Verse 2

Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.

Tremble — A poetical expression, signifying great changes among the people.

Verse 3

Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.

To drink — Thou hast filled us with no less honor, than men intoxicated with strong drink.

Verse 4

Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. /*Selah*/.

A banner — Which is a sign and instrument, 1. Of union. This people who were lately divided, thou hast united under one banner, under my government: 2. Of battle. Thou hast given us an army, and power to oppose our enemies; which blessing God gave to Israel, for the sake of those few sincere Israelites who were among them.

The truth — Not for any merit of ours, but to shew thy faithfulness in making good thy promises.

Verse 5

That thy beloved may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear me.

Beloved — Thy beloved people.

Verse 6

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

Rejoice — Therefore I will turn my prayers into praises, for what God has already done.

Divide — Which supposeth possession and dominion.

Shechem — A place within Jordan, in mount Ephraim.

Succoth — A place without Jordan. He mentions Shechem, and Succoth; for all the land of Canaan, within and without Jordan.

Verse 7

Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;

Gilead — All the land beyond Jordan, which was possessed by Reuben and Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh.

Manasseh — The other half of that tribe within Jordan.

The strength — A chief part of my strength, either to offend mine enemies, or to defend myself. For this tribe was very numerous, and valiant and rich.

Law-giver — The chief seat of my throne and kingdom, and of the inferior throne of judgment, Psalm 122:5.

Verse 8

Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me.

Wash-pot — In which I shall wash my feet. I shall bring them into the lowest degree of servitude.

Shoe — I will use them like slaves; a proverbial expression.

Triumph — It is an ironical expression, signifying that her triumphs were come to an end.

Verse 9

Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?

Who — None can do it but God.

City — The cities; the singular number for the plural. Having beaten his enemies out of the field, he desires God's assistance to take their strong-holds, and so secure himself from farther attempts.

Edom — Which was an high and rocky country, Obadiah 1-3, fortified by nature, as well as by art, and therefore not to be subdued without a Divine hand.

Verse 10

Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off? and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies?

Hadst cut off — But now hast graciously returned to us.