Psalms 35:8

WEB

Let destruction come on him unawares. Let his net that he has hidden catch himself. Let him fall into that destruction.

KJV

Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.

Commentary

Let destruction come upon him at unawares,.... Or a "storm" (r), such as is caused in the eastern countries by a south wind, very sudden, violent, and destructive (s): the singular number being here used, some Jewish commentators, as Ki mchi, have thought Saul is particularly meant; and some Christian interpreters have been of opinion that Judas is intended: the imprecations here may be compared with those which respect him, Psa 109:6 . Though this may regard every one of the enemies of David, or of Christ and his people, whose ruin and destruction will come upon them unawares; see Th1 5:3 ; and let his net that he hath laid catch himself; a figurative expression, agreeable to the allusion before made, and which is explained in the next clause; into that very destruction let him fall, which he had designed and contrived for others; so Haman was hanged on the same gallows he had prepared for Mordecai; and so it often is in the course of Providence, that the wicked fall into the same calamity they have intended and endeavoured to bring others into; see Psa 7:15 . (r) "tumultuosa calamitas", Cocceius; so Ainsworth; "tumultus", Vatablus. (s) See Thevenot, Tavernier, &c.