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.