Psalms 60:7 - Exposition

Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine. Gilead was an old name for the territory beyond the Jordan ( Genesis 37:25 ), especially the more northern portion of it. Manasseh had a portion of this territory assigned to him ( Numbers 32:39-42 ; Joshua 17:1 ). But Manasseh had also a large inheritance on the western side of Jordan ( Joshua 17:7-11 ). It is not quite clear whether both the divisions of Manasseh, or the eastern one only, is here intended. Ephraim also is the strength of mine head. Ephraim was the most important of the tribes next to Judah, and held the central position in the western region, forming the main strength of the northern kingdom after the separation under Jeroboam (see 1 Kings 12:25 ; and comp. Isaiah 7:2 , Isaiah 7:5 , Isaiah 7:9 , Isaiah 7:17 ; Isaiah 9:21 ; Hosea 4:17 ; Hosea 5:7-14 ; Hosea 6:4-10 , etc.). Judah is my lawgiver (comp. Genesis 49:10 ; Numbers 21:17 ); i . e . "my ruling tribe"—the tribe to which I have committed the government of my people" (see 1 Samuel 16:1 ; 2 Samuel 2:4 ; 2 Samuel 5:1-3 ; Psalms 78:68 ).