Psalms 83:1-8

Psalms 83:1-8

[1] [[A Song  or Psalm  of Asaph.]]  Keep not thou silence,  O God:  hold not thy peace,  and be not still,  O God.  [2] For, lo, thine enemies  make a tumult:  and they that hate  thee have lifted up  the head.  [3] They have taken crafty  counsel  against thy people,  and consulted  against thy hidden ones.  [4] They have said,  and let us cut them off  from being a nation;  that the name  of Israel  may be no more in remembrance.  [5] For they have consulted  together  with one consent:  they are  confederate  [6] The tabernacles  of Edom,  and the Ishmaelites;  of Moab,  and the Hagarenes;  [7] Gebal,  and Ammon,  and Amalek;  the Philistines  with the inhabitants  of Tyre;  [8] Assur  also is joined  with them: they have holpen  the children  of Lot.  Selah. 

What does Psalms 83:1-8 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The psalmist cried out to God to act for His people by expressing the alternatives negatively ( Psalm 83:1). He described how Israel"s enemies had conspired to oppose God by destroying His people. Asaph used a chiastic structure to connect God"s interests with those of His nation ( Psalm 83:2-5). He then listed Israel"s enemies ( Psalm 83:6-8). The Hagarites (Hagrites, NIV), or descendants of Hagar, were the Ishmaelites. Gebal is another name for Byblos, a strong town in Lebanon. Lot"s children were the Moabites and the Ammonites.