Psalms 7:1 A shiggayon of David Menachem says (p. 170) that this, too, is one of the names of a melody named for the instrument, and so he explained “on shigyonoth,” [in Habakkuk 3:1]. But our Sages (Mid. Ps. 7:18) explained it as an expression of error, that he confessed and prayed about the error that he had [committed by] reciting a song upon Saul’s downfall, as it is stated (in II Sam. 22:1): “And David spoke to the Lord, etc.” The contents of the psalm, however, do not indicate this, because it speaks of the nations (in verse 9): “May the Lord judge the peoples.” I, therefore, say that he recited it concerning Ishbi in Nob (II Sam. 21:16), who came upon him as a punishment for Saul; as our Rabbis explained, that the Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, “Through you, Doeg the Edomite was banished; through you, Saul and his sons were slain, etc.” as is stated in “Chelek” (Sanh. 95a). The errors that David asked of the Holy One, blessed be He, [were] that he [himself] be delivered into the hands of his enemies and that his descendants should not be destroyed. (The last sentence does not appear in all editions.) [Therefore, because his life was endangered,] David reversed his prayer and prayed that he should not fall into the hands of his enemies. Now this is its meaning: An error that David sang to the Lord because he had erred in saying to the Holy One, blessed be He, to deliver him into the hands of his enemies on account of Saul, who was slain because of him. Another explanation: Concerning the error of the skirt of Saul’s coat, which he had severed.
Cush Just as a Cushite has unusual skin, so did Saul have unusual deeds.
Psalms 7:3 rending it to pieces Heb. פרק, an expression of (Exod. 32:2): “Break off (פרקו) the golden rings.”
Psalms 7:4 if I have done this What is delineated after it.
Psalms 7:5 if I repaid the one who did evil to me If I repaid him according to his deeds.
and I stripped my adversary into emptiness I destroyed his garment when I severed the skirt of his coat. Did I do it to destroy and to strip him and cause him to stand empty, and [was it done] with hatred? Only to let him know that he was delivered into my hand to kill him, and I did not kill him. [The word] חלצה is an expression of stripping off clothing.
Psalms 7:7 Arise, O Lord, with Your wrath against my enemies, such as Ishbi and his brothers and the Philistines, that I should not be delivered into their hands.
exalt Yourself boast, to show me the revenge of Your anger when You become angry with them.
and awaken for me that I should be able to execute upon them the judgment of revenge that You commanded. Now where did You command [it]? “You shall break them with an iron rod” (above 2:9). “Then I will be an enemy to your enemies” (Exod. 23:22). I found this in the Midrash (Mid. Ps. 7:6; Tan. Ki Thissa 20, Buber 13 with variations).
Psalms 7:8 And [if] a congregation of kingdoms surrounds You If troops of nations follow You to save them, do not hearken to their voice. Distance Yourself from them and go back to sit in Your place on high; repoxa in Old French, repose. Another interpretation: Return on high to show them that You have the upper hand.
Psalms 7:9 May the Lord judge the peoples Reverse the sentence from upon us and place it upon the nations.
judge An expression of chastisements.
judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness But judge Israel according to the good deeds they have done and not according to the sins.
Psalms 7:10 destroy Heb. יגמר, lit. finish. An expression of destruction, and so did Menachem (p. 57) interpret: (77:9), “destroyed (גמר) His word”; (12:2), “a pious man has perished (גמר),” and so all of them. (This does not appear in certain editions.)
and may You establish the righteous...tests the hearts You know who is the righteous man that You may establish him.
the righteous God That is Your name.
Psalms 7:12 a righteous judge are You to judge with righteousness.
is incensed every day when He sees the deed of the wicked.
Psalms 7:13 If he does not repent [i.e., if] the wicked [does not repent] of his wickedness.
He will whet His sword The Holy One, blessed be He, [will whet His sword] for him. ילטוש means forbira in Old French, to polish, furbish; and He will tread His bow.
Psalms 7:14 And...for him And for the wicked man, the Holy One, blessed be He, has prepared deadly weapons.
for pursuers Heb. לדלקים, for pursuers, as (in Gen. 31:36): “that you pursued (דלקת) me.” And this is its meaning: His arrows to slay the wicked who pursue the righteous, the Holy One, blessed be He, will make and prepare them to slay them. Every [instance of] דליקה is an expression of pursuit.
Psalms 7:15 Behold, he travails Heb. יחבל an expression of conception and birth, as (in Song 8:5): “there your mother was in travail with you (חבלתך).”
he conceives mischief, and gives birth to lies Whatever he begets and toils, everything betrays him. The adage says: Whatever lies beget, diminution takes.
Psalms 7:18 I will thank the Lord according to His righteousness When He executes strict justice with righteousness, to judge the wicked according to their wickedness.</html