Psalms 118:12

“They compassed me about like bees, etc.] In great numbers f1624; as a swarm of bees, which, being irritated and provoked, will fly upon persons in a body, and with great fury; to which the Amorites and the Assyrian army were compared, (<050144>Deuteronomy 1:44 <230718>Isaiah 7:18). They will attack horses and kill them, as Aristotle f1625 says; and places besieged have been delivered by throwing out hives of bees among the besiegers f1626: and yet as they are feeble creatures, so by striking they lose their sting; and either die very quickly, or however become useless. All which denotes the numbers of the enemies of David and of Christ, and of his church and people, and the wrath and fury of…”

“They compassed me about like bees - (a) As thick or numerous as bees; (b) armed as bees - or, their weapons might be compared to the stings of bees. They are quenched as the fire of thorns - The Septuagint and the Vulgate render this, “They burn as the fire of thorns.” The connection would seem to demand this, but the Hebrew will not bear it. The figure is changed in the Hebrew, as is not uncommon. The mind of the psalmist at first recalls the number and the malignity of his foes; it then instantly adverts to the rapid manner in which they were destroyed. The illustration from the “fire of thorns” is derived from the fact that they quickly kindle into a blaze, and then the flame soon dies…”

“Bees - ln great numbers. Thorns - Which burns fiercely, but quickly spends itself. Psalms 118:13”

“like bees: Deu 1:44 quenched: Psa 83:14, Psa 83:15; Ecc 7:6; Isa 27:4; Nah 1:10 in the name: Psa 8:9, Psa 20:1, Psa 20:5; Sa1 17:45; Sa2 23:6; Ch1 14:10, Ch1 14:11, Ch1 14:14-16; Ch2 14:11, Ch2 14:12; Ch2 16:7-9, Ch2 20:17-22, Ch2 22:7, Ch2 22:8 destroy them: Heb. cut them down Psalms 118:13”