Bible Commentaries
Psalms 48

Verses 1-14

This Ps. celebrates the safety and glory of Jerusalem, and the praise of her divine King. The deliverance He has wrought is vividly portrayed, and we can hardly fail to recognise that the overthrow of Sennacherib is in view. The Ps. is used on Whitsunday.

2. For situation] RV ’in elevation.’ On the sides of the north] An obscure clause. ’The sides of the north’ may mean the Temple hill, as distinguished from the rest of the city: or, as some think, there may be a comparison of Mt. Zion to the sacred mountain in the remote north on which Assyrian mythology placed the home of the gods: see Isaiah 14:18; Ezekiel 38:6; Ezekiel 39:2 (RV).

3. Is known] RV ’hath made himself known.’

4. Kings] The vassal kings of Sennacherib (Isaiah 10:8). They gather and march in order till they see Jerusalem. Then they are amazed, and forced to turn back in confusion.

7. Ships of Tarshish] a general phrase for large sea-going vessels. Tarshish was somewhere in the western Mediterranean, perhaps in Spain. Sennacherib’s army was like a wrecked navy.

8. As we have heard, so have we seen] History has repeated itself.

10. RV ’As is thy name.. so is thy praise.’ God’s name is His revealed character, which now receives due recognition and response from the whole world.

14. Probably the last v. originally ran: ’For such is Jehovah our God: He it is that shall guide us for ever and ever.’