Psalms
Chapter 83
1
1 A song; a psalm of Asaph.
2
God, do not be silent; God, be not still and unmoved!
3
See how your enemies rage; your foes proudly raise their heads.
4
They conspire against your people, plot against those you protect.
5
They say, "Come, let us wipe out their nation; let Israel's name be mentioned no more!"
6
They scheme with one mind, in league against you:
7
2 The tents of Ishmael and Edom, the people of Moab and Hagar,
8
Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, Philistia and the inhabitants of Tyre.
9
Assyria, too, in league with them gives aid to the descendants of Lot. Selah
10
3 Deal with them as with Midian; as with Sisera and Jabin at the torrent Kishon,
11
Those destroyed at Endor, who became dung for the ground.
12
Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
13
Who made a plan together, "Let us seize the pastures of God."
14
My God, turn them into withered grass, into chaff flying before the wind.
15
As a fire raging through a forest, a flame setting mountains ablaze,
16
Pursue them with your tempest; terrify them with your storm.
17
Cover their faces with shame, till they pay you homage, LORD.
18
Let them be dismayed and shamed forever; let them perish in disgrace.
19
Show them you alone are the LORD, the Most High over all the earth.
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Footnotes

1 [Psalm 83] The community lament complains to God of the nations' attempts to wipe out the name of Israel (Psalm 83:1-8). The psalmist sees all Israel's enemies throughout its history united in a conspiracy (Psalm 83:2-8). May God destroy the current crop of enemies as the enemies of old were destroyed (Psalm 83:9-12), and may they be pursued until they acknowledge the name of Israel's God (Psalm 83:13-18).

2 [7-9] Apart from the Assyrians, all the nations listed here were neighbors of Israel. The people of . . . Hagar: a tribe of the desert regions east of Ammon and Moab (1 Chron 5:10, 19-22). Gebal is the Phoenician city of Byblos or perhaps a mountain region south of the Dead Sea. The descendants of Lot are Moab and Edom (Genesis 19:36-38 and Deut 2:9). These nations were never united against Israel in the same period; the psalm has lumped them all together.

3 [10-13] For the historical events, see Jdgs 4-8.


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