Psalm 60:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: God has spoken in his holiness: "With exultation I will divide up Shechem and portion out the Vale of Succoth.

NIV: God has spoken from his sanctuary: "In triumph I will parcel out Shechem and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.

NASB: God has spoken in His holiness: 'I will triumph, I will divide up Shechem, and measure out the Valley of Succoth.

CSB: God has spoken in his sanctuary: "I will celebrate! I will divide up Shechem. I will apportion the Valley of Succoth.

NLT: God has promised this by his holiness : 'I will divide up Shechem with joy. I will measure out the valley of Succoth.

KJV: God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.

NKJV: God has spoken in His holiness: “I will rejoice; I will divide Shechem And measure out the Valley of Succoth.

David wrote this psalm in response to a surprise invasion by the nation of Edom (Psalm 60:1–3), asking for the Lord's rescue (Psalm 60:4–5). Here, the psalm presents a declaration from God. The Lord will show His exalted status, as explained with references which are both literal and poetic.

The patriarch Jacob traveled to Succoth, where he built a house and shelters for his livestock (Genesis 33:17). He later camped near Shechem, where he bought property, settled his family, and built an altar (Genesis 33:18–20). Eventually, Shechem was an important city in Ephraim. Succoth lay east of Shechem, but both Shechem and Succoth were located west of the Jordan River. That God promised to dispense the lands of Shechem and Succoth was evidence of His ownership of both. He is promising to give Israel victory over her enemies; blessing awaited the nation beyond her battles.

The ultimate fulfillment of the promise to give Israel Shechem and Succoth belongs to the millennial reign of Christ, when He gives the Promised Land to the saved remnant of Israel.

Psalm 60:6–8 follows David's lament that the Lord had seemed to abandon His people. However, David believes God will provide a rallying point to which Israel can flee and escape the enemy. Now he delivers a message from God concerning lands He gave to the tribes of Israel. This is contrasted with the Lord's defeat of Israel's enemies.

David addresses God with great dismay. He describes the territory of Israel as abandoned by God, broken, and shattered by an enemy invasion. Yet David speaks in terms of God's actions and God's ultimate control. The Lord responds with His intent to save Israel and crush the enemy. David wonders how this will happen but expresses trust that God will keep His word. This psalm corresponds to the military actions of David recorded in 2 Samuel 8 and 1 Chronicles 18.

This psalm appears to have been written when David was battling the Arameans and Ammonites (2 Samuel 8:3; 1 Chronicles 18:3). While the army was engaged in the north, Edomites attacked Israel from the south and inflicted heavy damage. The psalm entreats God to cause Israel to triumph over the Edomites. Scripture records that the prayer was successful. David sent Abishai, accompanied by Joab and a contingent of soldiers, who routed the enemy (1 Chronicles 18:12; 2 Samuel 8:13).

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 12/18/2024 12:38:21 PM