Psalm 68:15

EXPLANATORY NOTES AND QUAINT SAYINGS

Verse 15. Hill of Bashan. The world's physical greatness must yield to the church's spiritual grandeur. The "hill of God" is here an emblem of the world kingdoms, which ( Psalms 65:6 ) are great only by the grace of God. A great hill reminds us of the creative power of God. Hence, "the hill of Elohim" (the general name of God as the Creator) stands in contrast to the hill which ( Psalms 68:16 ) "the Lord" (Jehovah) will dwell in for ever. It lay in the north, in the region east of Jordan, or the land of Hermon, the kingdom of Og, the most formidable enemy whom Israel encountered on their march to Canaan. "The hill of Bashan is the high snow summit of Anti Lebanon, or Hermon, the extreme limit of Bashan. There was a peculiar propriety, from its position on the boundary between Judaea and the heathen world, in employing it as a symbol of the world's might ( Psalms 68:22 42:6 89:12)" (Hengstenberg). The original name of Hermon as Sion; i.e., lofty ( Deuteronomy 4:48 ); allied in sound to Zion, which suggested the contrast here between the world hills and the Lord's hill. A. R. Fausset.

Verse 15-16

HINTS FOR PASTORS AND LAYPERSONS

Verse 15-16.