Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 18:45
The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.
45. The strangers faded away,
And came trembling out of their fastnesses.
Their strength and courage failed like a withering leaf or a fading flower (Isa 28:1; Isa 28:4), and they surrendered at discretion to the triumphant invader. Cp. Mic 7:17; 1Sa 14:11. The obscure reading in 2 Sam. may mean “came limping out of their fastnesses”; a picture of the exhausted defenders of the fortress dragging themselves along with difficulty and reluctant to lay down their arms before the conqueror. The LXX gives this rendering ( ) in the Psalm.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The strangers shall fade away – Hebrew, The sons of the stranger. That is, foreigners. The word rendered fade away – nabel – means properly to wilt, wither, fall away, as applicable to flowers, leaves, or plants, Psa 1:3; Psa 37:2; Isa 1:30; Isa 28:1. Here it means that those foreign nations would diminish in numbers and in power, until they should wholly disappear. The idea is, that all his foes would vanish, and that he and his kingdom would be left in peace.
And be afraid out of their close places – The word rendered be afraid means to tremble – as those do who are in fear. The word rendered close places means places that are shut up or enclosed, as fortified cities or fortresses. The reference is to their places of retreat, towns, castles, fortresses. The meaning is, that they would find such places to be no security, and would tremble out of them; that is, they would flee out of them in consternation and alarm. The general thought is that of ultimate complete security for himself and his kingdom, or entire deliverance from all his enemies.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 45. The strangers shall fade away] beney nechar, the same persons mentioned above. They shall not be able to effect any thing against me; yibbolu, “they shall fall as the leaves fall off the trees in winter.”
And be afraid out of their close places.] Those who have formed themselves into banditti, and have taken possession of rocks and fortified places, shall be so afraid when they hear of my successes, that they shall surrender at discretion, without standing a siege. Perhaps all these verbs should be understood in the perfect tense, for David is here evidently speaking of a kingdom at rest, all enemies having been subdued; or, as the title is, when the Lord HAD delivered him from all his enemies.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Shall fade away, i.e. shall wither and decay in their hopes and strength.
Be afraid, i.e. shall come trembling; one verb being put for two, as Psa 22:21, thou hast heard me, i.e. having delivered me; and Psa 42:1, panteth, i.e. panting hasteneth; and in many other places.
Out of their close places; out of their strong holds, where they shall lurk and keep themselves for fear of me, and whence they dare not stir without trembling. Or, for (as the particle mere is oft used)
their close places, i.e. lest I should assault and take them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
43-45. Not only does He conquercivil foes, but foreigners, who are driven from their places ofrefuge.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
The strangers shall fade away,…. Like the leaves of trees in autumn, when they fall and perish; to which hypocrites and nominal professors are compared, Jude 1:12;
and be afraid out of their close places; their towers and fortified places, or the rocks and mountains to which they betake themselves for shelter; but, as not thinking themselves safe enough, through fear and dread, come out of them; see Mic 7:17. Some Jewish writers q interpret the words, they shall halt or be lame; that is, because of the chains put upon their feet: and so they are expressive of the conquest made of them. The word in the Arabic language signifies to “come out”; and may be so rendered here, and “come out”: in 2Sa 22:46; it is, “they shall gird themselves”, or “come out girt”.
q R. Donesh apud Jarchi & Abendana not. in Miclol Yophi in loc. to Apollinar. Metaphras.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
What is added immediately after, (verse 45,) the children of strangers shall fade away; they shall tremble (438) from within their places of concealment, serves to place, in a still more striking light, the great fame and formidable name which we have said David had acquired. It is no ordinary sign of reverence when those who are protected in hiding-places, and shut up within steep fortifications, are so stricken with terror as to come forth of their own accord and surrender themselves. As fear made the enemies of David to come forth from their places of concealment, to meet him with submission, so the Gospel strikes the unbelieving with such fear, as compels them to yield obedience to Christ. Such is the power of prophecy, that is to say, the preaching of the word, as Paul testifies in 1Co 14:24, that, convincing the consciences of men, and making manifest the secrets of their hearts, it causes those who before were rebels to prostrate themselves with fear, and to give glory to God.
(438) The Hebrew word חרג, charag, signifies both to be moved and to tremble, and combining both ideas, to move fearfully. The last appears to be the view which Calvin attaches to the word. “Fear shall cause them to be afraid, and come forth of their secret holes and holds, to seek pardon.” — Note, Bassandyne’s Bible. Walford reads,
“
The sons of the stranger lose their strength; Through alarm they quit their strongholds.
Street reads,
“
Foreign nations are confounded, and they shudder within their fortresses.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(45) Fade awayi.e., wither like vegetation before a scorching blast.
Be afraid out of their close places.Better, come trembling out of their castles. LXX. and Vulgate have grow old and came limping from their paths.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
45. The strangers shall fade away The same class who, in Psa 18:44, yielded an unwilling obedience, shall wither like grass before the hot wind of the desert. Comp. Mic 7:16-17
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 18:45. The strangers shall fade away, &c. “They shall either lose their courage, and all power to resist, and their prosperity shall decay, and come to an utter end; or they themselves shall fall and gradually perish, till there be few or none of them left to oppose me.” See Isa 1:30; Isa 40:7. Exo 18:18. Psa 37:2. It is added, They shall be afraid out of their close places. Grotius’s comment is, “They shall suspect their safety in the very places they flew to for refuge.” The verb charag, is used only in this place in the Old Testament. The force of it seems to be, to be straitened; and the meaning of the clause, “They are straitened and distressed in the places where they shut themselves up, so that they are forced to surrender them into my hands.” See Chandler, and Schultens.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Psa 18:45 The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.
Ver. 45. The strangers shall fade away ] As do the dry leaves of trees; their vigour and confidence shall perish in a moment.
And be afraid out of their close places
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
be afraid = come trembling.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
strangers: Isa 24:4, Mic 7:17, Jam 1:11
afraid: Rev 6:16
Reciprocal: 2Sa 22:45 – submit themselves Psa 81:15 – The haters
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 18:45. The strangers shall fade away Shall wither and decay in their hopes end strength; and be afraid That is, shall come trembling, one verb being put for two; out of their close places Out of their strong holds, where they shall lurk and keep themselves close, for fear of me, not daring to stir out without trembling, lest I should assault and take them. Dr. Waterland renders it, They shall faint away, and come creeping out of their coverts. Grotiuss comment is, They shall suspect their safety in the very places to which they flee for refuge.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
18:45 The strangers shall {k} fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.
(k) Fear will cause them to be afraid and come forth from their secret holes and holds to seek pardon.