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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comKeil and Delitzsch Commentary - Psalms 41:7 - 41:7
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(Heb.: 41:8-10) Continuation of the description of the conduct of the enemies and of the false friend. הִתְלַחֵשׁ, as in 2Sa 12:19, to whisper to one another, or to whisper among themselves; the Hithpa. sometimes (cf. Gen 42:1) has a reciprocal meaning like the Niphal. The intelligence brought out by hypocritical visitors of the invalid concerning his critical condition is spread from mouth to mouth by all who wish him ill as satisfactory news; and in fact in whispers, because at that time caution was still necessary. עָלַי stands twice in a prominent position in the sense of contra me. רָעָה לִּי belong together: they maliciously invent what will be the very worst for him (going beyond what is actually told them concerning him). In this connection there is a feeling in favour of בְּלִיַּעַל being intended of an evil fate, according to Psa 18:5, and not according to Psa 101:3 (cf. Deu 15:9) of pernicious or evil thought and conduct. And this view is also supported by the predicate יָצוּק בֹּו: “a matter of destruction, an incurable evil (Hitzig) is poured out upon him,” i.e., firmly cast upon him after the manner of casting metal (Job 41:15.), so that he cannot get free from it, and he that has once had to lie down will not again rise up. Thus do we understand אֲשֶׁר in Psa 41:9; there is no occasion to take it as an accusative by departing from the most natural sense, as Ewald does, or as a conjunction, as Hitzig does. Even the man of his peace, or literally of his harmonious relationship (אִישׁ שָׁלֹום as in Oba 1:7, Jer 20:10; Jer 38:22), on whom he has depended with fullest confidence, who did eat his bread, i.e., was his messmate (cf. Psa 55:15), has made his heel great against him, lxx ἐμεγάλυνεν ἐπ ̓ ἐμὲ πτερνισμόν. The combination הִגְדִּיל עָקֵב is explained by the fact that עָקֵב is taken in the sense of a thrust with the heel, a kick: to give a great kick, i.e., with a good swing of the foot.