John Gill Commentary Psalms 17:9

"From the wicked that oppress me, My deadly enemies, that compass me about." — Psalms 17:9 (ASV)

From the wicked that oppress me
Or "waste" or "destroy" {g}; as wild beasts do a field or vineyard when they get into it; and such havoc do persecutors and false teachers make of the church and people of God, when they are suffered to get in among them, (Psalms 80:13) (Acts 20:29) ; wherefore from such wicked and unreasonable men protection is desired, (2 Thessalonians 3:2) ;

[from] my deadly enemies ;
enemies against his soul or life, who sought to take it away, nothing would satisfy them but this;

[who] compass me about ;
on all sides, in order to obtain their desire; such were the enemies of Christ, and so they are described, (Psalms 22:12Psalms 22:13Psalms 22:16) .

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FOOTNOTES:

• F7: (ynwdv wz) "quid vastant", Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "qui vastaverunt", Pagninus, Montanus, Cocceius, Michaelis.