Psalm Fifty Eight
by Dr. Henry M. Morris
(taken from the Defender's Study Bible)
To the chief Musician, Al-Taschith, Michtam of David.
Michtam. There are six “michtams” (see note on Psalm 16: Title) written by David (Psalms 16, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60).
Psalm 58:2 Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.
as soon as they be born. Infants naturally begin “speaking lies” and acting deceptively essentially as soon as they are born, for this is our inborn sin-nature, ever since Adam and Eve. It takes the new birth to give a person a true love and respect for the laws and character of God (Colossians 3:9-10).
deaf adder. This is believed to be the very poisonous Egyptian cobra.
Psalm 58:5 Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely.
in their mouth. This is one of the most graphic imprecations in the imprecatory psalms. See note on Psalm 5.
snail which melteth. This seems to be a reference to the slimy substance secreted by Palestinian snails as they crawl along the ground, thus apparently melting away, eventually leaving empty shells.