Psalms 68:13

An extremely difficult verse. It has been suggested that the second and third lines, like the first, are derived from some ancient poem now lost, and that to readers who could recognise the allusion they would be intelligible, though to us they are obscure. The A.V., which appears to contrast the squalid misery of Israel in Egypt with the brilliant prosperity of their new home in Canaan, must be abandoned, and two considerations must govern the interpretation of the verse.

(1) The first line clearly alludes to Judges 5:16 (cp. Genesis 49:14, R.V.), where Deborah upbraids Reuben for cowardice and irresolution, and for preferring the ignoble ease of pastoral life to the glorious dangers of the war of independence:

"Why satest thou among the sheepfolds,

To hear the pipings for the flocks?"

Lieis here substituted for sitto emphasise the idea of slothful inactivity.

(2) The second and third lines describe under the image of a dove basking in the sunshine an idyllic condition of peace and prosperity. The idea that the dove represents the enemy fleeing in all his gorgeous, splendour, depicted thus as an inducement to Israel to pursue and win rich spoil, may safely be set aside. The point of comparison is the beauty of the dove's plumage, not the swiftness of its flight.

Three explanations deserve to be taken account of.

(1) Will ye lie among the sheepfolds,

(As) the wings of a dove covered with silver.

And her pinions with yellow gold? (R.V.).

The whole verse, like Judges 5:16, will then be a reproof of the recreant Israelites who preferred the ignoble ease of their pastoral life to the hardships and dangers of the battlefield. But such a reproof is hardly in place here, nor does this explanation give its full natural meaning to the simile.

(2) More probableis the rendering of R.V. marg.:

When ye lie among the sheepfolds,

(It is as) the wings of a dove … gold.

which regards the verse as a description of the peace and prosperity which await Israel after the victories described in Psalms 68:12. "Everything will gleam and glitter with silver and gold. Israel is God's turtle-dove (Psalms 74:19), and accordingly the new prosperity is compared to the play of colour on the wings of a dove basking in the sunshine." (Delitzsch). This interpretation however fails to take account of the allusion in line I to Judges 5:16.

(3) It seems preferable to render thus:

Though ye may lie among the sheepfolds,

The dove's wings are covered with silver,

And her pinions with yellow gold.

Though some Israelites may fail in their duty and prefer slothful ease to fighting the battles of Jehovah, yet Israel once more enjoys the blessings of peace and prosperity. In spite of man's backwardness God gives blessing. This explanation takes account of the allusion to Judges, and gives its proper meaning to the simile. It agrees better with the general purport of the Ps., which dwells upon God's victories on behalf of His people. It may moreover (if the Psalm dates from the closing years of the Exile) be intended to convey a tacit reproof to those Israelites who were in danger of preferring selfish ease in Babylon to the patriotic effort of the Return. It warns them that God's purpose for His people would be accomplished, even if they held back from taking part in it.