Psalm 48

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 48:9

We have thought of thy loving-kindness, O God - We have reflected on, or meditated on. The word used here literally means “to compare, to liken;” and this idea is perhaps always implied when it is used in the sense of thinking on, or meditating on. Perhaps the meaning here is, that they had “compared” in their own minds what they had heard from their fathers with what they had now seen; they had called all these things up to their remembrance, and had compared the one with the other.In the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 48:10

According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise - That is, as far as thy name is known, it will be praised; or, the effect of knowing it will be to inspire praise. A just view of thy character and doings will lead people to praise thee as far as thy name is known. This seems to have been said in view of what had occurred. Events so remarkable, and so suited to show that God was a just, a powerful, and a merciful Being, would claim universal praise and adoration.Unto the ends of the earth - In... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 48:11

Let mount Zion rejoice - Let Jerusalem, the holy city, rejoice or be glad. Mount Zion is evidently used here to designate the city; and the idea is, that the city of God - the holy city - had occasion for joy and gladness in view of the manifestation of the divine favor.Let the daughters of Judah be glad - The phrase “daughters of Judah” “may” denote the smaller cities in the tribe of Judah, that surrounded Jerusalem as the “mother” city - in accordance with an usage quite common in the Hebrew... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 48:12

Walk about Zion - This is a call on all persons to go round the city; to take a survey of it; to see how beautiful and how strong it was - how it had escaped all danger, and was uninjured by the attempt to destroy it - how capable it was of resisting an attack. The word “walk” here means simply to go around or surround. The other word used has a more direct reference to a solemn procession.And go round about her - The word used here - from נקף nâqaph - to fasten together, to join together,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 48:13

Mark ye well her bulwarks - Margin, as in Hebrew, “Set your heart to her bulwarks.” That is, Pay close attention to them; make the investigation with care, not as one does whose heart is not in the thing, and who does it negligently. The word rendered “bulwarks” - חיל chêyl - means, properly, a host or army, and then a fortification or entrenchment, especially the “ditch” or “trench,” with the low wall or breastwork which surrounds it: 2 Samuel 20:15; Isaiah 26:1. (Gesenius, Lexicon) The... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 48:14

For this God is our God forever and ever - The God who has thus made his abode in the city, and who has manifested himself as its prorector. It is our comfort to reflect that such a God is “our” God; that he has manifested himself as our friend; that we may habitually feel that he is our own. And he is not only our God now, but he will be such for ever and ever. A feeling that the true God is “our” God - that he is ours and that we are his - always carries with it the idea that this is to be... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 48

A.M. 2981. B.C. 1023. The author of this Psalm is not known, nor the particular time when it was composed. Most commentators infer from its contents, that it was made on the occasion of some providential deliverance which God had given to the city of Jerusalem, when it was violently attacked, or threatened, at least, by some very powerful and confederate enemies. “If all things else would agree,” says Bishop Patrick, “it might not unfitly be applied to the defeating Sennacherib’s army, which... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 48:1

Psalms 48:1. Great is the Lord, &c. Great is the majesty and the power of Jehovah; who is therefore to be celebrated with the highest praises; in the city of our God Especially in his own city Jerusalem, and by the inhabitants of it; in the mountain of his holiness In that mountain which he hath long ago set apart for the place of his worship, and hath now so marvellously defended. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 48:2

Psalms 48:2. Beautiful for situation is mount Zion A beautiful place it is, which he hath chosen for his habitation; and that which especially renders it beautiful is, that it is the mountain of God’s holiness, the place where, in infinite wisdom, he hath fixed his sanctuary. The joy of the whole earth For the law was to go forth out of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem; the joyful doctrine of the gospel, the glad tidings of salvation, were to go out from thence unto all... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 48:3

Psalms 48:3. God is known To his people, by sensible and long experience; in her palaces In the habitations of the city, and not only in the cottages, or meaner dwellings, but in the palaces: the princes and great men have recourse to God, and seek help from him. Possibly he may point at the king’s palace and the temple, which was the palace of the King of heaven; which two palaces God did in a singular manner protect, and, by protecting them, protected the whole city and people. For a... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 48:9

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 48:10

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 48:11

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 48:12

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 48:13

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 48:14

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 48

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 48:1

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 48:2

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 48:3

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