Psalms 17

Psalms 17:1

Lift up - Heb. stirred up myself to rejoice and insult over his misery.

Psalms 17:3

If - My domesticks and familiar friends. His flesh - This is farther confirmation of Job’s charitable disposition to his enemy. Although all who were daily conversant with him, and were witnesses of his and their carriage, were so zealous in Job’s quarrel, that they protested they could eat their flesh, and could not be satisfied without. Yet he restrained both them and himself from executing vengeance upon them.

Psalms 17:5

As Adam - As Adam did in Paradise.

Psalms 17:6

Did I fear - No: all that knew Job knew him to be a man of resolution, that boldly appeared, spoke and acted, in defence of religion and justice. He durst not keep silence, or stay within, when called to speak or act for God. He was not deterred by the number, or quality, or insults of the injurious, from reproving them, and doing justice to the injured.

Psalms 17:7

Had written - Had given me his charge written in a book or paper, as the manner was in judicial proceedings. This shews that Job did not live, before letters were in use. And undoubtedly the first letters were those wrote on the two tables, by the finger of God. He wishes, his friends, who charged him with hypocrisy, would draw up the charge in writing.

Psalms 17:8

Take it - As a trophy or badge of honour.

Psalms 17:9

Him - My judge, or adversary. My steps - The whole course of my life. A prince - With undaunted courage and confidence.

Psalms 17:10

Cry - Because I have gotten it by fraud or violence.

Psalms 17:11

Without money - Either without paying the price for the land, or by defrauding my workmen of their wages. Life - Killing them that I might have undisturbed possession of it, as Ahab did Naboth.

Psalms 17:14

Because - So they said: but they could not answer him.

Psalms 17:15

The Buzite - Of the posterity of Buz, Nahor’s son, Genesis 22:21. Ram - Or, of Aram; for Ram and Aram are used promiscuously; compare 2 Kings 8:28 2 Chronicles 22:5. His pedigree is thus particularly described, partly for his honour, as being both a wise and good man, and principally to evidence the truth of this history. He justified - Himself not without reflection upon God, as dealing severely with him, he took more care to maintain his own innocency, than God’s glory. The word Elihu signifies, my God is he. They had all tried in vain to convince Job: but my God is he who both can and will do it.