1.
Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.
Title. A Song. Hebrew. shir . App-65 . Psalm. Hebrew. mizmor. App-65 .
of Asaph. The last of the twelve Asaph Psalms. Probably Jahaziel ' s: compare 2 Chronicles 20:14 , 2 Chronicles 20:19-21 , the Psalm being written on that occasion (about 804 B. C), and 2 Chronicles 20:22-36 being the answer to this prayer. Compare Psalms 83:12 with 2 Chronicles 20:11 ; and verses: Psalms 83:17 , Psalms 83:18 with 2 Chronicles 20:29 .
Keep not. Hold not. Figure of speech Tapeinosis.
God. Hebrew. Elohim.
GOD. Hebrew El. App-4 .
2.
For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.
make a tumult = roar like the waves of the sea, as in Psalms 46:3 .
lifted up the head. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for acting presumptuously. Compare Psalms 3:3 ; Psalms 27:6 . Judges 8:28 .
3.
They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.
4.
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.
from being a nation = that they be no more a nation. Compare Jeremiah 48:2 .Isaiah 7:8 .
5.
For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:
are confederate = have solemnized a covenant. against Thee. Not only against Thy People (Psalms 83:3 ).
6.
The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
tabernacles = tents. Hebrew. 'ohel . See App-40 .
Edom. Note the tenfold confederation of enemies in verses: Psalms 83:6-9 , followed by the sevenfold destruction in verses: Psalms 83:10-12 ; the two making the number 17, the sum of the two numbers (10 ordinal perfection or completeness, and 7 spiritual perfection): 17 being the seventh prime number. Thus the three numbers correspond with the conspiracy of man, and judgment of God. See App-10 .
7.
Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8.
Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.
children = sons.
Selah. Connecting these two 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 unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:
Midianites. Compare Judges 7:22 .
Sisera. Compare Judges 4:15 .
Jabin. Compare Judges 4:23 .
10.
Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.
earth = ground, or soil. Hebrew. 'adamah. See note on Isaiah 25:10 .
11.
Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:
Oreb Compare Judges 7:25 .
Zeeb. Compare Judges 7:25 .
Zebah. Compare Judges 8:5 , Judges 8:21 .
Zalmunna. Compare Judges 8:5 , Judges 8:21 .
12.
Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.
houses = pleasant pastures. Hebrew. ne'oth (plural) Same word as in Psalms 23:2 ; Psalms 65:12 .
possession = inheritance. Compare 2 Chronicles 20:11 .
13.
O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.
wheel. Hebrew. galgal, a rolling thing. Probably the 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. Compare Isaiah 17:13 ; where it is again used with "chaff", and rendered "a rolling thing" (margin thistledown).
stubble = straw. Hebrew. kash = the dry haulm of grain, which is carried about by the wind like the galgal.
wind. Hebrew. ruach . App-9 .
14.
As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;
15.
So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.
persecute = pursue.
16.
Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.
their: i.e. the enemies.
they: i.e. Israel, or Thy People.
LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
17.
Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:
them: i.e. the enemies.
18.
That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.
men: Israel.
JEHOVAH. One of three places where, in Authorized Version, this name is transliterated and printed in large capital letters (small in Revised Version) See App-48 . Compare Exodus 6:3 and Isaiah 26:4 .
MOST HIGH. Hebrew. Elyon. App-4 .