Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 6. When their judges are overthrown in stony places ] [ls ydyb biyedey sela, "In the hands of the rock." Does this rock signify a strong or fortified place; and its hands the garrison which have occupied it, by whom these judges were overthrown? If we knew the occasion on which this Psalm was made, we might be the better able to understand the allusions in the text.
They shall hear my words; for they are sweet. ] Some think there is here an allusion to David's generous treatment of Saul in the cave of En-gedi, and afterwards at the hill of Hachilah, in this verse, which might be translated: "Their judges have been dismissed in the rocky places; and have heard my words, that they were sweet." Or perhaps there may be a reference to the death of Saul and his sons, and the very disastrous defeat of the Israelites at Gilboa. If so, the seventh verse will lose its chief difficulty, Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth; but if we take them as referring to the slaughter of the priests at Nob, then, in stead of translating lwa ypl lephi sheol, at the grave's mouth, we may translate at the command of Saul; and then the verse will point out the manner in which those servants of the Lord were massacred; Doeg cut them in pieces; hewed them down as one cleaveth wood. Some understand all this of the cruel usage of the captives in Babylon. I could add other conjectures, and contend for my own; but they are all too vague to form a just ground for decided opinion.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 5-10 - We should be ready to welcome the rebuke of our heavenly Father, an also the reproof of our brethren. It shall not break my head, if it ma but help to break my heart: we must show that we take it kindly. Thos who slighted the word of God before, will be glad of it when in affliction, for that opens the ear to instruction. When the world i bitter, the word is sweet. Let us lift our prayer unto God. Let u entreat him to rescue us from the snares of Satan, and of all the workers of iniquity. In language like this psalm, O Lord, would we entreat that our poor prayers should set forth our only hope, our onl dependence on thee. Grant us thy grace, that we may be prepared for this employment, being clothed with thy righteousness, and having all the gifts of thy Spirit planted in our hearts _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew נשׁמטו8058 בידי3027 סלע5553 שׁפטיהם8199 ושׁמעו8085 אמרי561 כי3588 נעמו׃5276
