Psalms 83:7-17

7 1Gebal and 2Ammon and 3Amalek, 4Philistia with the inhabitants of 5Tyre;
8 6Assyria also has joined with them; They have become a help to the 7children of Lot. Selah.
9 Deal with them 8as with Midian, As 9with Sisera and Jabin at the torrent of Kishon,
10 Who were destroyed at En-dor, Who 10became as dung for the ground.
11 Make their nobles like 11Oreb and Zeeb And all their princes like 12Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 Who said, "13Let us possess for ourselves The 14pastures of God."
13 O my God, make them like the 15whirling dust, Like 16chaff before the wind.
14 Like 17fire that burns the forest And like a flame that 18sets the mountains on fire,
15 So pursue them 19with Your tempest And terrify them with Your storm.
16 20Fill their faces with dishonor, That they may seek Your name, O LORD.
17 Let them be 21ashamed and dismayed forever, And let them be humiliated and perish,

Psalms 83:7-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 83

\\<>\\. This is the last of the psalms that bear the name of Asaph, and some think it was written by him on occasion of David's smiting the Philistines, Moabites, Syrians, Edomites, and others, 2Sa 8:1-14, but these did not conjunctly, but separately, fight with David, and were overcome by him; whereas those this psalm makes mention of were in a confederacy together; and besides, the Tyrians in David's time were in friendship with him; but are here mentioned as joining with others against Israel, Ps 83:7, others are of opinion that this was prophetic delivered out with respect to future times, either to the conspiracy of the enemies of the Jews against them in the times of the Maccabees, ``Now when the nations round about heard that the altar was built and the sanctuary renewed as before, it displeased them very much. &c.'' (1 Maccabees 5:1) or rather to the confederacy of the Moabites, Ammonites, and others, in the times of Jehoshaphat, 2Ch 20:1, so Kimchi, Arama, and the generality of interpreters: perhaps reference is had to the enemies of God's people, from age to age, both in the Old and in the New Testament; R. Obadiah understands it of the war of Gog and Magog.

Cross References 21

  • 1. Joshua 13:5; Ezekiel 27:9
  • 2. 2 Chronicles 20:10
  • 3. 1 Samuel 15:2
  • 4. 1 Samuel 4:1; 1 Samuel 29:1
  • 5. Ezekiel 27:3; Amos 1:9
  • 6. 2 Kings 15:19
  • 7. Deuteronomy 2:9
  • 8. Judges 7:1-24
  • 9. Judg 4:7, 15, 21-24
  • 10. Zephaniah 1:17
  • 11. Judges 7:25
  • 12. Judges 8:12, 21
  • 13. 2 Chronicles 20:11
  • 14. Psalms 132:13
  • 15. Isaiah 17:13
  • 16. Job 21:18; Psalms 35:5; Isaiah 40:24; Jeremiah 13:24
  • 17. Isaiah 9:18
  • 18. Exodus 19:18; Deuteronomy 32:22
  • 19. Job 9:17; Psalms 58:9
  • 20. Job 10:15; Psalms 109:29; Psalms 132:18
  • 21. Psalms 35:4; Psalms 70:2

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Lit "an arm"
  • [b]. "Selah" may mean: "Pause, Crescendo" or "Musical interlude"
  • [c]. Or "tumbleweed"
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