John Trapp on Psalms 52:1

PSAL. LII.

A Pſalm of David] Of the ſame time and argument, likely with Pſal. 58. Maſchil] Or, to teach, that the end of the Wicked is evill; Redarguit pravos mores, ſaith the Syriack.

When Doeg the Edomite] When Abiathar eſcaping the ſlaughter-ſlave, the bloodhound (as Edomite may ſignifie) came and told David what was befaln the Prieſts, and their City. This was no ſmall affliction to David; the rather becauſe by telling the Prieſt a lye, himſelf had occaſioned that Maſſacre. Hereupon for the comfort of himſelf and other good people who were ſtartled at this ſad accident, and might be deterred thereby from ſuccouring David, he penned this Pſalm.

When Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, &c.] Doeg is a fit name for a courtier; for it ſignifieth a ſolicitous or buſy-headed fellow, a catch-poll, a progging-companion, an informer, one that liſteneth after rumours, and carrieth tales to curry favour. An Edomite he was by Nation; but a Proſelyte in pretence at leaſt, and one that was at that time detained before the Lord, either by vertue of ſome vow, or becauſe it was the Sabbath-day, and he would not travel on it, or to perform ſome other religious ſervice, 1 Sam. 21.7. this diſſembled ſanctity was double iniquity; and he became a type of Judas, as ſome make him.

He came and told Saul] Like a Paraſite and a pick-thank, as he was; when as he ſhould rather have told Ahimelech, that David was out of Sauls favour, and ſought for to the ſlaughter, as Kimchi here noteth on verſ. 3. but he concealed that, that he might accuſe Ahimelech, and ſo ſlew three at once (ſaith another Rabbine) viz. himſelf, Saul and Ahimeleck, calumniatorem, calumniatum & calumniam audientem.

And ſaid, David is come to the houſe of Ahimeleck] Few words, but full of poyſon;Verba Doegi erant pauci, ſed multum nocua. Kimchi. Midraſh Tillin. leviter volant non leviser vulnerant. See the ſtory more at large, 1 Sam. 22 9. &c. The Rabbines ſay (from Levit. 14. where the ſame word is uſed of the Leprous houſe, that is here, verſ. 5. of Doegs doom) that he was for this fact ſmitten with leproſy; and afterwards ſent to Hell, which they gather from Pſal. 120.4.

Verſ. 1. Why boaſteſt thou thy ſelf in miſchief, thou mighty man] Or, Thou Giart; for ſo he ſeemed to himſelf when he had ſlain tot inermes nec repugnantes, ſo many naked men, not making any reſiſtance, though they were the Prieſts of Jehovah; and afterward had ſmitten the innocent inhabitants of the City of Nob, together with the women, the infants and the Cattel; like another Ajax flagellifer or Hercules furens, and now vaunted himſelf in that miſchievous proweſſe.

Egregiam vero[illegible: 1 letter]undem, &c.

The Hebrew word for boaſting here, ſignifieth alſo madneſs, when it is taken in the worſe ſence, as Jer. 46.9. See Prov. 2.14. and to boaſt of his hearts deſire is the note of an Atheiſt, Pſal. 10.3.

The goodneſs of God endureth continually] Maugre thy ſpitefulneſs,R. Solomon. Kabuenaki. Midraſh Tillin. God is good to Iſrael, to the pure in heart, and will be ſo. The Rabbins make this the ſenſe, If Ahimeleth had not releeved me, God would have ſtirred up ſome other to have done it. Some others underſtand it thus, The goodneſs of God towards thee a wicked wretch endureth all the day. This ſhould lead thee to repentance. But thou after the hardneſs, &c. Rom. 2.4.