Verse-by-Verse Bible CommentaryPsalms 55:3
Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the pressure of the wicked; For they bring down trouble upon me And in anger they bear a grudge against me. Jump to: Clarke Commentary • Barne's Notes • Coffman Commentaries • Gill's Exposition • Geneva Study Bible • Commentary Critical and Explanatory • Wesley's Notes • Trapp's Commentary • Coke's Commentary • Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary • Poole's Annotations • Whedon's Commentary • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes • Commentary Critical and Explanatory - Unabridged • Ellicott's Commentary • Treasury of Knowledge Other Authors
Adam Clarke CommentaryThey cast iniquity upon me - To give a colourable pretense to their rebellion, they charge me with horrible crimes; as if they had said: Down with such a wretch; he is not fit to reign. Clamour against the person of the sovereign is always the watch-word of insurrection, in reference to rebellion. Copyright Statement Bibliography Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole BibleBecause of the voice of the enemy - He now states the cause of his troubles. He had been, and was, unjustly treated by others. The particular idea in the word “voice” here is, that he was suffering from slanderous reproaches; from assaults which had been made on his character. He was charged with evil conduct, and the charge was made in such a manner that he could not meet it. The result was, that a series of calamities had come upon him which was quite overwhelming. Because of the oppression of the wicked - The word here rendered “oppression” occurs nowhere else. The verb from which it is derived occurs twice, Amos 2:13: “Behold, I am “pressed” under you as a cart is “pressed” that is full of sheaves.” The idea is that of crushing by a heavy weight; and hence, of crushing by affliction. The “wicked” alluded to here, if the supposition referred to in the Introduction about the occasion of the psalm is correct, were Absalom and those who were associated with him in the rebellion, particularly Ahithophel, who had showed himself false to David, and had united with his enemies in their purpose to drive him from his throne. For they east iniquity upon me - That is, they charge me with sin; they attempt to justify themselves in their treatment of me by accusing me of wrong-doing, or by endeavoring to satisfy themselves that I deserve to be treated in this manner. If this refers to the time of the rebellion of Absalom, the allusion would be to the charges, brought by him against his father, of severity and injustice in his administration, 2 Samuel 15:2-6. And in wrath they hate me - In their indignation, in their excitement, they are full of hatred against me. This was manifested by driving him froth his throne and his home. Copyright Statement Bibliography Coffman's Commentaries on the BibleTHE SHAMEFUL SITUATION DESCRIBED "Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked; For they cast iniquity upon me, And in anger they persecute me. My heart is sore pained within me: And the terrors of death are fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, And horror hath overwhelmed me." "The voice of the enemy ... they cast iniquity upon me" (Psalms 55:3). In the psalm, the enemy is mentioned with both singular and plural words. This is appropriate because there were many enemies, led by "an enemy," perhaps either Ahithophel or Absalom. "Because of the oppression of the wicked" (Psalms 55:3). The Jerusalem Bible renders this, "They bring misery crashing down upon me." "And in anger they persecute me" (Psalms 55:3). A number of scholars render this, "In wrath they hate me."[6] "The terrors of death are fallen upon me" (Psalms 55:4). "There could be no greater consternation than fear of death, even if this is a figure."[7] We cannot think of "death" mentioned here as anything other than the real thing. If Absalom had been successful in his rebellion, David would have been the first of many executions; such is the nature of the type of revolution Absalom was attempting. "Fearfulness ... trembling ... horror" (Psalms 55:5). These are eloquent words indeed, describing the heart-grief of King David. As Adam Clarke said, "Nobody ever described a wounded heart like David."