Psalms 68:15

15 You huge mountains, Bashan mountains, mighty mountains, dragon mountains.

Psalms 68:15 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 68:15

The hill of God [is as] the hill of Bashan
The church is the hill of God, an excellent and supereminent one, and in which he dwells, as is said in ( Psalms 68:16 ) ; called an hill for its visibility, and especially as it will be in the latter day, when it will be established and exalted above the mountains and hills, the kingdoms of this world, ( Isaiah 2:2 ) ; this is compared to the hill of Bashan for fertility and fruitfulness; hence we read of the kine and bulls, the rams and lambs, and fatlings of Bashan, and of the oaks thereof, ( Deuteronomy 32:14 ) ( Psalms 22:12 ) ( Isaiah 2:13 ) ( Ezekiel 39:18 ) ( Amos 4:1 ) ; the ordinances of the church are green pastures, where his people become fat and flourishing, ( Psalms 23:2 ) ( Psalms 92:13 Psalms 92:14 ) ;

an high hill, [as] the hill of Bashan;
or "an hill of eminences" F8; it had several tops, or little hills that rose up from it; so the church of Christ, though but one hill or church in general, yet there are several little hills belong unto it, or particular congregational churches, of which it consists: for "a mountain abounding with cheese" {i}; which fed much cattle, and these produced much milk, of which large quantities of cheese were made, and so is expressive of the fruitfulness of it.


FOOTNOTES:

F8 (Mynnbg rh) "mons gibborum", Montanus; "vel eminentiarum", Gejerus; "monte frequente gibbis", Junius & Tremellius; "mons fastigiorum", Cocceius.
F9 "Mons qui caseis abundat", Tigurine version.

Psalms 68:15 In-Context

13 While housewives, safe and sound back home, divide up the plunder, the plunder of Canaanite silver and gold.
14 On that day that Shaddai scattered the kings, snow fell on Black Mountain.
15 You huge mountains, Bashan mountains, mighty mountains, dragon mountains.
16 All you mountains not chosen, sulk now, and feel sorry for yourselves, For this is the mountain God has chosen to live on; he'll rule from this mountain forever.
17 The chariots of God, twice ten thousand, and thousands more besides, The Lord in the lead, riding down Sinai - straight to the Holy Place!
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.