Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail. This description is wholly inapplicable to the destruction of Sennacherib's host, unperceived until it was accomplished ( 2 Kings 19:35 ), but is sufficiently in agreement with the narrative of 2 Chronicles 20:1-23 . read more
Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind . The literal exposition is wholly out of place, since history does not speak of any co-operation of a fleet with a land army in any attack upon Pales. fine. The expression must be used metaphorically of a great and violent destruction wrought by the arm of God upon Israel's foes. Still, the imagery would scarcely have been used, unless there had been something in the circumstances of the time to suggest it, as there certainly was in... read more
As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God ; i.e. as we have heard of former deliverances of Jerusalem from the attacks of enemies; e.g. from Shishak ( 2 Chronicles 12:2-12 ), from Zorah ( 2 Chronicles 14:9-13 ), so now we have seen with our own eyes a deliverance of the same favoured city, such as might be expected from the fact that she is "the city of the Lord of hosts, the city of our God." Having seen with our own eyes Jerusalem... read more
We have thought of thy loving-kindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple. Jehoshaphat, on his return to Jerusalem from the scene of his adversaries' slaughter, held a thanksgiving service in the temple, "with psalteries, and harps, and trumpets," because the Lord had made the people to rejoice over their enemies ( 2 Chronicles 20:27 , 2 Chronicles 20:28 ). read more
God's loving-kindness. "We have thought of thy loving-kindness." Thought is quick. A lightning-flash of thought, a momentary recollection of God, may give guidance to take the right step, courage to speak the right word, strength to withstand sudden temptation, comfort when we are ready to give up all as lost. But this swift inspiration, sudden illumination, is not the kind of thought of which this text speaks. It is calm meditation, devout; leisurely contemplation. Memory spreads her... read more
According to thy Name, O God, so is thy praise . The "Name of God," i.e. the character that he has established for himself by former mighty deeds, and the praise which he has now won by the recent deliverance, are coextensive. Both of them reach unto the ends of the earth ; i.e. over all the regions known to the writer. Thy right hand is full of righteousness. Thou hast dealt out a righteous judgment by thy right hand and thy stretched-out arm, thereby showing how full thy right... read more
Let Mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad ; i.e. let there be a chorus of joyful thanks over the length and breadth of the land, not only in Jerusalem, but in every city of Judah ( Joshua 15:45 ) equally. Because of thy judgments . Because thou hast vindicated thy people, and executed judgment on their enemies. read more
Walk about Zion, and go round about her; tell the towers thereof. Admire, i.e ; O Israelites, your glorious city, which God has preserved for you intact. Walk around it, view it on every side; observe its strength and beauty. Nay, count its towers, and see how many they are, that ye may form a true estimate of its defences, which render it well-nigh impregnable. Such a survey would "tend to the glorifying of the God of Israel, and to the strengthening of their faith" (Hengstenberg). read more
Mark ye well her bulwarks (or, her ramparts ), consider her palaces . Note the height and fine masonry of her outer wall, which no people could destroy except the Romans ( Nehemiah 1:3 ; Nehemiah 2:13-17 ; Nehemiah 4:6 ). And note also the grand houses of her princes and nobles ( Amos 6:11 ), which show themselves even above the ramparts. That ye may tell it to the generation following. That ye may let them know "how splendid Jerusalem appeared on the morrow of its great... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 48:5
They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away. The sight of the city, with its walls and towers ( Psalms 48:12 , Psalms 48:13 ), was enough for them—they recognized that the place was too strong to be attacked with any prospect of success; "marvelled," or "were amazed" (Cheyne), at its strength, and, being troubled in mind, hasted away. The unconnected verbs remind the commentators of Caesar's famous despatch, "Vent, vidi, vici." read more