What does Psalm 68:14 mean?
ESV: When the Almighty scatters kings there, let snow fall on Zalmon.
NIV: When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land, it was like snow fallen on Mount Zalmon.
NASB: When the Almighty scattered the kings there, It was snowing in Zalmon.
CSB: When the Almighty scattered kings in the land, it snowed on Zalmon.
NLT: The Almighty scattered the enemy kings like a blowing snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.
KJV: When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.
NKJV: When the Almighty scattered kings in it, It was white as snow in Zalmon.
Verse Commentary:
Verse Context:
Psalm 68:7–18 reflects on God's gracious, powerful victories on behalf of Israel. This includes their time in the wilderness as well as their early conquest of the Promised Land. At Sinai, the Lord had established a covenant with Israel. David later took the ark of the covenant to Mount Zion. This symbolized God's choice to "move" His presence to Jerusalem, in defiance of earthly enemies such as Og at Bashan (Numbers 21:33–35).
Chapter Summary:
Prior psalms (Psalm 66—67) explored the idea of the Lord God of Israel being worshipped by the entire world, including the Gentile nations. Psalm 68 includes that idea, as well as a celebration of God's prior victories on Israel's behalf. The song uses dramatic imagery to praise God's power and grandeur. Mount Zion—the location of Jerusalem—is where the Lord chooses for His seat of power. The entire world should honor this; one day, the whole earth will do just that.
Chapter Context:
This psalm commemorates God's ascension to Mount Zion, another reference to the city of Jerusalem. This celebrates past and future victories won by the power of the Lord. It may be a general reference to Israel's success, or to the conquests of king David. Alternatively, the song might celebrate when David moved the ark of the covenant into the city (2 Samuel 6). Or, when he captured the site from the Jebusites (2 Samuel 5). The psalm is "of David," which may mean it is written in his style, or about his experiences, rather than being one he personally wrote.
Book Summary:
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.
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