Bible Commentary

Psalms 51:18

The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 51:18

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion. It is characteristic of David to pass from prayer for himself to prayer for the people committed to him, and especially to do so at or near the end of a psalm (see , ; ; ; ).

And he closely connects—nay, identifies—the people with their capital city (see ; ; , etc.). Build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Josephus says that David encompassed the whole city of Jerusalem with walls ('Ant.

Jud.,' 7.3, § 2); and we are told, in the Second Book of Samuel, that he "built round about from Mille and inward." It has been argued that his walls were just approaching their completion at the time of his great sin.

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