Psalms 60 - Introduction

A.M. 2964. B.C. 1040.

This Psalm is supposed to have been written by David, after the tribes of Israel had submitted to his sceptre, and he was settled in the throne, upon occasion of an illustrious victory, with which God had blessed his forces, over the Syrians and Edomites. See 2 Samuel chap. 5. and 8. He was then in the zenith of his prosperity, and the affairs of his kingdom seem to have been in a better state than ever they were either before or after. He describes what Israel had lately suffered from foreign enemies and domestic feuds, while God had been contending with them, Psalms 60:1. Notices the happy turn God had given to their affairs, and prays for deliverance from all their enemies, Psalms 60:4; Psalms 60:5. Triumphs in hope of being victorious over them all, and of subduing and adding to his empire Edom, Moab, and Philistia. 6-8. In order to which he prays for the divine aid, and declares that his trust was in the mighty power of God, and not in the arm of flesh, Psalms 60:9.

Title. Upon Shushan-eduth This seems to have been the name of a musical instrument, hymn, or tune, then well known, but now quite unknown. Dr. Waterland and Houbigant render the words, Upon the hexachord of the testimony. Others render them, Upon the lily of the testimony, or oracle: but why it was so called is a matter of mere conjecture, and of small importance to us. Michtam of David, to teach Namely, in an eminent manner; or, for the special instruction of God's church and people, in some points of great moment; as concerning the grievous calamities to which God's church and people were obnoxious, (Psalms 60:1,) and the certainty of God's promises, and of their deliverance out of them, upon condition of their faith and obedience. Which doctrines were of great moment, especially to the Israelites, who were, and were likely to be, exercised in the same manner, and with the same variety and vicissitudes of condition, under which their ancestors had been. When he strove with Aram-naharaim That is, Syria of the rivers; or, that part of it which is called Mesopotamia, as lying between the two rivers Tigris and Euphrates. The Syrians, both here and in other places, were called Aram, because they were the descendants of Aram, the son of Shem, Genesis 10:22. Aram-zobah is that part of Syria which was called Zobah, 2 Samuel 8:5. As David's victory over Idumea was different from that over the Syrians, the next clause should be rendered literally, And Joab returned, &c. This conquest of Joab's is to be looked upon as distinct from that of Abishai, mentioned 2 Samuel 8:13; 1 Chronicles 18:12. After Abishai had slain eighteen thousand of the Idumeans, Joab fell upon them again; and, as the title of this Psalm particularly informs us, smote in the same place twelve thousand more, and afterward destroyed them entirely. See 1 Kings 11:15. The valley of Salt is in Idumea, near the Dead sea.