Psalms 48:7

With an east wind

Thou shatterest ships of Tarshish.

As he gazes upon the wreck of the Assyrian enterprise, the poet apostrophises God with mingled awe and thankfulness. The language is plainly metaphorical. God's might is irresistible. He shatters the stately ships of Tarshish with a sudden storm: with equal ease He annihilates the vast Assyrian army. Cp. Isaiah 14:24-27, noting the phrase, "I will breakthe Assyrian in my land." For the metaphor comp. Ezekiel 27:26, where the fall of Tyre is described as a wreck; and Isaiah 33:23, where Jerusalem in her extremity (or, according to some commentators, the Assyrian power) is represented as a disabled ship.

The east wind, notorious for its destructiveness, is often employed as a symbol of judgement (Job 27:21; Isaiah 27:8; Jeremiah 18:17); and ships of Tarshish, the largest vessels, such as were employed for the voyage to Tartessus in the S.W. of Spain (cp. -East Indiamen") were emblems of all that was strong and stately (Isaiah 2:16). The alternative rendering of R.V. marg., -As with the east wind that breaketh the ships of Tarshish," is grammatically possible, but less suitable.