Bible Commentaries
Psalms 83

Verses 1-18

This Ps. describes a confederacy of God’s enemies, the object of which is to attack and exterminate Israel (Psalms 83:2-5). A list of the allies is given (Psalms 83:6-8). The Psalmist appeals to God to interpose (Psalms 83:1), and to deal with these hostile nations as He dealt with the Midianites (Judges 6-8) and the Canaanites (Judges 4, 5) of old (Psalms 83:9-12). Psalms 83:13-18 continue the prayer for their overthrow, in order that they may seek and acknowledge the true God. No historical occasion is known on which all the nations mentioned were leagued against Israel. The Ps. is connected by some with the invasion in the reign of Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20), by others with the opponents of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 4:7-8), and by others still with the enemies of Judas Maccabgeus (1 Maccabees 5).

3. Thy hidden ones] those in God’s protection: cp. Psalms 27:5; Psalms 31:20.

5. Are confederate] RV ’make a covenant.’

6, 7. Edom.. Moab.. Ammon] The neighbours of Israel on the SE. and E.

6. Tabernacles] RV ’tents.’

Ishmaelites] wandering desert tribes.

Hagarenes] or Hagrites, a nomadic tribe in the region E. of Gilead (1 Chronicles 5:10).

7. Amalek] a tribe of the desert S. of Palestine.

Gebal] a district of Edom, S. of the Dead Sea. The Philistines] RV ’Philistia,’ between Palestine and the Mediterranean on the SW.

Tyre] a city and kingdom on the NW. sea board of Palestine.

8. Assur] RV ’Assyria.’ This empire did not come into close contact with Israel till after the time of Jehoshaphat. After the fall of Assyria the name was used generally for the region of the East, even under the Persian kings (Ezra 6:22). The children of Lot] the Moabites and Ammonites (Genesis 19:36-38) already mentioned, and apparently the leaders of the hostile combination.

9. Sisera.. Jabin.. Kison] see Judges 4, 5.

10. Endor] not mentioned in Judges 4, 5, but it was in the locality referred to in Judges 5:19: see Joshua 17:11.

11. Oreb, and.. Zeeb] the princes of Midian (Judges 7:25). Zebah, and.. Zalmunna] named as kings of Midian in Judges 8:5-21.

13. A wheel] RV ’the whirling dust.’

15. Persecute] RV ’pursue.’