Psalm 52 · a question people ask
Is the "mighty man" of the psalm Doeg?
The title names Doeg: "when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul" (52:1). The psalm itself never names the man it speaks to. It calls him "mighty man" (52:1) and "you deceitful tongue" (52:4), and the righteous call him "the man who didn’t make God his strength" (52:7). 1 Samuel gives Doeg's words to Saul in its own way: "I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub" (1 Samuel 22:9). The title gives them as "David has come to Ahimelech’s house" (52:1). The two are worded differently, and these notes set them side by side without explaining the difference. Later David says to Abiathar, "I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul" (1 Samuel 22:22). 1 Samuel calls Doeg "the best of the herdsmen who belonged to Saul" (1 Samuel 21:7), and says nothing of riches. The psalm doesn't say which of its words are about Doeg, and these notes don't say it for the psalm.
The verses
“For the Chief Musician. A contemplation by David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, “David has come to Ahimelech’s house.” Why do you boast of mischief, mighty man? God’s loving kindness endures continually.”
“You love all devouring words, you deceitful tongue.”
““Behold, this is the man who didn’t make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.””
“Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg the Edomite, the best of the herdsmen who belonged to Saul.”