[8] Copyright Statement Bibliography John Gill's Exposition of the Whole BibleBecause of the voice of the enemy,.... Of Absalom, as Arama; or of Ahithophel, who gave out he would smite the king only, 2 Samuel 17:2; and so of any spiritual enemy, as sin, Satan, and the world, when they threaten dominion and tyranny; and of the Scribes and Pharisees reproaching Christ, as being a Samaritan, and having a devil, and doing his miracles by his assistance; menacing, insulting, and triumphing over him, when on the cross; because of the oppression of the wicked; of Absalom or Ahithophel, as Arama; who conspired against David, and obliged him to quit his palace, and the city of Jerusalem; and is applicable to the troubles which surround the people of God, from every quarter, by wicked men, and to our Lord's being enclosed by them at the time of his Crucifixion, Psalm 22:12; for they cast iniquity upon me; laid things to his charge he knew not: so wicked men falsely accuse the good conversation of the saints; and so the Jews imputed crimes to Christ he was innocent of; as immorality, sedition, blasphemy, &c. and in wrath they hate me; as they do all the people of God, because chosen and called, and separated from them: and so they did Christ, and with a mortal hatred, though without a cause. Copyright Statement Bibliography Geneva Study BibleBecause of the b voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for c they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.(b) For the threatenings of Saul and his adherents. Copyright Statement Bibliography Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bibleoppression — literally, “persecution.” they … iniquity — literally, “they make evil doings slide upon me.” Copyright Statement Bibliography Wesley's Explanatory NotesBecause of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me. Voice — Their clamours and threats, and slanders. Cast — They lay many crimes to my charge. Copyright Statement Bibliography John Trapp Complete CommentaryPsalms 55:3 Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me. Ver. 3. Because of the voice of the enemy] He may very well intend Shimei’s bitter revilings, 2 Samuel 16:5, &c.
For they cast iniquity upon me] They tumble it on me, as men do stones or anything else upon their besiegers, to endamage them; so did these, sin, shame, anything, upon innocent David, to make him odious.
And in wrath they hate me] Heb. they Satanically hate me. Copyright Statement Bibliography Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy BiblePsalms 55:3. For they cast iniquity upon me— The Psalmist here declares the causes of his consternation and perplexity. It was upon account of the clamour of his enemies, when the conspiracy against him was strong, and the opposition of the wicked (properly, the presence of the wicked) was round him, so that he had scarcely any way or method of escaping; and because they cast iniquity upon him; properly, they heaped up iniquity upon him, as with a bar, or a lever; to denote the heavy reproaches they threw on him, and the violence of their accusations. Instead of, they hate me, we may read, they set themselves against me. Copyright Statement Bibliography Hawker's Poor Man's CommentaryIf we consider David's history, it will appear probable that he had an eye to his son, Absalom, as this enemy. If we look at Christ, probably Judas was the foe here intended, with the Scribes and Pharisees. Copyright Statement Bibliography Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy BibleThe voice of the enemy, i.e. their clamours, and threats, and slanders, and insolent boastings; all which are hateful to thee, as well as injurious to me. They cast iniquity upon me: the sense is, either, 1. They make me the great object of their wicked, and injurious, and mischievous practices; or, 2. They lay many crimes to my charge falsely, as if by my wickedness I was the cause of all my calamities. They hate me; their anger and rage against me is no sudden and transitory passion, but is boiled up into malice and hatred. Copyright Statement Bibliography Whedon's Commentary on the Bible3. They cast iniquity upon me—The figure is borrowed from setting in motion, or casting down from a height, weighty stones, or other instruments of death, upon an enemy, as Psalms 140:10. They had hurled iniquity upon him by false accusations, threats, and dark conspiracies. See 2 Samuel 15:7-8; 2 Samuel 19:19 Copyright Statement Bibliography E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notesoppression: or outcry. The Hebrew word "akah occurs only here. iniquity = iniquitous words or devices. Hebrew. "aven. App-44. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6. Copyright Statement Bibliography Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - UnabridgedBecause of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me. Because of the voice of the enemy - reproaching (Psalms 55:12) and cutting me like 'a drawn sword,' while outwardly uttering 'smooth' things (Psalms 55:21). For they cast iniquity upon me - i:e., an iniquitous device (Psalms 41:7). Copyright Statement Bibliography Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(3) Oppressor.—This meaning of a rare word is secured from Amos 2:13. Cast iniquity.—Better, roll mischief. The figure seems to be drawn from the practice of rolling stones down on an enemy from a height. In Psalms 140:10 the same verb is used of rolling burning coals on a foe. Hate me.—Better, persecute me. Copyright Statement Bibliography Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeBecause of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
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