Psalms 68:23 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

That thy foot may be dipped— That thou mayest shake thy foot in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same. The verb refers to both clauses; and no word could be more proper. The motion of the foot, and the lapping of a dog's tongue in the blood of slaughtered enemies, both answering to the sense of the original word; which properly signifies to draw water by moving the pitcher here and there. The meaning of the verse is, that if the enemies of God's people should continue to invade and harass them by war, they should be entirely cut off by the sword, and their slaughter so great, as that the victorious army should be forced to trample on their dead and bleeding bodies, and the dogs should satiate themselves by lapping up their blood. The words are the description of a complete victory, and of what happens after a bloody engagement. Here also every part of this period suits the circumstance and the occasion. David had now accomplished the great design upon which his heart was set, and addresses himself to his God, as having taken possession of, and fixed his residence on Mount Sion. In consequence of which, David assures himself of the perpetual safety and prosperity of his people: thus triumphing over his enemies, who attempted to disturb his reign, and dispossess him of Jerusalem, but whose armies God enabled him to vanquish; great numbers of whom he had reduced into captivity; from whom he had obtained great riches, as the fruit of his victories, received gifts as tributary to his crown; and consecrated great part of the spoils he had taken from them to God, particularly to enable him to provide for the expences of this magnificent procession. His breaking out immediately, upon a review of these favours, into the solemn adoration of God, for thus continually upholding and protecting his people; as the God of salvation, as the sovereign director of the outgoings of death; and declaring his full assurance, that his vengeance should be exerted on all his incorrigible enemies, and that from his holy habitation on Mount Sion he would render his people equally victorious over them, as he did formerly over Pharaoh and the king of Bashan, must strike every attentive mind with a religious pleasing surprize; and is an argument of the warmth of David's piety, and indeed naturally arose from the consideration that he was now under God's peculiar protection; and of the liberty he had of frequenting his courts, and asking his direction in every future time of need. When the ark was thus safely deposited, when the sacrifices were offered, the solemnity nearly concluded, and the whole assembly about to return back, the singers struck up, and joined in the following part of this noble anthem.