Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

This they did not design; but weigh . . . violence--or give decisions of violence. Weigh is a figure to express the acts of judges. in the earth--publicly.

describe the wicked generally, who sin naturally, easily, malignantly, and stubbornly.

stoppeth her--literally, "his." ear--that is, the wicked man (the singular used collectively), who thus becomes like the deaf adder which has no ear.

He prays for their destruction, under the figure of ravenous beasts (Psa 3:7; Psa 7:2).

which run continually--literally, "they shall go to themselves," utterly depart, as rapid mountain torrents. he bendeth . . . his arrows--prepares it. The term for preparing a bow applied to arrows (Psa 64:3). let them . . . pieces--literally, "as if they cut themselves off"--that is, become blunted and of no avail.

Other figures of this utter ruin; the last denoting rapidity. In a shorter time than pots feel the heat of thorns on fire--

he shall take them away as with a whirlwind--literally, "blow him (them) away." both living . . . wrath--literally, "as the living" or fresh as the heated or burning--that is, thorns--all easily blown away, so easily and quickly the wicked. The figure of the "snail" perhaps alludes to its loss of saliva when moving. Though obscure in its clauses, the general sense of the passage is clear.

wash . . . wicked--denoting great slaughter. The joy of triumph over the destruction of the wicked is because they are God's enemies, and their overthrow shows that He reigneth (compare Psa 52:5-7; Psa 54:7). In this assurance let heaven and earth rejoice (Psa 96:10; Psa 97:1, &c.). Next: Psalms Chapter 59