19–22. For all its vehemence, the hatred in this passage is not spite, but zeal for God. In ‘the day of salvation’ the New Testament will redirect this fighting spirit, but it will endorse its single-mindedness (‘What fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial?’108). It is worth noting that David’s resolve was not necessarily easy, since the unscrupulous can be convenient allies, and the scoffers can be daunting opponents. For a fuller statement of it, see the kingly vow