Psalms 48:2-12

2 Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Is mount Zion, [on] the sides of the north, The city of the great King.

3 God hath made himself known in her palaces for a refuge.

4 For, lo, the kings assembled themselves, They passed by together.

5 They saw it, then were they amazed; They were dismayed, they hasted away.

6 Trembling took hold of them there, Pain, as of a woman in travail.

7 With the east wind Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish.

8 As we have heard, so have we seen In the city of Jehovah of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. [Selah

9 We have thought on thy lovingkindness, O God, In the midst of thy temple.

10 As is thy name, O God, So is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: Thy right hand is full of righteousness.

11 Let mount Zion be glad, Let the daughters of Judah rejoice, Because of thy judgments.

12 Walk about Zion, and go round about her; Number the towers thereof;

Psalms 48:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 48

\\<>\\. This psalm is entitled a "song psalm", a psalm to be sung vocally; or "a song and psalm" to be sung both vocally and instrumentally; and is one of the spiritual songs the apostle speaks of, Eph 5:19; It was occasioned, as some think, by David's spoiling the Philistines, 2Sa 5:17-21; or, as others, by the deliverance of the people from the Moabites and Ammonites in the times of Jehoshaphat, 2Ch 20:27,28; or, as others, by the deliverance of the inhabitants of Jerusalem from Sennacherib in the times of Hezekiah, 2Ki 19:34,35; though as Kimchi, a celebrated Jewish commentator, owns, it belongs to the times of the Messiah, as the other preceding psalms; and treats of his greatness, and of the praise and glory due to him, and gives large encomiums of his church.