Psalm 119:61

The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(61) The bands . . .—Rather, cords of the wicked surrounded me. (See Psalm 18:5-6.) So all ancient versions except the Targum.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

119:57-64 True believers take the Lord for the portion of their inheritance, and nothing less will satisfy them. The psalmist prayed with his whole heart, knowing how to value the blessing he prayed for: he desired the mercy promised, and depended on the promise for it. He turned from by-paths, and returned to God's testimonies. He delayed not. It behoves sinners to hasten to escape; and the believer will be equally in haste to glorify God. No care or grief should take away God's word out of our minds, or hinder the comfort it bestows. There is no situation on earth in which a believer has not cause to be thankful. Let us feel ashamed that others are more willing to keep from sleep to spend the time in sinful pleasures, than we are to praise God. And we should be more earnest in prayer, that our hearts may be filled with his mercy, grace, and peace.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The bands of the wicked - Margin, "companies." The Hebrew word properly means a cord, a rope; then a snare, gin, net; then, a band or a company of men. The reference is to some time in the life of the psalmist when he was surrounded by wicked men.

Have robbed me - Rather, have surrounded me; have environed me - for so the Hebrew word means.

But I have not forgotten thy law - I have not been deterred from keeping it by the dangers to which I have been exposed.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

61, 62. This the more, if opposition of enemies, or love of ease is overcome in thus honoring God's law.

have robbed me—better, surrounded me, either as forcible constraints like fetters, or as the cords of their nets. Hengstenberg translates, "snares."

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Robbed me; or, made a prey of me; done me many injuries for my respect to thy law.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

The bands of the wicked have robbed me,.... Very probably Saul and his ministers seized on his effects, when he fled from him; and the Amalekites plundered him of all his substance, when they took Ziklag; and Absalom and the conspirators with him robbed him, when he was obliged, because of them, to flee from his palace and court, which they entered and took possession of. But Aben Ezra rejects this sense of the word, which Jarchi and Kimchi espouse, and we follow, and renders it, "took hold of me"; and so the Targum,

"the company of the wicked were gathered together against me:''

they surrounded him and put him into fear, great numbers of them encompassing him about; see Psalm 18:4;

but I have not forgotten thy law; this was written in his heart; he kept it in his memory, and retained an affection for it; and could not be deterred from obedience to it by the numbers and violence of wicked men, who hated and persecuted him for his attachment to it.

Geneva Study Bible

The bands of the wicked have {c} robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.

(c) They have gone about to draw me into their company.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

61. The cords of the wicked have entangled me] A metaphor from the snare or noose of the hunter. Cp. Psalm 119:110; Psalm 18:5. Though the wicked lay snares for him, he will not cast in his lot with those who forget God. P.B.V. and A.V. follow some Jewish authorities, and Luther.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 61. - The bands of the wicked have robbed me; rather, the snares of wicked men entangled me (comp. vers. 23, 157, 161). But I have not forgotten (or, I did not forget) thy Law. Psalm 119:61

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

The eightfold Heth. To understand and to keep God's word is his portion, the object of his incessant praying and thanksgiving, the highest grace or favour that can come to him. According to Psalm 16:5; Psalm 73:26, the words חלקי ה belong together. Psalm 119:57 is an inference drawn from it (אמר ל as in Exodus 2:14, and frequently), and the existing division of the verse is verified. חלּה פּני, as in Psalm 45:13, is an expression of caressing, flattering entreaty; in Latin, caput mulcere (demulcere). His turning to the word of God the poet describes in Psalm 119:59 as a result of a careful trying of his actions. After that he quickly and cheerfully, Psalm 119:60, determined to keep it without any long deliberation with flesh and blood, although the snares of wicked men surround him. The meaning of חבלי is determined according to Psalm 119:110 : the pointing does not distinguish so sharply as one might have expected between חבלי, ὠδῖνας, and חבלי, snares, bonds (vid., Psalm 18:5.); but the plural nowhere, according to the usage of the language as we now have it, signifies bands (companies), from the singular in 1 Samuel 10:5 (Bttcher, 800). Thankfulness urges him to get up at midnight (acc. temp. as in Job 34:20) to prostrate himself before God and to pray. Accordingly he is on friendly terms with, he is closely connected with (Proverbs 28:24), all who fear God. Out of the fulness of the loving-kindness of God, which is nowhere unattested upon earth (Psalm 119:64 equals Psalm 33:5), he implores for himself the inward teaching concerning His word as the highest and most cherished of mercies.