Introduction
The psalmist complains that strangers were risen up against him to take away his life, Psalm 54:1-3 ; expresses his confidence in God that he will uphold him, and punish his enemies, Psalm 54:4 , Psalm 54:5 ; on which he promises to sacrifice to God, Psalm 54:6 ; he speaks of his deliverance, Psalm 54:7 .
The title is, "To the chief Musician upon Neginoth, an instructive Psalm of David, when the Ziphites came to Saul, and said, Doth not David conceal himself among us?"
Ziph was a village in the southern part of Palestine. David having taken refuge in the mountains of that country, the Ziphites went to Saul, and informed him of the fact. Saul, with his army, immediately went thither, and was on one side of a mountain while David was on the other. Just when he was about to fall into the hands of his merciless pursuer, an express came to Saul that the Philistines had invaded Israel, on which he gave up the pursuit, and returned to save his country, and David escaped to En-gedi. See the account in 1 Samuel 23:19-29 . It is supposed to have been after this deliverance that he composed this Psalm. Neginoth, from נגן nagan to strike or play on some kind of instrument, probably signifies stringed instruments, such as were played on with a plectrum.
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