Psalm 48

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 48:9-14

3. Zion’s joy 48:9-14 read more

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 48:11-14

Those who live near God’s presence can rejoice in His decision to protect them. The psalmist invited the residents of Jerusalem to examine the unscathed condition of the city that God had defended. He also urged them to report God’s protection to their children. The "daughters" of Judah (Psalms 48:11) probably refers to its cities and villages. [Note: Kidner, p. 181.] Since God had so faithfully and powerfully preserved His people, the psalmist led them in a commitment to continue following Him... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 48:1-14

This Ps. celebrates the safety and glory of Jerusalem, and the praise of her divine King. The deliverance He has wrought is vividly portrayed, and we can hardly fail to recognise that the overthrow of Sennacherib is in view. The Ps. is used on Whitsunday.2. For situation] RV ’in elevation.’ On the sides of the north] An obscure clause. ’The sides of the north’ may mean the Temple hill, as distinguished from the rest of the city: or, as some think, there may be a comparison of Mt. Zion to the... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 48

XLVIII.Jerusalem has been in great peril from some coalition either of neighbouring monarchs or of the tributary princes of one of the great world-powers, and has been delivered through some unexplained sudden panic. With this event the poet of this psalm is contemporary. So much is clear from Psalms 48:4-8 (see Notes); but on what precise event we are to fix is not so clear. There are resemblances to the deliverance of Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:25), resemblances to the fate of Sennacherib’s... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 48:1

(1) To be praised.—See Psalms 18:3, Note. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 48:2

(2) Situation.—Heb., nôph. A word only found here, but explained from a cognate Arabic word to mean elevation. And this feature is quite distinctive enough of Jerusalem to lend confirmation to this explanation—“Its elevation is remarkable.” (See Stanley, Sinai and Palestine, p. 170.)On the other hand, an adverbial use—highly beautiful or supremely beautiful (comp. Lamentations 2:15, “The perfection of beauty, the joy of the whole earth”) may be all that the poet intends.Sides of the north.—A... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 48:3

(3) Refuge.—See Note, Psalms 46:1. Prominence should be given to the idea of security from height. We might render, “God among her castles is known as a high and secure tower.” read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 48:4

(4) The kings.—With the striking picture of the advance and sudden collapse of a hostile expedition that follows, comp. Isaiah 10:28-34; possibly of the very same event.The kings.—Evidently known to the writer, but, alas! matter of merest conjecture to us. Some suppose the kings of Ammon, Moab, and Edom, who attacked Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:25); others, the tributary princes of Sennacherib. In his annals, as lately deciphered, this monarch speaks of setting up tributary kings or viceroys... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 48:5

(5) They saw.—A verse like Psalms 46:6, vivid from the omission of the conjunctions, wrongly supplied by the Authorised Version. It has reminded commentators of Caesar’s Veni, vidi, vici.They looked, even so were terrified, bewildered, panic-struck.Hasted away.—Or, sprung up in alarm. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 48:7

(7) Breakest.—It is natural at first sight to connect this verse immediately with the disaster which happened to the fleet of Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:48-49; 2 Chronicles 20:36). And that event may indeed have supplied the figure, but a figure for the dispersal of a land army. We may render:With a blast from the eastThou breakest (them as) Tarshish ships.Or,With a blast from the east(Which) breaketh Tarshish ships (thou breakest them),according as we take the verb, second person masculine, or... read more

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 48:9-14

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 48:11-14

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 48:1-14

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 48

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 48:1

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 48:2

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 48:3

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 48:4

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 48:5

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 48:7

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