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New American Bible

2002 11 11
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Chapter 60

1

1 For the leader; according to "The Lily of...." A miktam of David (for teaching),

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when he fought against Aram-Naharaim and Aram-Zobah; and Joab, coming back, killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

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O God, you rejected us, broke our defenses; you were angry but now revive us.

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You rocked the earth, split it open; repair the cracks for it totters.

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You made your people go through hardship, made us stagger from the wine you gave us.

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Raise up a flag for those who revere you, a refuge for them out of bow shot. Selah

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2 Help with your right hand and answer us that your loved ones may escape.

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3 In the sanctuary God promised: "I will exult, will apportion Shechem; the valley of Succoth I will measure out.

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4 Gilead is mine, mine is Manasseh; Ephraim is the helmet for my head, Judah, my own scepter.

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5 Moab is my washbowl; upon Edom I cast my sandal. I will triumph over Philistia."

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6 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me into Edom?

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Was it not you who rejected us, God? Do you no longer march with our armies?

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Give us aid against the foe; worthless is human help.

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We will triumph with the help of God, who will trample down our foes.

 

 



1 [Psalm 60] The community complains that God has let the enemy win the battle (⇒ Psalm 60:3-5) and asks for an assurance of victory (⇒ Psalm 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 (⇒ Psalm 60:8-10). With renewed confidence, the community resolves to fight again (⇒ Psalm 60:11). The opening lament is picked up again (⇒ Psalm 60:12), but this time with new awareness of God's power and human limitation.



2 [7-12] These verses occur again as the second half of Psalm 108.



3 [8] I will apportion . . . measure out: God lays claim to these places. The valley of Succoth: probably the lower stretch of the Jabbok valley.



4 [9] Judah, my own scepter: an allusion to the Testament of Jacob, ⇒ Genesis 49:10.



5 [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.



6 [11] The fortified city: perhaps Bozrah, the fortified capital of Edom. Cf ⇒ Isaiah 34:6; ⇒ 63:1; ⇒ Amos 1:12.





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