Until now, David has been speaking as an individual, with the first-person singular (I, me, my
). Now he shifts to a verb in the plural. Some suggest the first word (אַשֻּׁרֵינוּ, our steps
) should be emended to a verb (אִשְּׁרוּנִי, they restrain, attack me,
from the verbal root אָשֻׁר), which would relate to the Septuagint’s casting me out
(ἐκβάλλοντές με).1 This would accord with the reading of the consontal text, they have surrounded me
(whereas the marginal reading has they have surrounded us,
which is in effect what the ESV has followed). So, if the above were followed, the verse would read in this way: They have now attacked me, they have surrounded me; they set their eyes to cast [me] to the ground
(the direct object, me,
or us
(ESV), is implied, not present in the original).
But this move is not necessary. For the switch to the plural is explainable: it is likely a rhetorical device. The plural form our steps
may be a way of identifying himself with the righteous community or with those who are similarly oppressed. The enemies’ attack might not have been on him alone, but on the godly as a group. And so David is praying not only for himself but for all who walk in the path of the Lord.
11 They have now surrounded our steps; they set their eyes to cast us to the ground.