He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places.
He maketh my feet like hinds' feet; and setteth me upon my high places. The hind is the female of the roe (gazelle: see the notes at 2 Samuel 2:18; 1 Chronicles 12:8), and from the frequency of its representation on the ancient sculptures, was considered swifter than the male, both possessing the power of running equally along the level plain or up rugged sandstone hills, at a marvelous pace, so that successful pursuit of them up steep eminences is next to impossible. This is what is referred to here (cf. Habakkuk 3:19); the figure employed by the royal author implying that God, who had called him to engage in many military expeditions for the defense or enlargement of the kingdom of Israel, endowed him liberally with the possession of the qualities that were requisite in ancient warfare, especially swiftness in running from place to place, whether in pursuit or in adverse circumstances-agility to escape from enemies, so as to put himself on the "high places" - lofty heights and inaccessible fastnesses, where they could not reach him.
Virgil ('AEneid,' 7:) speaks of a warrior who was able 'cursu pedum praevertere ventos.' 'Many,' as De Wette, 'conceive that David is referring in this passage exclusively to speed in flight. But this is against the connection-the words, "He maketh my feet like binds' feet," occupy a middle position between equipment with strength and instruction in war-against the parallelism, and against the parallel passages, 2 Samuel 2:18; 1 Chronicles 12:8, where it is said of those who came out of the tribe of Gad to David, that their look was like that of lions, and their swiftness of foot like the gazelles on the mountains. A figurative element lies in what is said here of fleetness, which becomes quite obvious when we take it along with the last clause. David points to the quick and unrestrained course of his conquests, just as in 2 Samuel 22:29. And that by his being "set on high places," we are not to understand merely places of refuge in flight, may be gathered from other passages where that phrase occurs, "He made him ride on the high places" (Deuteronomy 32:13); "thou shalt tread upon their high places" (Deuteronomy 33:29), in which not secure flight, but resistless victory, is spoken of (Hengstenberg).