Psalms 140:9

“[As for] the head of those that compass me about, let the, mischief of their own lips cover them.] Meaning either their natural head, put for their whole persons; and the sense is, let the mischief they have contrived for others fall upon themselves; (see <260910>Ezekiel 9:10) (<190716>Psalm 7:16); or some principal person, the head and leader of them, as the word is sometimes used, (<230914>Isaiah 9:14,15 7:8); and designs either Saul, who at the head of three thousand men surrounded the hill where David and his men were; or Doeg the Edomite, who was over the servants of Saul, and accused David to him; so Kimchi: or Ahithophel, who was at the head of the conspirators against him; so the…”

“As for the head of those that compass me about - Luther renders this, “The calamity which my enemies design against me must fall upon their own heads.” The passage stands in contrast with Psalms 140:7 : “Thou hast covered my head,” etc. As for his own head, it had been protected in the day of battle. In reference now to the heads of his enemies - of those that compassed him about - he prays that what they had designed for “his” head might come by a just retribution on their own. The phrase “compass me about” refers to his enemies as being numerous, and as surrounding him on every side. See Psalms 40:12; Psalms 88:17; Psalms 109:3; Psalms 118:10-12. Let the mischief of their own lips cover…”

“Mischief - The mischief which they design against me, shall fall upon themselves. Psalms 140:10”

“140:9-11 The psalmist prays for God’s judgment on the wicked.”

“let the mischief: Psa 7:16, Psa 64:8, Psa 94:23; Est 5:14, Est 7:10; Pro 10:6, Pro 10:11, Pro 12:13, Pro 18:7; Mat 27:25 Psalms 140:10”

“The strophic symmetry is now at an end. The longer the poet lingers over the contemplation of the rebels the more lofty and dignified does his language become, the more particular the choice of the expressions, and the more difficult and unmanageable the construction. The Hiph. הסב signifies, causatively, to cause to go round about ( Exo 13:18), and to raise round about ( Ch2 14:6); here, after Jos 6:11, where with an accusative following it signifies to go round about: to make the circuit of anything, as enemies who surround a city on all sides and seek the most favourable point for assault; מסבּי from the participle מסב. Even when derived from the substantive מסב (Hupfeld), "my…”