Psalms 17:13

“disappoint--literally, "come before," or, "encounter him." Supply "with" before "sword" (Psa 17:13), and "hand" (Psa 17:14). These denote God's power.”

“Arise, O Lord - See the notes at Psalms 3:7. Disappoint him - Margin, “prevent his face.” The marginal reading expresses the sense of the Hebrew. The word used in the original means “to anticipate, to go before, to prevent;” and the prayer here is that God would come “before” his enemies; that is, that he would cast himself in their way “before” they should reach him. The enemy is represented as marching upon him with his face intently fixed, seeking his destruction; and he prays that God would interpose, or that He would come to his aid “before” his enemy should come up to him. Cast him down - That is, as it is in the Hebrew, make him bend or bow, as one who is conquered bows before a…”

“Sword - Thy instrument to execute vengeance upon thine enemies. Do not punish me with this rod: let me fall into thy hands, and not into the hands of men. Psalms 17:14”

“17:13-14 The psalmist confidently prays for the Lord’s victory, knowing that God possesses more power than the evildoers. The psalmist finds his joy in the Lord’s inheritance (16:5), whereas the wicked search for joy in this world.”

“Arise: Psa 3:7, Psa 7:6, Psa 44:23, Psa 44:26, Psa 119:126; Isa 51:9 disappoint him: Heb. prevent his face which is: or, by, Psa 7:11-13 thy: Isa 10:5, Isa 10:15, Isa 13:5, Isa 37:26; Hab 1:12; Act 4:28 Psalms 17:14”

“The phrase קדּם פּני, antevertere faciem alicujus, means both to appear before any one with reverence, Psa 95:2 (post-biblical: to pay one's respects to any one) and to meet any one as an enemy, rush on him. The foe springs like a lion upon David, may Jahve - so he prays - as his defence cross the path of the lion and intercept him, and cast him down so that he, being rendered harmless, shall lie there with bowed knees (כּרע, of the lion, Gen 49:9; Num 24:9). He is to rescue his soul from the ungodly חרבּך. This חרבך, and also the ידך which follows, can be regarded as a permutative of the subject (Bצttcher, Hupfeld, and Hitzig), an explanation which is commended by Psa 44:3 and other…”