Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 6. They have prepared a net for my steps ] A gin or springe, such as huntsmen put in the places which they know the prey they seek frequents: such, also, as they place in passages in hedges, &c., through which the game creeps.
They have digged a pit ] Another method of catching game and wild beasts. They dig a pit, cover it over with weak sticks and turf. The beasts, not suspecting danger where none appears, in attempting to walk over it, fall tbrough, and are taken. Saul digged a pit, laid snares for the life of David; and fell into one of them himself, particularly at the cave of En-gedi; for he entered into the very pit or cave where David and his men were hidden, and his life lay at the generosity of the very man whose life he was seeking! The rabbins tell a curious and instructive tale concerning this: "God sent a spider to weave her web at the mouth of the cave in which David and his men lay hid. When Saul saw the spider's web over the cave's mouth, he very naturally conjectured that it could neither be the haunt of men nor wild beasts; and therefore went in with confidence to repose." The spider here, a vile and contemptible animal, became the instrument in the hand of God of saving David's life and of confounding Saul in his policy and malice. This may be a fable; but it shows by what apparently insignificant means God, the universal ruler, can accomplish the greatest and most beneficent ends. Saul continued to dig pits to entrap David; and at last fell a prey to his own obstinacy. We have a proverb to the same effect: Harm watch, harm catch. The Greeks have one also: Æh te kakh boulh tw bouleusanti kakisth, "An evil advice often becomes most ruinous to the adviser." The Romans have one to the same effect: - Neque enim lex justior ulla est Quam necis artificem arte perire sua.
"There is no law more just than that which condemns a man to suffer death by the instrument which he has invented to take away the life of others."
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 7-11 - By lively faith, David's prayers and complaints are at once turned int praises. His heart is fixed; it is prepared for every event, being stayed upon God. If by the grace of God we are brought into this even composed frame of mind, we have great reason to be thankful. Nothing is done to purpose, in religion, unless it is done with the heart. The heart must be fixed for the duty, put in frame for it; fixed in the duty by close attention. Our tongue is our glory, and never more s than when praising God; dull and sleepy devotions will never be acceptable to God. Let us awake early in the morning, to begin the da with God; early in the beginning of a mercy. When God comes toward u with his favours, let us go forth to meet him with our praises. Davi desired to bring others to join in praising God; and in his psalms, he is still praising God among the people, singing to Him among the nations. Let us seek to have our hearts fixed to praise his boundles mercy and unfailing faithfulness; and to glorify him with body, soul and spirit, which are his. Let us earnestly pray that the blessings of the gospel may be sent through every land _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew רשׁת7568 הכינו3559 לפעמי6471 כפף3721 נפשׁי5315 כרו3738 לפני6440 שׁיחה7882 נפלו5307 בתוכה8432 סלה׃5542
