see the traitor’ s heart out (Acts and Mon.). But shortly after, the said Sir Ralph in a skirmish between the French and us at Bulloin, was among others slain, and had his heart ripped out by the enemy. That was a very remarkable one of Dr. Story, who escaping out of prison in Queen Elizabeth’ s days, got to Antwerp, and there thinking himself out of the reach of God’ s rod, he got commission under Duke D’ Alva, to search all ships coming there for English books. But one Parker, an English merchant, trading to Antwerp, laid his snare fair, saith our chronicler (Speed. 1174), to catch this foul bird, causing secret notice to be given to Story, that in his ship were store of heretical books, with other intelligences that might stand him in stead. The canonist, conceiving that all was cock sure, hasted to the ship, where with looks very big upon the poor mariners, each cabin, chest, and corner above board were searched, and some things found to draw him further on; so that the hatches must be opened, which seemed to be unwillingly done, and great signs of fear were showed by their faces. This drew on the doctor to descend into the hold, where now in the trap the mouse might well gnaw, but could not get out; for the hatches were down, and the sails hoisted up, which with a merry gale were blown into England, where ere long he was arraigned, and condemned of high treason, and accordingly executed at Tyburn, as he had well deserved.

Verse 16. Shall come down upon his own pate.] Upon his scalp, קדקד kodkod, the top of the head. It may refer to knocking the criminal on the head, in order to deprive him of life. Had scalping been known in those days, I should have thought the reference might be to that barbarous custom.

16. The certain recoil of evil upon the evil-doer. Cp. 1 Samuel 25:39 : and the figures in Proverbs 26:27, and Sir 27:25, “Whoso casteth a stone on high casteth it on his own head.”

His mischief - The mischief which he had designed for others. Shall return upon his own head - Shall come upon himself. The blow which he aimed at others shall recoil on himself.

14-17. He travaileth—Literally, he shall bring forth with pain. The dark hearted Cush of the title now re-appears. He brings forth in his conduct, with agony, what he had already conceived in his heart.