Which melteth; Which thrusts forth, and seems to threaten with its horns, but is quickly dissolved; for when it goes out of its shell, it spends its vital moisture, until by degrees it waste away and perish. The untimely birth of a woman; which endeavouring violently and unseasonably to break forth from the womb, is choked in the attempt, and doth not live to see the light of the sun. read more
INTRODUCTIONSuperscription.—“To the Chief Musician, Al-taschith.” see introduction to Psalms 57:0. “Michtam of David.” See Introduction to Psalms 56:0. Moll: “This complaint respecting domestic administrations of justice gushes forth from the Psalmist in a threatening language, which is almost obscure owing to bold and mingled figures of speech. It is like a torrent which plunges over every hindrance, foaming and raging. We may certainly credit this original poet with a richness of figures and... read more
Psalms 58:1-11 Psalms 58:1-11 is a prayer of David. I would not want to be one of David's enemies because of his prayers.Do you indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do you judge uprightly, O you sons of men? Yes, in heart you work wickedness; you weigh the violence of your hands in the earth. The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies ( Psalms 58:1-3 ).Now David is talking about the nature, the sinful nature of man. Now, I don't think... read more
Psalms 58:4 . The deaf adder, which stops her ears by putting one ear to the ground, and forcing her tail into the other. Very many of the ancient Greek and Latin writers mention the practice of certain singers and musicians who could so charm a serpent as to draw him from his retreat. Plin. 8: 16. They could also drive him away with affright. They could stop him in his flight, compose his fury, and stupify him to slumber. Tibullus, Elag. 9. They boasted of a power so to expel the... read more
Psalms 58:1-11Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? Man in many aspectsI. The character of depraved men portrayed.1. Unrighteous in judgment.2. Wrong in heart.3. Violent in the treatment of men.4. Early in apostasy.5. False in life.6. Malignant in spirit.7. Deceitful in heart.II. The destruction of wicked men invoked.1. Their entire destruction.2. Their quick destruction.III. The spirit of righteous men misrepresented. The psalmist utters a calumny in representing them as delighting... read more
Psa 58:8 As a snail [which] melteth, let [every one of them] pass away: [like] the untimely birth of a woman, [that] they may not see the sun. Ver. 8. As a snail which melteth ] The psalmist heapeth up many very fit similitudes agreeable to these men’s avarice and ambition, which was to raise themselves and their posterity to great estates; but all should come to nothing suddenly. read more
a snail: Shabbelool, in Chaldee tivlala, the snail, is probably so called from the Arabic balla, to wet, moisten, because of the glutinous slime emitted from its body, by which it appears to waste itself away in its own motion; and in the same manner the wicked prove their own destruction. pass: Psalms 37:35, Psalms 37:36, Matthew 24:35, James 1:10 untimely: Job 3:16, Ecclesiastes 6:3 Reciprocal: Numbers 12:12 - of whom Job 3:11 - died I Job 10:19 - General Job 24:19 - so doth Job 29:17 -... read more
As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun.Melteth — Which is quickly dissolved. read more
8. As a snail which melteth “Referring to the well-known habits of the snail, which boldly comes forth from its shell, blind to all danger, and runs out its feelers to the utmost length, but quickly withdraws them at the slightest touch, and rapidly and timidly retreats within its fortress. The snail, moreover, is so frail that it may be crushed by its most insignificant enemy, and aptly illustrates the utter impotency of the proudest and mightiest of the wicked.” VAN LENNEP, Bible... read more
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Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 58:1-11
LVIII. A Prayer for Vengeance on Unrighteous Judges.— This Ps. is closely allied to Psalms 82. The reproaches in Psalms 58:3, where the enemies of the Psalmist are said to have gone astray from the womb, and Psalms 58:4, where they are compared with deaf adders, point to Jewish tyranny, such, e.g., as that of the Sadducean priests, rather than to a foreign power. Nobody would have expected heathen to hear the voice of Jewish religion. Psalms 58:1 . We ought certainly to read, “ Do ye indeed... read more