Psalms 55:23

“But thou, O God, shall bring them down, etc.] Ahithophel and his accomplices in the conspiracy against David, Judas and the wicked Jews concerned in Christ’s death; and did not believe in him; into the pit of destruction, or “corruption” f733; either the grave, where bodies being put corrupt and putrefy; or hell, where the wicked are punished with everlasting destruction; (see <195515>Psalm 55:15); bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; such as Ahithophel and Absalom, Judas, and the murderers of our Lord: or, “do not halve their days” f734; do not come up to the half of the ordinary term of man’s life, which is threescore years and ten. The Jews say f735, that all the…”

“bloody . . . days--(compare Psa 5:6; Psa 51:14), deceit and murderous dispositions often united. The threat is directed specially (not as a general truth) against the wicked, then in the writer's view. Next: Psalms Chapter 56”

“But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction - The word “them,” here evidently refers to the enemies of the psalmist; the wicked people who were arrayed against him, and who sought his life. The “pit of destruction” refers here to the grave, or to death, considered with reference to the fact that they would be “destroyed” or “cut off,” or would not die in the usual course of nature. The meaning is, that God would come forth in his displeasure, and cut them down for their crimes. The word “pit” usually denotes “a well,” or “cavern” Genesis 14:10; Genesis 37:20; Exodus 21:34, but is often used to denote the grave (Job 17:16; Job 33:18, Job 33:24; Psalms 9:15; Psalms 28:1;…”

“Them - The wicked. Not live - But shall be cut off by an untimely and violent death. Trust in thee - And in this confidence I will quietly wait for deliverance. Next: Psalms Chapter 56”

“55:23 To die young means that one fails to experience God’s full blessing (cp. Prov 3:2, 16).”

“O God: Psa 7:15, Psa 7:16, Psa 58:9, Psa 59:12, Psa 59:13 pit: Pro 15:11, Pro 27:20; Isa 38:17 bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days: Heb. men of bloods and deceit shall not halve their days. Psa 5:6; Sa2 3:27, Sa2 20:9, Sa2 20:10; Kg1 2:5, Kg1 2:6; Sa2 3:27, Sa2 20:9, Sa2 20:10; Kg1 2:5, Kg1 2:6; Job 15:32; Pro 10:27; Ecc 7:17; Mat 27:4, Mat 27:5 Next: Psalms Chapter 56”