Did dogs surround him?
Radak: The enemy surrounded me like dogs; I have no way to flee from them.
Malbim: (Now the Mizmor describes the first light of dawn.) This is a metaphor, as if hunters sent dogs to surround a Chayah, and the hunters are around the dogs. Even so, I am not afraid - refer to 22:17:2:3.
What is the meaning of "ka'Ari Yadai v'Raglai"?
Rashi: It is as if my hands and feet are in the lion's mouth - "ka'Ari Ken Yeshaber Kol Atzmosai" (Yeshayah 38:13).
Radak: They surrounded me like a lion makes a circle with its tail 1 , and any animal that sees it does not leave, due to fear, and its fore and hind legs are gathered (still); the lion tears it within the circle. So we, in exile, we cannot leave it lest we be in the hands of those who tear. If we leave the Yishmaelim's Reshus, we will enter the Arelim's Reshus. We stand in fear, and do not flee with our feet nor fight with our hands, as if they were fettered.
Malbim: Even though they surround me, I do not fear them; my hands and feet are like a lion to stand against them; it does not fear their voice or multitude.
Perhaps he means that with its tail, it makes a circle of its excrement. Lions do so protect themselves while sleeping; when animals smell its excrement, they fear to enter to attack the lion. (PF)
