Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Psalms 55:13
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
But [it was] thou, etc.] The Targum is, “but thou Ahithophel”; of whom the words are literally to be understood, and so they are in the Talmud f720; and mystically and typically of Judas; a man mine equal; “a man”, and not a beast, nor a devil; but a man, from whom humanity, kindness, and tenderness might have been expected; though both Ahithophel and Judas acted the part of a devil; and the latter is expressly called one, (<430670>John 6:70); “mine equal”; or like unto me; as the Targum. Ahithophel was not equal to David in dignity, as the king of Israel; nor in gifts, as the sweet psalmist of Israel; nor in grace as he; but as a man, a mortal dying man: kings and subjects are of the same blood, equally liable to death, and in the grave will be manifestly on a level: or rather the sense is, that he was in his esteem and affliction as himself; he was his friend that he loved as his own soul: so Judas could not be in every sense equal to Christ who is Jehovah’s fellow, and thought it no robbery to be equal with God. Indeed as a man he was like unto him; a frail, mortal man, though not sinless as Christ. The word ykr[k may be rendered “according to my appointment” f721, ordination, or constitution; Judas being a man appointed and ordained to be an apostle of Christ with the rest: or, “according to my esteem” f722; being had in great esteem and familiarity with Christ: or, “according to my order” f723, rank and class; being taken into his family, admitted to his table, where be sat down and ate with him, as if he was his equal; my guide: or “governor” f724. Ahithophel was not governor over David; but was made a governor by him: he was one of his dukes or nobles, as the word is rendered in (<013615>Genesis 36:15), was raised to great dignity by him; perhaps was chief minister of state: it is certain he was his counsellor, and his counsel was with him as the oracle of God, (<132733>1 Chronicles 27:33 <101623> 2 Samuel 16:23); he was his guide in civil affairs; he was directed by his advice, and it may be was president of his privy council. Judas was not only the guide of them to Christ who took him, (<440116>Acts 1:16); but when the apostles were sent out two by two before the face of Christ, to preach where he himself should come, Judas was sent also, (<410607>Mark 6:7 <421001>Luke 10:1); and mine acquaintance: one well known to him, as Ahithophel was to David, and Judas to Christ, his friend and companion, in whom he confided, and who ate of his bread; and all these characters are so many aggravations of his treachery and wickedness.
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