The LORD *. One of the 134 places where Jehovah was changed by the Sopherim to Adonai. See App-32 ; also verses: Psalms 68:17 , Psalms 68:19 , Psalms 68:22 , Psa 17:26 , Psa 17:32 . company = host, or army. those = the women. See note on Psalms 68:25 . This is the women's part. Compare 1 Samuel 18:6 , 1 Samuel 18:7 . Compare Deborah. published it. Always used of good news. read more
THE THIRTY-TWO KINGDOMS OF CANAAN WERE DEFEATED"The Lord giveth the word:The women that publish the tidings are a great host.Kings of armies flee, they flee;And she that tarrieth at home divideth the spoil.When ye lie among the sheepfolds,It is as the wings of a dove covered with silver,And her pinions with yellow gold.When the Almighty scattered kings therein,It was as when it snoweth in Zalmon.""The last two verses here are unintelligible as they stand; we do know that Zalmon was a town near... read more
Psalms 68:11. The Lord gave the word— Having celebrated the power and goodness of God, which fed them in the wilderness, he now proceeds to speak of the great deliverances that he wrought out for them from their enemies, with respect to whom the Lord gave the word. The Israelites engaged them by his order, (see Numbers 25:17; Numbers 21:34.) and under his conduct and blessing obtained the victory over them. The next clause should be rendered, Large was the number of the women who published the... read more
11. gave the word—that is, of triumph. company—or, choir of females, celebrating victory ( :-). read more
Psalms 68David reviewed God’s dealings with Israel to memorialize God’s faithfulness to His people (cf. Judges 5). He traced Israel’s history from the wilderness wanderings to his own capture of Jerusalem. As a mighty commander, God had led His oppressed people into the glorious future He had promised them. In the process He overcame many strong foes."The theme of this magnificent Psalm is the march of God to victory. It traces the establishment of His kingdom in the past; it looks forward to... read more
2. The record of God scattering His enemies 68:7-18 read more
This section of the psalm describes the extended conquest of the Promised Land that continued into the period of the judges. Many people testified to God’s great acts of deliverance during those years. God’s supernatural power was at work indisputably for Israel. God defeated many Canaanite kings, and He gave His people much spoil. Psalms 68:13 may refer to those Israelites who, as peaceful doves, refused to go into war against the Canaanites but who still enjoyed the spoils God gave the whole... read more
This is one of the grandest of the Pss., but its origin and date are involved in much obscurity. It contains expressions borrowed from the Blessing of Moses (Deuteronomy 33) and the Song of Deborah (Judges 5), and presents several parallels with the exilic prophecy of Isaiah 40-66. It may be assigned with some probability to the close of the exile, in which case it is to be regarded as a triumphant anticipation of God’s victory over His enemies in the restoration of His people from the... read more
(11) The Lord gave . . .—Literally, The Lord gives a word. Of the women who bring the news, the host is great. The Hebrew for a word is poetical, and used especially of a Divine utterance (Psalms 19:4; Psalms 77:8; Habakkuk 3:9). Here it might mean either the signal for the conflict, or the announcement of victory. But the custom of granting to bands of maidens the privilege of celebrating a triumph (Exodus 15:20-21; Judges 5:0, Judges 11:34; 1 Samuel 18:6; 2 Samuel 1:20), here evidently... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 68:1-35
Psalms 68:0 The God of IsraelThis magnificent hymn of praise and triumph was no doubt written for some special occasion. It may have been the occasion on which David brought the ark to Jerusalem (see introductory notes to Psalms 24:0), but its language makes the psalm suitable for much wider use.When God fights for his people, their enemies are as helpless before them as smoke before wind or wax before fire. Nothing can stop him as he rides out to do battle (1-4). God is on the side of the... read more