Bible Commentary

Psalms 18:29

Psalms 18:29

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain

For by thee I have run through a troop,.... Or, "I have run to a troop": to meet one with courage and intrepidity, as some interpret it ; or, as others , "I have run after a troop": that is, pursued after one, as David pursued after the troops of the Amalekites who burnt Ziklag, 1Sa 30:8; to which Jarchi refers this passage; or rather, "I have broke a troop", or "through one" ; for the word, as some Jewish writers observe, comes from a root which signifies to "break" in pieces, and is fitly used for the destroying or cutting in pieces a troop of the enemy; and is true of Christ, when he engaged with the troops of hell, and broke the squadrons of the infernal fiends, and spoiled or disarmed principalities and powers, and triumphed over them on the cross, and made a show of them openly, when he dragged them at his chariot wheels, and led captivity captive;and by my God have I leaped over a wall; which refers to the scaling of walls, and taking of fortified places; and so the Targum, "By the word of my God I will subdue fortified towns"; so Apollinarius has it, passed over a tower, or took it; which was literally true of David, in many instances.

Jarchi applies this to his taking the fortress of Zion from the Jebusites: a learned writer thinks this refers to his leaping over the city wall, and slipping through the city watch, when Michal let him down through a window: it may be applied to Christ, who broke down the middle wail of partition, the ceremonial law, which stood between Jew and Gentile; or rather it may design the many difficulties which were in the way of the salvation of his people, which he surmounted and got over with great strength and swiftness; such as fulfilling the law, satisfying justice, bearing sin, and making atonement for it, undergoing a shameful and an accursed death, and grappling with numerous enemies, whom he conquered; and he is said to do all this by his God; because, as man and Mediator, he was strengthened and assisted by him.

dwdg Uwra "occurram turmae", so some in Vatablus. Apud Kimchi in loc. Apud Aben Ezra in loc. "Conteram", Pagninus; "perfregi", Vatablus; "perrupi", Musculus; "perrumpo", Tigurine version, Castalio; so Ainsworth.

Kimchi & Ben Melech. Delaney's Life of King David, vol. 1. p.

Recommended reading

More for Psalms 18:29

Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.

Other commentaries

Psalms 18 — OverviewPsalms 18 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleThis psalm we met with before, in the history of David's life, 2 Sam. xxii. That was the first edition of it; here we have it revived, altered a little, and fitted for the service of the church. It is David's…Psalms 18 — OverviewPsalms 18 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgePsalms 18:1, David praises God for his manifold and marvellous blessings. Psalms 36:1 *title Psalms 116:16; 2Sam. 22:1-51; Acts 13:36; Hebrews 3:5Psalms 18 — OverviewPsalms 18 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleTo the chief Musician, [a Psalm] of David. This is the same with that in 2Sa 22:1, with some variations, omissions, and alterations:the servant of the Lord; not only by creation, nor merely by regeneration, but by…Psalms 18:1-50Psalms 18:1-50 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION THIS psalm has many characteristics which distinguish it, not only from all that have preceded it in the collection, but from all those which are assigned to David by their titles. In the first pace, it is…Psalms 18:1-50Psalms 18:1-50 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe conqueror's song of praise and hope. It is not our purpose, nor is it our province, in this section of the 'Pulpit Commentary,' to write homilies on specific texts; but rather to deal with this psalm (as we have…Psalms 18:1-50Psalms 18:1-50 · The Pulpit CommentaryA retrospect of life. The sailor tells of the perils of the sea; the traveller recounts the varied incidents of his career; and the soldier who has passed through battles and sieges can speak of hairbreadth escapes and…