Bible Commentaries
Psalms 60

Verse 1

Title. Michtam. App-65 .

when, &c. See 2 Samuel 8:13-14 .

Aram-naharaim, &c. = Mesopotamia or Syria. See 1 Chronicles 18:5 , and note below on "twelve thousand".

twelve thousand. In 2 Samuel 8:13 , and 1 Chronicles 18:12 , it is David's and Abishai's exploit, which was 18,000. Here, it is Joab's exploit, and his share was 12,000, but he took six months longer in finishing up his task (1 Kings 11:15 , 1 Kings 11:16 ). David's 22,000 in 1 Chronicles 18:5 were in a Syrian campaign. See notes on 2 Samuel 8:12 , 2 Samuel 8:13 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 2

broken = made fissures. Occurs only here.

Verse 3

shewed = suffered . . . to see. astonishment: or confusion, or trembling.

Verse 4

the truth: or [Thy] faithfulness. Hebrew. koshet. Occurs only here in Psalms. Compare Proverbs 22:21 = certainty, or exact, precise truth. (No Art.)

Selah. Connecting the gift, with the great and important object of it. ( App-66 .)

Verse 5

hear = answer.

me. Hebrew text reads "us"; but some codices, with four early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "me".

Verse 6

hath spoken. Verses 6-9 refer to the promise of the possession of the whole of Canaan, confirmed in 2 Samuel 7:10 . David here encourages himself by it.

Shechem . . . Succoth. West and east of Jordan.

Verse 7

Gilead . . . Manasseh. Eastern side.

Ephraim . . . Judah. Western side.

lawgiver. Compare Genesis 49:10 . Numbers 21:18 . Deuteronomy 33:21 .

Verse 8

Moab . . . Edom. Spoken of as the chattels of a conqueror (2 Samuel 8:12-14 ).

washpot = footbath: i.e. an ignominious vessel.

cast out my shoe. Idiom for taking possession.

Philistia. Syriac reads "over Philistia".

Verse 9

the strong city. Probably Sela or Petra, corresponding with Edom (compare 2 Kings 14:7 ). David claims the promise of Numbers 24:18 .

Verse 10

O God. Some codices omit "O God".

Verse 11

help from trouble = succor out of trouble.

help of man = salvation or deliverance of man. Compare "save", Psalms 60:5 .

Verse 12

To the chief Musician. See App-64 .

upon = relating to.