Psaume 125:2

2 Jérusalem est environnée de montagnes; et l'Éternel est autour de son peuple, dès maintenant et à toujours.

Images for Psaume 125:2

Psaume 125:2 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 125:2

As the mountains [are] round about Jerusalem
There was Mount Zion on the side of the north, and the mount of Olives on the east, and other mountains on the other sides of it; so that it was encompassed with them, and was naturally as well as artificially fortified. Tacitus F11 describes Jerusalem as inaccessible, walls and mountains, rocks and towers, surrounding it: and the poet Coerilus F12 makes mention of a people that spoke the Phoenician language, by whom he plainly means the Jews, (oikoun d'en solumoiv oresi) , "that inhabited the mountains of Solyma"; which are spoken of by Homer F13, from whence, according to Tacitus F14, Jerusalem had its name: yet, as Kimchi observes, this did not hinder the enemy from taking it; wherefore the Lord is a greater security to his people;

so the Lord [is] round about his people, from henceforth even for ever;
he encompasses them with his favour and lovingkindness as a shield; he encircles them in the arms of everlasting love; he guards them by his providence all around, and keeps a wakeful and watchful eye over them, that nothing hurts them: he keeps them, as in a garrison, by his almighty power: these are the walls that are around them, yea, he himself is a wall of fire about them, and the glory in the midst of them, ( Zechariah 2:5 ) ; and so he continues; he never leaves his people, nor forsakes them, but is their God and guide even unto death. The Targum is,

``the Word of the Lord is round about his people;''

Christ, the essential Word of God.


FOOTNOTES:

F11 Hist. l. 5. c. 11.
F12 Apud Euseb. Praerar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 9.
F13 Odyss. 5. v. 283.
F14 Ut supra. (Hist. l. 5. c. 11.)

Psaume 125:2 In-Context

1 Cantique de Maaloth. Ceux qui se confient en l'Éternel sont comme la montagne de Sion, qui ne peut être ébranlée, et qui subsiste à toujours.
2 Jérusalem est environnée de montagnes; et l'Éternel est autour de son peuple, dès maintenant et à toujours.
3 Car le sceptre de la méchanceté ne reposera pas sur le lot des justes; de peur que les justes ne mettent leurs mains à l'iniquité.
4 Éternel, fais du bien aux bons, à ceux qui ont le cœur droit!
5 Mais pour ceux qui se détournent dans des voies tortueuses, l'Éternel les fera marcher avec les ouvriers d'iniquité. Que la paix soit sur Israël!
The Ostervald translation is in the public domain.