Psalms 109:6

“Set thou a wicked man over him, etc.] Or “them”, as the Syriac version; over everyone of his adversaries, and all of them: and which may be interpreted, as it is by Cocceius, of tyrannical princes and governors, set over the Jews, as Tiberius, Caius, Claudius, Nero, etc. and their deputies, Pilate, Felix, Festus, Florus; all wicked men, and which were a judgment on them for their usage of Christ. Though here some single person is designed, even Judas, notorious for his enmity and ingratitude to Christ; and by the wicked one set over him may be meant Satan, as in the next clause, as he is sometimes called, (<401338>Matthew 13:38 <620518>1 John 5:18), into whose hands and power Judas was put,…”

“Set thou a wicked man over him - This commences the imprecatory part of the psalm, extending to Psalms 109:20. The first thing that the psalmist asks is, that his foe might be subjected to the evil of having a man placed over him like himself: a man regardless of justice, truth, and right; a man who would respect character and propriety no more than he had himself done. It is, in fact, a prayer that he might be punished “in the line of his offences.” It cannot be wrong that a man should be treated as he treats others; and it cannot be in itself wrong to desire that a man should be treated according to his character and deserts, for this is the object of all law, and this is what all…”

“A wicked man - Who will rule him with rigour and cruelty. Satan - To accuse him; for this was the place and posture of accusers in the Jewish courts. Psalms 109:7”

“109:6-19 The NLT translates these verses as the words of the psalmist’s accusers; Hebrew lacks They say, which makes it unclear who is speaking.”

“Set thou: Dr. Sykes, Michaelis, and others, contend that these imprecations are those of David's enemies against himself; and they would render, "Set, say they, a wicked," etc, but this is rendered highly improbable by the Psa 109:8 being applied by St. Peter to the traitor Judas, of whom David was certainly not a type. (See Psa 109:20.) Bp. Horsley and others, however, render the verbs in the future tense, the first verb alone being in the imperative; justly considering the Psalmist as merely uttering prophetic denunciations of God's displeasure against sinners. Mat 27:4 and let: Zac 3:1; Joh 13:2, Joh 13:27 Satan: or, an adversary, Mat 5:25 Psalms 109:7”

“The writer now turns to one among the many, and in the angry zealous fervour of despised love calls down God's judgment upon him. To call down a higher power, more particularly for punishment, upon any one is expressed by על (הפקיד) פּקד, Jer 15:3; Lev 26:16. The tormentor of innocence shall find a superior executor who will bring him before the tribunal (which is expressed in Latin by legis actio per manus injectionem). The judgment scene in Psa 109:6, Psa 109:7 shows that this is what is intended in Psa 109:6: At the right hand is the place of the accuser, who in this instance will not rest before the damnatus es has been pronounced. He is called שׂטן, which is not to be understood here…”