Psalms 68:11 - Exposition

The Lord gave the word. The reader naturally asks—What word? Commentators answer variously: "the watchword" (Cheyne); "promise of victory" (Kay); "the word of command" (Dean Johnson); "announcement of an actual victory gained" (Hengstenberg). I should rather understand a sort of creative word, initiating the period of strife (comp. Shakespeare's "Cry havock, and let slip the dogs of war!"). Great was the company of those that published it; literally, great was the company of the women that heralded it . The reference is to the female choirs which took a prominent part in the war songs of ancient days (see Exodus 15:20 , Exodus 15:21 ; 5:1 ; 1 Samuel 18:6 , 1 Samuel 18:7 ).