Psalms 83:8-18

8 (82-9) Yea, and the Assyrian also is joined with them: they are come to the aid of the sons of Lot.

9 (82-10) Do to them as thou didst to Madian and to Sisara: as to Jabin at the brook of Cisson.

10 (82-11) Who perished at Endor: and became as dung for the earth.

11 (82-12) Make their princes like Oreb, and Zeb, and Zebee, and Salmana. All their princes,

12 (82-13) Who have said: Let us possess the sanctuary of God for an inheritance.

13 (82-14) O my God, make them like a wheel; and as stubble before the wind.

14 (82-15) As fire which burneth the wood: and as a flame burning mountains:

15 (82-16) So shalt thou pursue them with thy tempest: and shalt trouble them in thy wrath.

16 (82-17) Fill their faces with shame; and they shall seek thy name, O Lord.

17 (82-18) Let them be ashamed and troubled for ever and ever: and let them be confounded and perish.

18 (82-19) And let them know that the Lord is thy name: thou alone art the most High over all the earth.

Psalms 83:8-18 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.