E B 1. Appeal against enemies.
C y1 2,3. Their combination. "For".
z1 4. Their words.
y2 5-8. Their combination. 'For'.
C y3 9-11. Enemies. Their punishment.
z2 12. Their words.
y4 13-15. Enemies. Their punishment.
(The last of the 12 Asaph Psalms. Probably Jahaziel's: cp. 2 Chron. 20:14,19-21, the Psalm being written on that occasion [about 804 B.C.], and in 2 Chron. 20:22-36 being the answer to his prayer. Cp. v.12 with 2 Chron. 20:11; and v.17,18 with 2 Chron. 20:23.)
804 B.C
Psalm 83)
1 Keep not You silence, O God:
Hold not Your peace, and be not still, O GOD (El).
2 For, lo, Your enemies roar like the waves of the sea: (See 46:3.)
And they that hate You have lifted up the head. (Put for acting presumptuously)
3 They have taken crafty counsel against Your people,
And consulted against Your hidden ones.
4 They have said, "Come, and let us cut them off that they may no more be a nation; (Cp. Jer. 48:2. Isa. 7:8.)
That the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance."
5 For they have consulted together with one consent:
They have solemnized a covenant against You (not only against Your People):
6 The tents of Edom (note the tenfold confederation in vv.6-9, following the sevenfold destruction in vv.10-12; the two making the number 17 [10 being ordinal perfection plus 7 being spiritual perfection]: 17 being the 7th prime number. Thus the 3 numbers correspond with the conspiracy of man, and judgment of God), and the Ishmaelites;
Of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek;
The Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Assur also is joined with them:
They have helped sons of Lot. Selah. (Connecting these 2 things together, the former being that which calls forth the prayer: and connecting the past confederacy with the future one of the "ten kingdoms" and the same Divine destruction.)
9 Do to them as to the Midianites; (Cp. Judg. 7:22)
As to Sisera (cp. Judg. 7:25), as to Jabin (cp. Judg. 4:23), at the brook of Kison:
10 Which perished at Endor:
They became as dung for the ground. (See Isa. 25:10)
11 Make their nobles like Oreb (cp. Judg. 7:25), and like Zeeb:
Yes, all their princes as Zebah (cp. Judg. 8:5,21), and as Zalmunna:
12 Who said, "Let us take to ourselves
The pleasant pastures of God in inheritance." (Cp. 2 Chron. 20:11.)
13 O my God, make them like a wheel; (Heb. galgal, a rolling thing. Probably a wild artichoke, which throws out branches of equal length, and, when ripe and dry, breaks off at the root, and is carried by the wind, rolling like a wheel over the plains. Cp. Isa. 17;13; where it is again used with "chaff", and rendered 'a rolling thing")
As the straw before the wind.
14 As the fire burns a wood,
And as the flame sets the mountains on fire;
15 So pursue them with Your tempest,
And make them afraid with Your storm.
16 Fill their faces (i.e. the enemies) with shame;
That they (i.e. Israel, our Your People) may seek Your name, O LORD.
17 Let them (i.e. the enemies) be confounded and troubled for ever;
Yes, let them be put to shame, and perish:
18 That men (Israel) may know that You, whose name alone is YEHOVAH,
Are the Most High over all the earth.