Psalms 140

Psalms 140:1-13

Psalms 1401. To the Chief Musician. A Psalm. By David. We find ourselves, in this psalm, carried back not only to the times of David, but to those of the Sauline persecution, from which the images are evidently borrowed. Besides the warlike tone, the vigorous conciseness, the verbal agreements with Davidic psalms, combined with eminent originality, the very stru ture is Davidic, and exhibits the familiar sequence of complaint, Psalms 140:1-5, prayer, Psalms 140:6-8, and confident anticipation, Psalms 140:9-13.

So clearly do these features of the composition mark its origin, even independently of the inscription, that nothing can account for its position here but the hypothesis already stated, that these ancient psalms were incorporated into a series of later date, and placed in the collection, not according to their individual antiquity, but according to the date of the whole set or system, into which they had been made to enter. Like the psalms immediately preceding, this was probably composed by David after the reception of the great Messianic promise, and with immediate reference to it.

2. (Psalms 140:1) Deliver me, Jehovah, from the bad man; from the man of violences thou wilt preserve me. This is one of those pictures so abundant in the genuine Davidic psalms, of which Saul seems to have furnished the original. Compare Psalms 52. The first man is the generic term, the other the individual designation, which seem, however, to be used here as equivalents. The insensible transition from direct prayer to confident anticipation is characteristic of the psalms of David. Man of violence is another favourite expression. See above, on Psalms 18:48, and compare the parallel passage, 2 Samuel 22:49, where the plural form (violences) is used, as in the verse before us.

3. (Psalms 140:2) Who imagine evils in (their) hearts; all the day they gather (for) battles. That the preceding verse, notwithstanding the reference to Saul, is the description of a whole class, is clear from the plural forms in this verse. Think, meditate, devise, imagine. Evils, particularly such as are inflicted on others, well expressed in the common versions, mischiefs. Another construction of the last clause, preferred by some interpreters, is, all the day they dwell with wars (or in wars), i.e. are constantly involved in them and busied with them. This use of the verb is justified by Psalms 5:4; Psalms 105:23; Psalms 125:5. But the analogy of Psa 56:6; Psalms 59:3,is decisive in favour of the other explanation. Compare Psalms 31:13; Psalms 35:15, Isaiah 54:15.

4. (Psalms 140:3) They sharpen their tongue as a serpent; the poison of an adder (is) under their lips, Selah. Not as a serpent (does), but (spiteful or venomous) as a serpent. See above, on Psalms 64:3. With the last clause compare Psalms 10:7; Psalms 58:4. The word for asp or adder occurs only here. The only point of exegetical importance is, that it means a poisonous serpent, and is thus a specification of the general expression in the other clause.

5. (Psalms 140:4) Keep me, Jehovah, from the hands of the wicked (man); from the man of violences thou wilt preserve me, who have thought to subvert my steps. A varied repetition of the prayer in ver. 1. With the last clause compare Psalms 35:5; Psalms 36:12; Psalms 56:13; Psalms 118:13.

6. (Psalms 140:5) High (ones) have hid a snare for me, and cords— they have spread out a net by the side of the road— traps have they laid for me, Selah. This is little more than an accumulation of the various terms in which David elsewhere clothes one of his favourite figures, as if he saw his own perils reappearing in the future. High ones, i.e. proud or haughty men. By the side, literally the hand, as we say on either hand. The word translated road, according to its etymology, denotes a waggon-road, a track worn by wheels.

7. (Psalms 140:6) I have said to Jehovah, My God (art) thou; give ear, Jehovah, (to) the voice of my supplications. All the component parts of this verse are of constant occurrence in the psalms of David. With the first clause compare Psalms 16:2; Psalms 31:14. With the second, Psalms 5:1-2; Psalms 17:1; Psalms 28:1; Psalms 28:5; Psalms 31:22; Psalms 39:12; Psalms 53:3.

8. (Psalms 140:7) Jehovah, Lord, the strength of my salvation; thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. My covenant God and sovereign, whose power saves me. Head is preceded by a preposition, thou hast been a covering (or afforded shelter) to (or for) my head. The day of battle, literally of armour or of weapons, i.e. the day when they are used. With this verse compare Psalms 5:11; Psalms 60:7; Psalms 62:1; Psalms 62:11; Psalms 139:13, 1 Samuel 28:2.

9. (Psalms 140:8) Grant not, Jehovah, the desires of the wicked man— his device succeed not— they will be exalted. Succeed not, suffer not to prosper; literally, draw not out, i.e. to a successful issue. The last clause states what would be the effect of their success; they would be elated, or exalt themselves. With this verse compare Psalms 27:12; Psalms 31:13; Psalms 37:12; Psalms 66:6, Deuteronomy 32:27.

10. (Psalms 140:9) The head of those surrounding me— the mischief of their lips shall cover them. The nominative absolute refers back to the covering of the Psalmist’s head in Psalms 140:7. While my head is covered by the divine protection, the head of those by whom I am beset shall be covered with the consequences or the punishment of the mischief occasioned by their calumnies and insults. Or the trouble, which their lips have caused to others, shall return upon themselves. Compare Psalms 7:16. Those surrounding me, or, as a noun, my surroundings, as in 2 Kings 23:5. The participle would, according to analogy and usage, mean causing me to turn back or retreat (Jeremiah 21:4), which yields a good sense here. The head of those who once drove me back shall be covered, etc.

11. (Psalms 140:10) Coals shall be cast upon them; into the fire he shall make them fall, and into deep waters, (whence) they shall not rise. The first noun in Hebrew always means burning or live coals. See above, on Psalms 18:12-13. Shall be cast is the keri or marginal reading, no doubt intended to relieve the harshness and obscurity of the reading in the text, they shall cast or shake, an indefinite or impersonal construction, really equivalent in meaning to the passive. In the second member of the sentence the action is ascribed to God himself. Deep waters answers to a single Hebrew word occurring only here, and by some supposed to mean deep pits or excavations. The first sense above given is founded on an Arabic analogy.

12. (Psalms 140:11) A man of tongue shall not be established in the land, (nor) a man of violence, a bad (man)— he shall hunt him to destruction. A man of a calumnious unbridled tongue (James 1:26) shall not be permanently seated in a prosperous condition. See above, on Psalms 101:7; Psalms 102:28. The next words may be variously construed; a man of wicked violence, or, disregarding the accents, a man of violence, evil shall hunt him, etc. According to the other constructions, God is the subject of the verb, as of the second in Psalms 140:10. To destructions, the plural form denoting fulness and completeness. Others render it by strokes, i.e. successive strokes; others again, in haste, which agrees well with the usage of the verbal root. See 2 Chronicles 26:20, Esther 3:15; Esther 6:12; Esther 8:14.

13. (Psalms 140:12) I know that Jehovah will do justice to the sufferer, and judgment for the poor. Compare Psalms 9:4; Psalms 9:16. Literally, the right of the sufferer, the judgment of the poor.

14. (Psalms 140:13) Only the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name, the upright shall sit in thy presence. Only the righteous shall have occasion for thanksgiving. There is no need therefore of departing from the proper sense of the Hebrew particle. See above, on Psalms 73:1. Sit in thy presence, as thy friends or guests or favoured servants. Perhaps it may mean sit (enthroned) before thee. Compare Matthew 19:28. Some understand the sense to be, shall dwell (in the land) before thee, i.e. under thy protection and inspection. Compare Psalms 21:6; Psalms 41:12), 56:13).