Keraia
Psalm 83

Psalm 83:7

O God, Be Not Silent · Psalm 83:1–18
Read Psalm 83

Translations

Modern
…of Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, of Philistia with the people of Tyre.
Traditional
Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
Literal
Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek, Philistia with those dwelling in Tyre.
Latin
Gebal, et Ammon, et Amalec; alienigenæ cum habitantibus Tyrum.

Original

Hebrew
English
…of Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, of Philistia with the people of Tyre.

Notes

Psalms 83:7

  • Gebal, also known as Byblos, was on the coast of Lebanon.

  • The Amalekites lived south of Israel in the Negev desert.

  • Philistia was southwest of Judah, near the Mediterranean Sea.

  • Tyre was a port city on the Mediterranean Sea, northwest of Israel.

Psalms 83:6–7

  • The Edomites were descendants of Esau. They lived southeast of Judah (see Genesis 25:30; 32:3; 36:1–8).

  • The Ishmaelites were descendants of Hagar. They lived in the desert.

  • The Moabites and Ammonites were descendants of Lot. They lived east of Israel and Judah.

  • The Hagrites might have lived north of the Ammonites (1 Chronicles 5:10).

Psalms 83:5–8

they form an alliance: The allies agreed to fight against God and his people. The nations named in this alliance lived around Israel and Judah.

Psalms 83:1–18

This community lament asks God to rescue his people and give them victory. The short and direct poetry suggests a time of great trouble. A strong group of nations plans to destroy Israel (Psalm 83:1–4) and joins together against God (83:5–8).

The psalmist remembers what happened to other enemies who attacked Israel in the past (Psalm 83:9–12). He prays that the same thing will happen to these enemies (83:13–16), so that they will recognize God’s power and give him honor (83:17–18).

It is not clear whether this psalm refers to one specific historical event or whether it gathers together several nations as a poetic picture of Israel’s enemies.

Theme notes and profiles

Lot The Amalekites

Places

Amalek: A nomadic people, descendants of Esau, enemies of Israel Ammon: An ancient nation and its capital city, enemies of Israel Gebal: Phoenician city; skilled builders; allied against Israel Philistia: An ancient people and region in Canaan Tyre: A major Phoenician port city, known for its trade

Glossary

Amalek, Amalekites Asaph Gebal Music Psalms, Book of

Topics

Afflictions and Adversities: Prayer In Armies: March in Ranks: Confederated Gebal: A District Near the Dead Sea The Amalekites: Confederated Against Israel The Ammonites: Confederated Against Jehoshaphat The Philistines: Always Confederated with the Enemies of Israel Tyre: Often Confederated Against the Jews and Rejoiced in Their