[The words] of his mouth were smoother than butter,.... Such were the words of Ahithophel, when in counsel with David; and such the words of Judas, when he said to Christ, "hail, master", and kissed him,
but war [was] in his heart; even a civil war, rebellion against his prince; that was what Ahithophel meditated in his heart; and nothing less than to take away the life of Christ was designed by Judas. The words may be rendered, "they were divided" e; that is, his mouth and his heart: "his mouth [was] butter, and his heart war"; the one declared for peace, when the other intended war; see Jeremiah 9:8;
his words were softer than oil; at one time full of soothing and flattery:
yet [were] they drawn swords: at another time sharp and cutting, breathing out threatening and slaughter, destruction and death.
e חלקו διεμερισθησαν, Sept. "divisi sunt", V. L. Hammond.