Bible Commentaries
Psalms 83

Verses 1-18

Psalms 83:0

Psalms 83:1-8 A Cry for Help from God In Psalms 83:1-8 the psalmist cries out to God for help (83:1) because Israel’s enemies have gathered against this nation (83:2-5). He then lists the people who have taken counsel and made a confederate against them (83:6-8).

Grant Jeffrey interprets Psalms 83:0 to refer prophetically to the same event that will take place in Ezekiel 38:0, in which the prophet Ezekiel includes ancient Persia (Iran), the Islamic states of North Africa and Russia. [88]

[88] Grant R. Jeffrey, The Next World War (Colorado Springs, Colorado: WaterBrook Press, 2006), 12-13.

Psalms 83:3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.

83:3 Word Study on “hidden ones”- Strong says the Hebrew word “hidden ones” “tsaphan” ( צָפַן ) (H6845) literally means, “to hide.” It is used figuratively in this psalm to mean “protect.” The NIV translates this word “(those) you cherish.”

Psalms 83:4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.

Psalms 83:5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:

Psalms 83:5 “they are confederate against thee” Comments - Note how the psalmist says in 83:5 that this confederacy of nations has come against God. This is covenant language. Since the nation of Israel is in covenant with Jehovah God, then anyone who comes against Israel is essentially also coming against God.

Psalms 83:6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;

Psalms 83:7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;

Psalms 83:8 Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.

Psalms 83:6-8 Comments - The Confederacy of Arab Nations Grant Jeffrey identifies this confederacy of nations using their modern names. [89] He points out that they are all “modern Islamic nations.”

[89] Grant R. Jeffrey, The Next World War (Colorado Springs, Colorado: WaterBrook Press, 2006), 12-13.

Edom descendents of Esau, Jacob’s brother Jordan Ishmaelites descendents of Ishmael, Isaac’s half brother the Arabs Moab descendents of Moab, Lot’s son Jordan east of Dead Sea Hagarenes descendents of one of Hagar’s 12 sons Gebal ancient Byblus north of Beirut Ammon descendents of Ammon, Lot’s son capital of Jordan Amalek descendents from Esau southern Jordan Philistines descendents from Ham in Palestine, Syria Tyre a Phoenician city Lebanon Assur founded Assyria Iraq and Iran Children of Lot Moab and Ammon Jordan Psalms 83:9-12 A Reminder of God’s Past Deliverance of Israel - In Psalms 83:9-12 the psalmist refers to the ancient victories that are recorded in Judges 4:0 thru 7, when God miraculously delivered Israel from overwhelming odds created by a similar loose knit confederacy of Canaanite city-states and their kings. In other words, the psalmist is inspired by the Holy Spirit and reminded of a time when Israel stood in this exact same position, surrounded by her immediate neighbours who had taken counsel together and formed a similar confederacy.