Psalm 83:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,

NIV: Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,

NASB: Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, And all their leaders like Zebah and Zalmunna,

CSB: Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, and all their tribal leaders like Zebah and Zalmunna,

NLT: Let their mighty nobles die as Oreb and Zeeb did. Let all their princes die like Zebah and Zalmunna,

KJV: Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:

NKJV: Make their nobles like Oreb and like Zeeb, Yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,

Asaph prays that the Lord will bring doom to the leaders of conspiring enemy nations (Psalm 8:5–8). In earlier passages, he asked God to deliver the same fates suffered by the Midianites, the Canaanite king Jabin, and Jabin's military general Sisera (Psalm 83:9–10). Here, Asaph continues to make it clear that he wishes death and ruin on those who would destroy Israel (Psalm 83:1–4).

The men mentioned here were nobles from Midian during their oppression of Israel (Judges 6:1). Midian thought to conquer and control Israel's territory (Psalm 83:12). Yet, Gideon's forces routed the much-larger Midianite army (Judges 7:23–24). They captured and beheaded men described as "princes" of Midian: Oreb and Zeeb (Judges 7:25). Then Gideon's men captured "kings" of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, whom Gideon personally executed (Judges 8:12, 21). Oreb and Zeeb may have been sons of Zebah and Zalmunna. It's also possible they were not related, but merely two military leaders, while Zebah and Zalmunna were rulers.

References like these are why Psalm 83 is labelled "imprecatory:" calling directly for harm or disaster to come on someone else.

Psalm 83:9–18 comes after Asaph's plea: that God will stop the coalition of enemies attempting to destroy Israel. Here, Asaph directly asks the Lord to punish these opponents. He asks God to disgrace them, annihilate them, and make them acknowledge that the Lord alone is the Most High over all the earth. These requests place this song among the "imprecatory psalms."

Asaph prays for God to intervene in a conspiracy. Many nations cooperate to erase Israel and her legacy. He asks the Lord for protection, asking Him to repeat the harsh judgments brought on pagan nations in the past. Asaph extends this by asking God to bring destruction, ruin, and humiliation on these opponents. Despite this, Asaph recognizes that the proper goal is for these nations to recognize that God alone is Most High. This is one of several "imprecatory" psalms such as Psalm 5, 10, 17, 109, and 137, which request God to deliver severe harm on some enemy.

This is the last psalm identified with Asaph. It is one of the imprecatory psalms which call for harsh judgment from God. Other such psalms include 5, 10, 35, 109, and 137. The psalm is not explicitly connected to a historical event. It may refer to the attack on Jerusalem during the reign of Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20). Others see this as a general reference to the Gentile world's relentless attacks on Israel. Still others interpret this as a prophecy about a large-scale attack set to occur in the end times.

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.