Psalms 83

The occasion of the Psalm is manifest from the body of it; and it seems to have been a dangerous attempt, and conspiracy of divers neighouring Nations against Israel or Judah. Probably it was that which is mentioned 2 Chron. 20. Wherein all the people here mentioned might be ingaged, though all of them be not there expressed; this being usual in the sacred Historians for the latter to record some passages which the former omitted. Or it may belong to some other History. Or it may have a more general respect unto the several Enterprizes and Combinations of all all these people against them, some at one time, and some at another.

KEep not thou silence Plead for us, not by words, but by thine Actions., O God: hold not thy peace Or, be not deaf, to our prayers, and to the blasphemies of thine and our Enemies., and be not still (i. e.) Unactive and unconcerned for us., O God.

For lo, thine enemies They are not only enemies to us thy people, but also to thy Will, and Name, and Glory. make a tumult Or, make a tumultuous noise both with their tongues reproaching thee, and threatning us, and with their Arms.: and they that hate thee, have lift up the head Are grown potent, and insolent and scornful.:

They have taken crafty counsel against thy people and consulted against thy hidden ones (i. e.) Thy People of Israel, as it is explained in the foregoing words, and in the next Verse; who are called God's hidden or secret ones, to intimate the singular care and respect which God has to them, as to his peculiar treasure, as they are called Exod. 19. 5. Psal. 135. 4. whom he will hide and preserve in the secret of his presence, and under the shadow of his wings; and withal to note their folly in seeking the destruction of those whom God was ingaged and resolved to protect..

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 Whereby they showed both their implacable rage and malice, and their great assurance of success..

For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee They have laid aside all their private quarrels and animosites, and agreed together against thee..

The tabernacles Put for the People dwelling in them, as Iob 12. 6. Prov. 14. 11. Hab. 3. 7. of Edom Called the children of Seir, 2 Chron. 20., and the Ishmaelites Some of the posterity of Ishmael, called by their Father's name, as others of them are supposed by divers to be called Hagarens from their Grandmother Hagar. See 1 Chron. 5. 10, 20. of Moab, and the Hagarenes.

Gebal Either 1. The Giblites, or G... balites dwelling near Zidon, of whom 1 Kings 5. 18. Ezek. 27. 9. Or 2. An Arabian people so called by ancient Writers dwelling in the Southern Border of Canaan, where most of the people here mentioned had their abode. Yet some of these were in the Northern p... s, and not far from the other Gebal, as some of the Philistins and the Tyrians., and Ammon, and Amalek, the Philistins with the inhabitants of Tyre.

Assur also is joyned with them In their counsels, and possibly with some of their Forces though not so openly and powerfully, as afterwards.: they have holpen the children of Lot Moab and Ammon, who were the principal parties in that War. 2 Chron. 20. called here the Children of Lot to intimate their horrible degeneration from their pious Progenitors.. Selah.

Do unto them as unto the Midianites: as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison.

Which Either 1. The Midianites. Or rather, 2. Iabin and S... sera, who were overthrown near Taanach and Megiddo, Judg. 5. 19. nigh unto which places was this Endor, as appears from Ios. 17. 11. perished at En-dor: they became as dung for the earth They were trodden under foot, and their Carkasses left unburied. Compare 2 Kings 9. 37. Ier. 8. 2. and 16. 4..

Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:

Who said let us take to our selves the houses of God The Houses and Lands of the Israelites which their God, as they pretend, gave them in Canaan, to which they have no rightful Title. For that we see was formerly objected by the Ammonites, Judg. 11. 13. who were a chief party in this War. So they seem to call them houses of God, by way of irony and Derision. in possession:

O my God, make them like a wheel Whereas they promise to themselves a sure and firm possession in our Land, let them be like a wheel, or a round ball, which being once tumbled down from the top of an hill, runs down with great force and swiftness, and stays not till it comes to the bottom, and there also is very unstable, and soon removed.: as the Stubble before the wind.

As the fire burneth the wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains Understand by a Metonymy the Woods or Forests upon the Mountains, which in those hot Countries, when they had once taken fire, either by lightning, or by the design of men, or by any accident, did burn with great speed and irresistible violence. on fire;

So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.

Fill their faces with shame: that they may seek thy name That being disappointed of their hopes, and discerning the impotency of their Idols they may own and worship thee as the only true God., O LORD.

Let them be confounded and troubled for ever: yea, Let them be put to shame, and perish But those of them that will not humble themselves before thee, let them be utterly destroyed..

That men may know Or, that they may know, to wit, by costly experience, even by their own ruine, what they would know by information for their own good. ‖ The most high God, and the God ‖ not only of his People Irael, as the Heathen fancied, and as their Gods were confined to their particular and several Territories, but the God and Governor of all the Nations and parts of the earth., that thou whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.