> [[psalm-59|← Previous]] | [[psalm-00|TOC]] | [[psalm-61|Next →]] --- # Psalm 60 ## Lament After Defeat in Battle 1 For the leader; according to “The Lily of.…” A *miktam* of David (for teaching), ^psalm-60-1 2 when he fought against Aram-Naharaim and Aram-Zobah; and Joab, coming back, killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. ^psalm-60-2 ### I 3 O God, you rejected us, broke our defenses; ^psalm-60-3 you were angry but now revive us. 4 You rocked the earth, split it open; ^psalm-60-4 repair the cracks for it totters. 5 You made your people go through hardship, ^psalm-60-5 made us stagger from the wine you gave us. a refuge for them out of bow shot. *Selah* 7 Help with your right hand and answer us ^psalm-60-7 that your loved ones may escape. ### II 8 In the sanctuary God promised: ^psalm-60-8 “I will exult, will apportion Shechem; the valley of Succoth I will measure out. 9 Gilead is mine, mine is Manasseh; ^psalm-60-9 Ephraim is the helmet for my head, Judah, my own scepter. 10 Moab is my washbowl; ^psalm-60-10 upon Edom I cast my sandal. I will triumph over Philistia.” ### III 11 Who will bring me to the fortified city? ^psalm-60-11 Who will lead me into Edom? 12 Was it not you who rejected us, God? ^psalm-60-12 Do you no longer march with our armies? 13 Give us aid against the foe; ^psalm-60-13 worthless is human help. 14 We will triumph with the help of God, ^psalm-60-14 who will trample down our foes. \* (Psalm 60) The community complains that God has let the enemy win the battle ([Ps 60:3] – [5]) and asks for an assurance of victory ([Ps 60:6] – [7]). In the oracle God affirms ownership of the land; the invasion of other nations is not permanent and will be reversed ultimately ([Ps 60:8] – [10]). With renewed confidence, the community resolves to fight again ([Ps 60:11]). The opening lament is picked up again ([Ps 60:12]), but this time with new awareness of God’s power and human limitation. \* (60:7] – [12) These verses occur again as the second half of [Ps 108]. \* (60:8) I will…apportion…measure out: God lays claim to these places. The valley of Succoth: probably the lower stretch of the Jabbok valley. \* (60:9) Judah, my own scepter: an allusion to the Testament of Jacob, [Gn 49:10]. \* (60:10) Moab is my washbowl: Moab borders the Dead Sea, hence a metaphor for the country. Upon Edom I cast my sandal: an ancient legal gesture of taking possession of land. \* (60:11) The fortified city: perhaps Bozrah, the fortified capital of Edom, cf. [Is 34:6]; [63:1]; [Am 1:12]. a. (60:2) [2 Sm 8:2], [3], [13]; [[1-chronicles-18|1 Chr 18]]:2, [3], [12]. b. (60:4) [Ps 75:4]; [[isaiah-24|Is 24]]:19. c. (60:5) [Ps 75:9]; [Is 51:17], [21] – [22]; [Jer 25:15]. d. (60:10) [Ru 4:7] – [8]. e. (60:12) [Ps 44:10]. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[psalm-59|← Previous]] | [[psalm-00|TOC]] | [[psalm-61|Next →]]