Psalm 68:15-18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 68:15-21

David, having given God praise for what he had done for Israel in general, as the God of Israel (Ps. 68:8), here comes to give him praise as Zion's God in a special manner; compare Ps. 9:11. Sing praises to the Lord who dwelleth in Zion, for which reason Zion is called the hill of God. I. He compares it with the hill of Bashan and other high and fruitful hills, and prefers it before them, Ps. 68:15, 16. It is true, Zion was but little and low in comparison with them, and was not covered over... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 68:15

The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan ,.... The church is the hill of God, an excellent and supereminent one, and in which he dwells, as is said in Psalm 68:16 ; called an hill for its visibility, and especially as it will be in the latter day, when it will be established and exalted above the mountains and hills, the kingdoms of this world, Isaiah 2:2 ; this is compared to the hill of Bashan for fertility and fruitfulness; hence we read of the kine and bulls, the rams and lambs,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 68:16

Why leap ye, ye high hills ?.... Meaning the kingdoms of this world that lift up themselves above, and look with contempt upon the interest, kingdom, and church of Christ; lie in wait for it, leap upon it, insult over it, and endeavour to crush and extirpate it; but all in vain; these high hills and mountains are nothing before Zerubbabel King of saints; his church is built on a rock, and the gates of hell cannot prevail against it; the little stone cut out of the mountain without hands will... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 68:17

The chariots of God are twenty thousand ,.... By which are meant the angels, as the following clause shows; called "chariots", because they have appeared in such a form, 2 Kings 2:11 ; and because, like chariots of war, they are the strength and protection of the Lord's people; and because of their swiftness in doing his work; and because they are for his honour and glory: they are the chariots of God, in which he rides about the world doing his will; they are the chariots in which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 68:18

Thou hast ascended on high ,.... Which is to be understood, not of Moses ascending up to the firmament, as the Targum and Jarchi interpret it, of which we nowhere read; nor of David's going up to the high fortresses, as Aben Ezra; nor of God's ascent from Mount Sinai; but of Christ's ascension to heaven, as the apostle cites and explains it in Ephesians 4:8 ; which ascension respects him as man, was not figurative, as in Genesis 17:22 ; but real and local, from earth to heaven, and was... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 68:15

The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan - This and the following verse should be read thus: "Is Mount Bashan the craggy mount, Mount Bashan, the mount of God? Why envy ye, ye craggy mounts? This is the mount of God in which he has desired to dwell." The Targum countenances this translation: Mount Moriah, the place where our fathers of old worshipped God, is chosen to build on it the house of the sanctuary, and Mount Sinai for the giving of the law. Mount Bashan, Mount Tabor, and Carmel are... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 68:16

Why leap ye, ye high hills? - " God said, Why leap ye, ye high hills? It is not pleasing to me to give my law upon high and towering hills. Behold, Mount Sinai is low; and the Word of the Lord has desired to place on it the Divine majesty. Moreover, the Lord dwells for ever in the heaven of heavens." - Targum. The psalmist is speaking particularly of the mountains of Judea, and those of Gilead; the former were occupied by the Canaanites, and the others by Og, king of Bashan, and Sihon,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 68:17

The chariots of God are twenty thousand - שנאן אלפי רבתים ribbothayim alpey shinan , "two myriads of thousands doubled." Does not this mean simply forty thousand? A myriad is 10,000; two myriads, 20,000; these doubled, 40,000. Or thus: 10,000 + 10,000 + 20,000 = 40,000. The Targum says, "The chariots of God are two myriads; two thousand angels draw them; the majesty of God rests upon them in holiness on Mount Sinai." But what does this mean? We must die to know. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 68:18

Thou hast ascended on high - When the ark had reached the top of Sion, and was deposited in the place assigned for it, the singers joined in the following chorus. This seems to be an allusion to a military triumph. The conqueror was placed on a very elevated chariot. Led captivity captive - The conquered kings and generals were usually tied behind the chariot of the conqueror - bound to it, bound together, and walked after it, to grace the triumph of the victor. Thou hast received... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 68:15

Verse 15 15.The hill of God, the hill of Bashan Here he adverts to the spring and source of all the kindness which God had shown, this being the circumstance that he had chosen mount Zion as the place of his palace and temple, whence all blessings should go out to the nation. A Divine declaration to that effect had been made to David, and this pre-eminence and dignity conferred upon mount Zion is very properly adduced as a proof of his being king, lawfully and by Divine appointment; for there... read more

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