\\INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 91\\

Jarchi and others think this psalm was written by Moses {m}, as was
the preceding; but the Targum ascribes it to David; as do the
Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions; and
very probably, as is generally thought, was penned by him on occasion
of the pestilence which came upon the people, through his numbering
of them, \\#2Sa 24:1\\. The person all along spoken of, and to,
according to the Targum, is Solomon his son; and, according to the
title in the Syriac version, King Hezekiah, so Theodoret, who is
called the son of David; neither of which are probable. Some think
the Messiah is meant; and that the psalm contains promises of
protection and safety to him, as man, from diseases, beasts of prey,
evil spirits, and wicked men, under the care of angels; and this not
because that Satan has applied one of these promises to him,
\\#Mt 4:6\\, but because they seem better to agree with him than with any
other: and one part of the title of the psalm, in the Syriac version,
runs thus,

``and spiritually it is called the victory of the Messiah, and
of everyone that is perfected by him.''

It seems best to understand it of every godly man, who is always safe
under the divine protection. The Talmudisis {n} call it \^Myegp ryv\^, "a
song of the occursions", or "meetings with evil spirits."