Psalm 59 Study Notes

Ps 59 title On Do Not Destroy, see note at Ps 57 title. On Miktam, see note at Ps 22 title. The “him” in the phrase kill him refers to David. The background for this setting is found in 1Sm 19:11.

59:1-2 Men of bloodshed is literally “men of blood.” It refers to those who were known for their violence (5:6; 26:9; 55:23), in this case those who desired the death of the psalmist.

59:3-4 No fault of mine is a statement of innocence, meaning that the psalmist had done nothing to provoke the attacks of his enemies (see note at 7:3-5).

59:5 Lord God of Armies is a military image that describes Yahweh as a warrior who fights for his people (see note at 24:7-10).

59:6-7 Dogs were not domesticated and had a negative connotation in the ancient Near East. They were viewed no differently than other wild and dangerous animals (see note at 22:20-21). Prowling is also characteristic of wild dogs foraging for food. Note the same image in vv. 14-15. Spewing from their mouths perhaps pictures dogs slobbering or foaming at the mouth. Sharp words is a common description of vicious speech (see note at 52:2).

59:8 God’s response to these wicked people was to laugh at them and ridicule them (see notes at 2:4; 37:12-13).

59:9 Keep watch pictures the psalmist as a watchman, a common role for Israel’s prophets (Is 21:11-12; Ezk 3:17; 33:2-9). The watchman warned people of foes, but also watched for the approach of friends (2Sm 18:27; Is 52:8).

59:10 Look down on is literally “look on,” but the context makes it clear that he will look on them as a victor looks on a vanquished foe.

59:11 Unlike other psalms that call for annihilation of the wicked, this psalm asks that the Lord spare their lives so his people will not forget. This reinforces the image of the watchman in v. 9 since God’s power and his punishment of them could no longer be used to warn people (Ex 9:16; 1Sm 17:46).

59:12 The request that the wicked be caught in their pride is reminiscent of enemies being caught in their own traps (see note at 7:14-16). The idea of pride (Gk hubris) as that which leads to one’s demise became a common element in Greek tragedies of later centuries.

59:13 The wicked are often pictured as those who consume others (see note at 14:4). In a turn of poetic justice, the Lord consumes them.

59:14-15 This repeats the lament from v. 6.

59:16-17 Praising the Lord in the morning is common in the psalms (5:3; 30:5).