Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 11:1

1. IN the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul , Flee as a bird to your mountain .

(i. e.) In his faithfulness who hath promised and will, I doubt not, give me the Kingdom.

Either 1. Ye my Friends: who through diffidence and dispondency advised him to this course. Or 2. Ye my Enemies: who said it scoffingly and insultingly: How say ye. With what face or reason can you say thus to him who hath the Lord God almighty for his refuge?

(i. e.) To me, as Psal. 6. 4. and 7. 2.

Suddenly and swiftly, and to some remote place, where thou mayst be out of Saul's reach. Feed not thyself with vain hopes of the Kingdom, but consult for thy own safety, which thou canst not do without taking the wings of a Dove, or some other Bird, that thou maist flee away out of the land, and be at rest, as thou sayest Psal. 55. 6. Or, flee away, O thou Bird, thou little silly Bird; lest the Royal Eagle seize upon thee.

(i. e.) To some of your Mountains in Iuda, and there hide thyself. But this was David's common practise: and therefore there was no need that any should advise him to it, or that he should reprove them for that advice. Or, from (which prefix is oft wanting and to be understood, as Ios. 10. 13. 2. Sam. 23. 24.) your Mountain, (i. e.) from the Mountain, or mountainous Country of Judah, as it is called Ios. 20. 7. The Mountain being frequently put for a mountainous Country, as Numb. 13, 29. and 23. 7. Ios. 9. 1. and 10. 6, 40. and oft elsewhere: or, from your Mountains, in which thou and thy Companions use to hide your selves: flee into some forreign Land where you may be safe. For this was the design of David's Enemies, as he complains 1. Sam. 26. 19. and afterward, when David was under sore Temptations, it was his practise once or twice.