Annotations Upon the Books of Poetry, Psalms · Psalm 83
PSALM LXXXIII.
The Title. A Song or Pſalm of Aſaph.] Moſt Expoſitours hold that this Pſalm was penned when Jehoſhaphat was invaded by a mighty army, made up of many ſeverall nations, 2 Chron. 20.1. which agreeth with that which is here ſaid, verſ. 6, 7, 8. and becauſe it is ſaid that the people of God ſung as they were going out againſt this army, 2 Chron. 20.21, 22. therefore ſome conceive that this was the very Pſalm which they then ſung.
Verſ. 1. Keep not thou ſilence, O God, &c.] To wit, whilſt thine enemies make ſuch a noiſe, as it follows in the next verſe. But ſee alſo the Note Pſal. 28.1.
Verſ. 3. They have taken crafty counſell againſt thy people, and conſulted againſt thy hidden ones.] That is, thy ſaints and ſervants, whom thou doſt hide as a precious treaſure from the rage of their enemies, and who are not known nor owned to be ſuch as they are by the men of this world, their life being hid with Chriſt in God.
Verſ. 5. For they have conſulted together with one conſent, &c.] And thus, though theſe nations were uſually at deadly enmity one againſt another, yet now they could unanimouſly combine together againſt the people of God.
Verſ. 6. The tabernacles of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagarens.] See the Note 1 Chron. 15.10. It ſeems ſome of Iſhmaels poſterity were from their father called Iſhmaelites, and others of them from their grandmother Hagar were called Hagarens; yet others conceive they were the poſterity of ſome other children, that Hagar had by ſome other husband after Abraham had put her away.
Verſ. 7. Gebal.] See the Note 1 Kings 5.18.
Verſ. 8. Aſſur alſo is joyned with them, &c.] That is, The Aſſyrians alſo, though a people of a far countrey, were joyned with them: they have holpen the children of Lot; to wit, the Moabites and Ammonites, who were, it ſeems, the firſt and chief movers of this invaſion of the land of Iſrael, whereof the Pſalmiſt ſpeaks, and ſo they were in that invaſion in Jehoſhaphats daies, 2 Chron. 20.1.
Verſ. 9. Doe unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Siſera, as to Iabin, &c.] That is, as to the army of Jabin: but ſee alſo Judg. 4.24.
Verſ. 10. Which perished at Endor, &c.] For they were deſtroyed at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, Judg. 5.19. and Endor, Taanach, and Megiddo were neighbouring towns, Joſh. 17.11: they became as dung for the earth; that is, they were trodden under foot like dung, and their carkaſes lying unburied were as dung to fatten the earth, according to that Jer. 16.4. they shall not be lamented, neither shall they be buried; but they shall be as dung upon the face of the earth.
Verſ. 12. Who ſaid, Let us take to our ſelves the houſes of God in poſſeſsion.] To wit, in that they ſought to ſubdue the land of Canaan, which was Gods inheritance, and to get poſſeſſion of the cities and towns of Judea: which might be called the houſes of God, becauſe there God dwelt amongſt them, and where the people of God are, there God is preſent with them; and withall becauſe God had given them this land for their inheritance; whence is that of Jehoſhaphat 2 Chron. 20.11. Behold how they reward us, to come to caſt us out of thy poſſeſſion, which thou haſt given us to inherit.
Verſ. 13. O my God, &c.] This may be taken as ſpoken by the Pſalmiſt, either in his own name, or in the name of the people of God as one man. Make them like a wheel; that is, Let them, through the volubility and inconſtancy of their condition, be ſuddenly and violently carried down headlong from their lofty eſtate, not finding any reſting place, till they and their deſigns be utterly ruined, even as when a wheel is turned about, the top of it is ſuddenly underneath; or, Let them be continually driven about with divers calamities, and never be at reſt in a ſettled condition; or, Let them be ſtricken with a ſpirit of giddineſſe, unſtable and inconſtant in all their conſultations and imaginations, and ſo thereby unable to hurt thy people: as the ſtubble before the wind; ſee the Notes Job 21.18, and Pſal. 35.5.
Verſ. 14. As the fire burneth the wood, and as the flame ſetteth the mountains on fire.] That is, the ſtubble, or rather the trees on the mountains, which being ſet on fire, no skill or induſtry of men can yield any help for the quenching of them.
Verſ. 15. So perſecute them with thy tempeſt, &c.] See the Notes Job 27.20, 21. and Pſal. 35.5, 6.
Verſ. 16. Fill their faces with shame, &c.] To wit, for their great diſappointments in their hopes and attempts againſt thy people (ſee alſo the Note Pſal. 44.15.) and the great contempt that is fallen upon them, who had wont to hold their heads ſo high, and to be adored of all men: that they may ſeek thy name; that is, that they may be forced, though feignedly, to cry unto thee for help; ſee the following verſes.