—Ps. 35 is one of the imprecatory psalms (see p. 624). It is the psalmist’s cry of distress when he is being persecuted by men who were formerly his friends and who now requite his love with intense hatred. The psalm has three principal divisions, each closing with a vow of thanksgiving: (a) vs. 1-10, prayer; (b) vs. 11-18, a description of the enemies; and (c) vs. 19-28, an appeal for divine interposition. Some infer a possible historical background in the conspiracy of Absalom, with Ahithophel and his associates prominent in the picture.

On the superscription see pp. 616, 627.

 Heb. rib, “to contend,” or “to conduct a case against.” Rib is also the root of the Hebrew word translated “them that strive.” To get the force of this we should translate the clause, “Contend, Lord, with those that contend against me.” See Ps. 43:1; 1 Sam. 24:15 for other occurrences of rib. The psalmist calls upon God to defend him against those who are accusing him falsely. The verse is an example of synonymous parallelism.