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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 48:1-7

The psalmist is designing to praise Jerusalem and to set forth the grandeur of that city; but he begins with the praises of God and his greatness (Ps. 48:1), and ends with the praises of God and his goodness, Ps. 48:14. For, whatever is the subject of our praises, God must be both the Alpha and Omega of them. And, particularly, whatever is said to the honour of the church must redound to the honour of the church's God. What is here said to the honour of Jerusalem is, I. That the King of heaven... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 48:8-14

We have here the good use and improvement which the people of God are taught to make of his late glorious and gracious appearances for them against their enemies, that they might work for their good. I. Let our faith in the word of God be hereby confirmed. If we compare what God has done with what he has spoken, we shall find that, as we have heard, so have we seen (Ps. 48:8), and what we have seen obliges us to believe what we have heard. 1. ?As we have heard done in former providences, in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 48:4

For, lo, the kings were assembled ,.... As the princes of the Philistines to seek for David, when in the strong hold of Zion, 2 Samuel 5:17 ; as the Ethiopians in the time of Asa, 2 Chronicles 14:9 ; and the Moabites and Ammonites in the times of Jehoshaphat, 2 Chronicles 20:1 ; and the kings of Syria and Israel in the times of Ahaz, Isaiah 7:1 ; and Sennacherib with his princes, who, in his esteem, were kings, in the times of Hezekiah, 2 Kings 18:17 ; which are instances of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 48:5

They saw it ,.... Either the city or the power of God, as Aben Ezra; or, as Jarchi, God himself going forth to fight against the nations. This refers to the power Christ will take to himself, and show forth, by reigning in his church, and protecting it, which will not only be visible to the saints, but to the nations of the world; and to the brightness of Christ's coming in his spiritual reign, with the lustre of which antichrist will be destroyed, Revelation 11:17 ; and to the glorious... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 48:6

Fear took hold upon them there ,.... That is, either when they came up to the city, and passed by it, and saw what they did; or, as Kimchi observes, in the place where they thought to have made a great slaughter; that is, in Armageddon, Revelation 16:16 ; so upon the slaughter of the seven thousand names of men, or men of name and renown, such as the kings here assembled, the remnant will be frightened, Revelation 11:13 ; and pain, as of a woman in travail ; this figure is made use... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 48:7

Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with east wind. This is either another simile, expressing the greatness of the dread and fear that shall now seize the kings of the earth; which will be, as Kimchi observes, as if they were smitten with a strong east wind, which breaks the ships of Tarshish; and to the same purpose is the note of Aben Ezra; who says, the psalmist compares the pain that shall take hold upon them to an east wind in the sea, which breaks the ships; for by Tarshish is meant,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 48:8

As we have heard, so have we seen ,.... These are the words of the people of God making their observations on the above things; and so Aben Ezra and Kimchi understand them of the people of Israel; and the former, referring them to the war of Gog and Magog, paraphrases them thus: "the Israelites shall say in that day, as we have heard the prophets, who prophesied of the fall of Gog and Magog, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts.' The words may be understood, either of facts... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 48:4

For, lo, the kings were assembled - Many of the neighboring potentates, at different times, envied the prosperity of the Jewish nation, and coveted the riches of the temple; but they had no power against it till the cup of Jewish transgression was full. In vain did they assemble - confederate, and invade the land. Saw it - reconnoitered the place; marvelled at its excellence and strength, for they were troubled - struck with fear; hasted away for fear of destruction, for fear took hold on... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 48:7

Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish - Calmet thinks this may refer to the discomfiture of Cambyses, who came to destroy the land of Judea. "This is apparently," says he, "the same tempest which struck dismay into the land-forces of Cambyses, and wrecked his fleet which was on the coasts of the Mediterranean sea, opposite to his army near the port of Acco, or the Ptolemais; for Cambyses had his quarters at Ecbatana, at the foot of Mount Carmel; and his army was encamped in the valley of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 48:8

As we have heard, so have we seen - Our fathers have declared what mighty works thou didst in their time; and we have seen the same. God has often interposed and afforded us a most miraculous defense. So it was when they were invaded by the Assyrians, Syrians, Egyptians, Babylonians, Persians and the Greeks under Alexander. The city of the Lord of hosts - His hosts defended the city, and it was known to be the City of the great King. God will establish it for ever - This must refer... read more

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