Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 3:6
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set [themselves] against me round about.
6. Cp. Psa 27:3. Numbers were on the side of Absalom, and but for the divinely sent infatuation which made him reject Ahithophel’s clever advice, in all probability David’s handful of followers would have been overwhelmed without effort (2Sa 17:1 ff.).
set themselves against me ] A private individual could hardly speak thus; and we are reminded of Ahithophel’s counsel to strike one blow at the king, and save a civil war.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
I will not be afraid – As the result of this new proof of the divine protection, and in view of all that God has done and has promised, the psalmist now says that he would not be afraid though any number of foes should rise up against him. Perhaps this confiding and exulting spirit may be regarded in some measure as the result of the calm and refreshing slumber which he had enjoyed. The mind as well as the body had been refreshed and invigorated. With the bright light of a new morning he looked with more cheerful views and hopes on the things around him, and felt new strength to meet the dangers to which he was exposed. Who in trouble and sorrow has not felt this? Who has not experienced the influence of the slumbers of a night and of the light of the morning, in giving new vigour and inspiring new hopes, as if the returning day was an emblem of brighter scenes in life, and the passing away of the shades of night a token that all trouble and sorrow would flee away?
Of ten thousands of people – Myriads: Though myriads are arrayed against me. He does not, of course, pretend to any exactness here; but he felt that the number of his enemies was very great. This was the case in the rebellion of Absalom. Ahithophel proposed to Absalom to choose out twelve thousand men with whom he might pursue after David, implying that the number with him was actually much greater than that, 2Sa 17:1)
That have set themselves against me – That have arrayed themselves against me; or that have risen up in rebellion against me.
Round about – Intending to hem me in on every side. Of course this was to be apprehended in such a rebellion; yet David says that he could now look with calmness on all this, for he had confidence in God. Compare Psa 56:3.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 6. I will not be afraid of ten thousands] Strength and numbers are nothing against the omnipotence of God. He who has made God his refuge certainly has no cause to fear.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
So that I see no human way to escape.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
6. ten thousands of peopleor,”myriads,” any very great number (compare 2Sa16:18).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of the people,…. David was a man of courage from his youth; the instances of his attacking the lion and the bear, when he kept his father’s sheep, his engaging with Goliath, and his military exploits, show it; and though there were now many thousands up in arms against him, and his own son at the head of them; all the tribes of Israel were revolting from him, and he was only attended with a few of his friends, yet he was not dismayed; for that he refers to this insurrection appears by what follows,
that have set [themselves] against me round about; and this was owing not to himself; but to the Lord’s sustaining of him; see Ps 27:1; and such courage and greatness of soul did his antitype the Messiah express, and to a greater degree, when Judas, with his band of soldiers, and the multitude with clubs and staves, entered the garden to apprehend him; and when the prince of this world was marching towards him, and when he was engaged with all the powers of darkness, and when the sorrows of death compassed him about, yet he failed not, nor was he discouraged: and something of this spirit appears in true believers, When they are in the exercise of faith, have the presence of God, and the discoveries of his love; they are then not afraid what man can do unto them; nor are they afraid of devils themselves, but wrestle against them; nor of any nor all their enemies, they having victory over them, given by God through Christ.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(6) That have set themselvesi.e., have arrayed themselves as for battle. (See 1Ki. 20:12.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
6. I will not be afraid With the morning comes a clearer assurance. The perils of the night had passed. God had answered his prayer so far as to divide Absalom’s counsellors and defeat Ahithophel. See 2Sa 15:31; 2Sa 16:15-23. This gave David rest and safety through the night, and was the first visible pledge of the divine answer to his prayers. See Psa 3:4.
Ten thousands Myriads, a definite number put for an indefinite; countless multitudes.
Set against me Formed in firm line of battle. The term is a military one.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
How charming both these verses! Ten thousands opposed to one poor man become a mighty army! But millions against us, when God is on our side, are as nothing. Oh! for faith in the Lord, and in the power of his might. See a beautiful illustration of this doctrine, 2Ki 6:15-17 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 3:6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set [themselves] against me round about.
Ver. 6. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, &c. ] Quomodo timeret hominem homo in sinu Dei positus? saith an ancient. See here in David the triumph of trust in God, Gloriatio fidei elegantissima (Jun). David looketh not downward on the rushing and roaring streams of troubles that ran so swiftlv under him, for that would have made him giddy; but stedfastly fasteneth on the power and promise of God all sufficient, and is confident. This the world wondereth at; but little do they know the force of faith, nor the privy armour of proof that the saints have about their hearts. Achilles was said to be safe, because Styge armatus. A Christian is Deo armatus, and therefore he walketh about the world as a conqueror.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
I will: Psa 27:1-3, Psa 46:2, Psa 46:7, Psa 118:10-12, 2Ki 6:15-17, Rom 8:31
ten: 2Sa 18:7
set: Psa 2:2
Reciprocal: Deu 20:3 – be ye terrified 1Sa 17:32 – thy 2Sa 18:2 – I will surely 2Ki 6:16 – Fear not Psa 23:4 – I will Psa 27:3 – host Psa 55:18 – He hath Psa 91:5 – Thou Joh 18:4 – Whom Act 12:6 – the same
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 3:6. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Were I beset with as many nations as I see men now encamp themselves on all sides against me, I should not be at all daunted at it. Faith, says Dr. Horne, revived and invigorated by prayer, and fixed on God alone, is a stranger to fear in the worst of times. The innumerable examples of saints rescued from tribulation, and, above all, the resurrection of the Son of God from the dead, render the believer bold as a lion, although the name of his adversary be legion.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
3:6 I will not be afraid of
(c) ten thousands of people, that have set [themselves] against me round about.
(c) When he considered the truth of God’s promise, and tried the same, his faith increased marvellously.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
On the basis of this deliverance, David received confidence that God would give him final victory over his thousands of enemies.