My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
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Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
9. "And hath drawn out," he saith, "my soul from the midst of the lions' whelps" (ver. 4). Why sayest thou, "And hath drawn out my soul"? For what hadst thou suffered, that thy soul should be drawn out? "I have slept troubled." Christ hath intimated His death. ...
Lions. Poetry gives life to all things. It represents mercy and truth as God's messengers; and Saul as a young lion. He might have entered the cave with his men, and destroyed David: but Providence caused him to enter alone, so that David had an opportunity to cut off the hem of his garment, and to show his clemency.
Sword. Thus were the Jews armed, to demand Christ's death. (Eusebius) (Calmet)
The persecutors use artificial weapons, and excite one another to fury, 1 Kings xxii. 16. (Worthington) Ver. 7. Down. Hebrew, "my soul was bowed down "(Berthier) or "to bow down my soul. "(St. Jerome) (Haydock)
Saul strove many ways to destroy his rival, sending him to fight the Philistines, who, nevertheless, proved the ruin of Saul, 1 Kings xviii. 17., and xxxi. 1. (Worthington) Ver. 8. My. This and the following verses, from the 107th psalm. (Calmet) Ver. 9. Glory. Soul, tongue, or rather instruments of music, (Calmet) and spirit of prophecy. (St. Athanasius) Ver. 10. Nations. The psalms a...
