1 [[To the chief Musician H5329 upon Shushaneduth, H7802 Michtam H4387 of David, H1732 to teach; H3925 when he strove H5327 with Aramnaharaim H763 H5104 and with Aramzobah, H760 when Joab H3097 returned, H7725 and smote H5221 of Edom H123 in the valley H1516 of salt H4417 twelve H8147 H6240 thousand.]] H505 O God, H430 thou hast cast us off, H2186 thou hast scattered H6555 us, thou hast been displeased; H599 O turn thyself to us again. H7725
2 Thou hast made the earth H776 to tremble; H7493 thou hast broken H6480 it: heal H7495 the breaches H7667 thereof; for it shaketh. H4131
3 Thou hast shewed H7200 thy people H5971 hard things: H7186 thou hast made us to drink H8248 the wine H3196 of astonishment. H8653
4 Thou hast given H5414 a banner H5251 to them that fear H3373 thee, that it may be displayed H5127 because H6440 of the truth. H7189 Selah. H5542
5 That thy beloved H3039 may be delivered; H2502 save H3467 with thy right hand, H3225 and hear H6030 me.
6 God H430 hath spoken H1696 in his holiness; H6944 I will rejoice, H5937 I will divide H2505 Shechem, H7927 and mete out H4058 the valley H6010 of Succoth. H5523
7 Gilead H1568 is mine, and Manasseh H4519 is mine; Ephraim H669 also is the strength H4581 of mine head; H7218 Judah H3063 is my lawgiver; H2710
8 Moab H4124 is my washpot; H5518 H7366 over Edom H123 will I cast out H7993 my shoe: H5275 Philistia, H6429 triumph H7321 thou because of me.
9 Who will bring H2986 me into the strong H4692 city? H5892 who will lead H5148 me into Edom? H123
10 Wilt not thou, O God, H430 which hadst cast us off? H2186 and thou, O God, H430 which didst not go out H3318 with our armies? H6635
11 Give H3051 us help H5833 from trouble: H6862 for vain H7723 is the help H8668 of man. H120
12 Through God H430 we shall do H6213 valiantly: H2428 for he it is that shall tread down H947 our enemies. H6862
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 60
Commentary on Psalms 60 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 60
Ps 60:1-12. Shushan-eduth—Lily of testimony. The lily is an emblem of beauty (see on Ps 45:1, title). As a description of the Psalm, those terms combined may denote a beautiful poem, witnessing—that is, for God's faithfulness as evinced in the victories referred to in the history cited. Aram-naharaim—Syria of the two rivers, or Mesopotamia beyond the river (Euphrates) (2Sa 10:16). Aram-zobah—Syria of Zobah (2Sa 10:6), to whose king the king of the former was tributary. The war with Edom, by Joab and Abishai (2Ch 18:12, 25), occurred about the same time. Probably, while doubts and fears alternately prevailed respecting the issue of these wars, the writer composed this Psalm, in which he depicts, in the language of God's people, their sorrows under former disasters, offers prayer in present straits, and rejoices in confident hope of triumph by God's aid.
1-3. allude to disasters.
cast … off—in scorn (Ps 43:2; 44:9).
scattered—broken our strength (compare 2Sa 5:20).
Oh, turn thyself—or, "restore to us" (prosperity). The figures of physical, denote great civil, commotions (Ps 46:2, 3).
3. drink … wine of astonishment—literally, "of staggering"—that is, made us weak (compare Ps 75:8; Isa 51:17, 22).
4, 5. Yet to God's banner they will rally, and pray that, led and sustained by His power (right hand, Ps 17:7; 20:6), they may be safe.
5. hear me—or, "hear us."
6-10. God hath spoken in—or, "by."
his holiness—(Ps 89:35; Am 4:2), on the pledge of His attributes (Ps 22:3; 30:4). Taking courage from God's promise to give them possession (Ex 23:31; De 11:24) (and perhaps renewed to him by special revelation), with triumphant joy he describes the conquest as already made.
Shechem, and … Succoth—as widely separated points, and—
7. Gilead … and Manasseh—as large districts, east and west of Jordan, represent the whole land.
divide … and mete out—means to have entire control over.
Ephraim—denotes the military (De 33:17); and—
Judah—(the lawgiver, Ge 49:10), the civil power. Foreign nations are then presented as subdued.
8. Moab—is a my washpot—the most ordinary vessel.
over—or, "at"
Edom—(as a slave) he casts his shoe.
Philistia, triumph, &c.—or, rather, "shout."
for me—acknowledges subjection (compare Ps 108:9, "over Philistia will I triumph").
9, 10. He feels assured that, though once angry, God is now ready to favor His people.
who will lead me—or, who has led me, as if the work were now begun.
10. Wilt not thou?—or, "Is it not Thou?"
11, 12. Hence he closes with a prayer for success, and an assurance of a hearing.