Psalms 35:3 - Exposition

Draw out also the spear ; rather, bring out also the spear , since spears were not, so far as is known, kept in sheaths, like swords ( Exodus 15:9 ), but only laid up in an armoury. And stop the way against them that persecute me. So Jarchi, Rosenmuller, Hitzig, Kay, Professor Alexander, Hengstenberg, and our Revisers; but a large number of critics regard סְגר —the word translated "stop the way"—as really the name of a weapon, the Hebrew equivalent of the Greek σάγαρις , which was probably the battle-axe. (So Vitringa, Michaelis, Bishop Horsley, Cheyne, Mr. Aglen, and the 'Speaker's Commentary.') The passage will then read, "Bring out also the spear and the battle-axe against them that persecute me," which is certainly a better parallel to "Take hold of shield and buckler," than "Bring out the spear, and stop the way." Say unto my soul, I am thy Salvation. Comfort my soul, i.e; with the assurance that thou art, and wilt ever be, ray Salvation (comp. Psalms 27:1 ; Psalms 62:2 , Psalms 62:6 ; Psalms 118:14 , Psalms 118:21 , etc.). Deliverance from the immediate danger is not all that is meant; but rather support and saving help in all dangers and in all troubles.