Psalm 35:8

8 Let disaster come to them when they don't suspect it. Let the net they hid catch them instead! Let them fall into it—to their disaster!

Psalm 35:8 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 35:8

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 ^F19: the singular number being here used, some Jewish commentators, as Kimchi, 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, ( Psalms 109:6-8 ) . 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 ( 1 Thessalonians 5:3 ) ( Revelation 18:7 Revelation 18:8 ) ;

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 ( Psalms 7:15 Psalms 7:16 ) ( Psalms 9:15 Psalms 9:16 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 (hawv) "tumultuosa calamitas", Cocceius; so Ainsworth; "tumultus", Vatablus.
F19 See Thevenot, Tavernier

Psalm 35:8 In-Context

6 Let their path be dark and slippery— and let the LORD's messenger be the one who does the chasing!

7 Because they hid their net for me for no reason, they dug a pit for me for no reason.

8 Let disaster come to them when they don't suspect it. Let the net they hid catch them instead! Let them fall into it—to their disaster!

9 But I will rejoice in the LORD; I will celebrate his salvation.

10 All my bones will say, "LORD, who could compare to you? You rescue the weak from those who overpower them; you rescue the weak and the needy from those who plunder them."