Psalms 59 - Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

Bible Comments
  • Psalms 59:1-17 open_in_new

    Title.—(RV) 'For the Chief Musician; set to Al-tashheth. A Psalm of David: Michtam: when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.' For the first part of the title see on Psalms 57. The second part, which alludes to 1 Samuel 19:11, scarcely explains the contents of the Ps., which has foreign enemies in view throughout (Psalms 59:5; Psalms 59:8; Psalms 59:13). 'My people' in Psalms 59:11 has been held to imply that the writer was a king, while David at the time in question was only a subject. It is probable that the Ps. should be assigned to the period of the later Jewish monarchy. Like many other Pss., it presents the three features of danger, prayer, and confidence.

  • Psalms 59:3 open_in_new

    Not for my transgression] This might express the Psalmist's conscious innocence before God, but more probably it means that he had done nothing to provoke the hostility of his enemies.

  • Psalms 59:6 open_in_new

    The writer's foes are compared to the savage dogs which infest Eastern cities and prowl round at night in search of garbage. Possibly there is a hint here that Jerusalem was actually besieged. Make a noise] 'snarl.'

  • Psalms 59:7 open_in_new

    Swords are in their lips] Their speech is cutting and injurious. Who, say they, doth hear?] They question whether there is a God.

  • Psalms 59:11 open_in_new

    Slay them not] must be understood in the light of Psalms 59:13. The prayer is that they may not be suddenly cut off, but may be allowed to perish gradually in their sin, in order that Israel may have a more memorable object-lesson in the righteousness of God.

  • Psalms 59:13 open_in_new

    Let them know, etc.] Read, 'Let them know unto the ends of the earth that God ruleth in Jacob.' Zeal for God's glory is the one motive of the Psalmist's prayer, however vindictive some of his requests may appear.