Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take [it]
That is, if the above things he was charged with could be proved against him; then he was content that Saul his enemy should pursue after him, and apprehend him, and bring him to justice, by taking away his life from him;
yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth;
with the utmost indignation and contempt, without showing any mercy; as the lion treads down his prey, and tears it to pieces, ( Micah 5:8 ) ; or as the potter treads his clay under foot, ( Isaiah 41:25 ) ;
and lay mine honour in the dust;
meaning either his life and soul, as before; denominating himself from his better part, and which he elsewhere calls his glory, ( Psalms 16:9 ) ( 30:12 ) ( 57:8 ) ; see ( Genesis 49:6 ) ; or else his body, as R. Judah Ben Balaam, who is blamed for it by Jarchi; or rather his fame, credit, and reputation, that he had gained, both by his courage and valour in the field, and by his wise and prudent behaviour at court, ( 1 Samuel 18:7 1 Samuel 18:16 ) . Should he appear to be guilty of the crimes he was accused of, he is willing to have his glorious name buried in the dust of oblivion, and his memory perish for ever. The words are to be considered as a strong assertion of his innocence, in an appeal to God, the searcher of hearts, and the trier of the reins of men; and as imprecating on himself the worst of evils, should it not appear; see ( Job 31:21 Job 31:22 ) .
Selah;
Aben Ezra renders "selah", "in truth", "let it be so"; and the Targum renders it, as usual, "for ever"; (See Gill on Psalms 3:2).