Psalms 48
Psalms 48
A SONG AND PSALM FOR THE SONS OF KORAH
(Commentary from Yair Davidy of Brit-Am Israel)
We should remember that the THE SONS OF KORAH were Levites
descended from Korah who had rebelled against Moses and been
swallowed alive by the earth opening up beneath him (Numbers
chapter 16). The descendants of Korah were Levites who
participated in the Temple Service and must have formed a kind
of choir of their own since quite a few Psalms were composed for
them.
Apparently they did not go in the way of their famous ancestor
but followed the path of the Torah and of Moses. This shows that
even if some of us have questionable beginnings we can still
make a name for ourselves amongst the righteous. This present
Psalm traditionally was sung every Second Day (Monday) of the
week during the Temple Service.
[Psalms 48:1] GREAT IS THE LORD, AND GREATLY TO BE PRAISED
IN THE CITY OF OUR GOD, IN THE MOUNTAIN OF HIS HOLINESS.
Jerusalem is the City of the God of Israel. It is our city. We
should never forget this.
[Psalms 48:2] BEAUTIFUL FOR SITUATION, THE JOY OF THE WHOLE
EARTH, IS MOUNT ZION, ON THE SIDES OF THE NORTH, THE CITY OF THE
GREAT KING.
[Psalms 48:3] GOD IS KNOWN IN HER PALACES FOR A REFUGE.
[Psalms 48:4] FOR, LO, THE KINGS WERE ASSEMBLED, THEY PASSED
BY TOGETHER.
The Mairi (1249-1306) says this refers to the future war of Gog
and Magog when the heathen will assemble together to war against
Jerusalem.
[Psalms 48:5] THEY SAW IT, AND SO THEY MARVELLED; THEY WERE
TROUBLED, AND HASTED AWAY.
The Mairi points to Ezekiel 38:22 where a similar situation is
described "AND I WILL PLEAD AGAINST HIM WITH PESTILENCE AND WITH
BLOOD; AND I WILL RAIN UPON HIM, AND UPON HIS BANDS, AND UPON
THE MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE WITH HIM, AN OVERFLOWING RAIN, AND
GREAT HAILSTONES, FIRE, AND BRIMSTONE" [Ezekiel 38:22].
[Psalms 48:6] FEAR TOOK HOLD UPON THEM THERE, AND PAIN, AS
OF A WOMAN IN TRAVAIL.
[Psalms 48:7] THOU BREAKEST THE SHIPS OF TARSHISH WITH AN
EAST WIND.
An east wind blows from east to west, i.e. the Ships of Tarshish
must have been to the west. Traditionally Tarshish nis
identified with Tartessos near Gibraltar in Spain. Concerning
the identity of Tarshish see our article:
Answer
to Queries About Tarshish
Perhaps here the verse is referring the defeat of the Spanish
Armada which attempted an invasion of England in 1588 but was
beaten by storms and English seamanship? Most of the damage to
the Spanish was in effect due to storms.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/state/monarchs_leade
rs/adams_armada_01.shtml
http://www.newa
dvent.org/cathen/01727c.htm
Malibim (48:4[5]) The [heathen] kings were assembled to go to
conquer Jerusalem. THEY PASSED BY TOGETHER in ships upon the Sea
of TARSHISH [usually identified with the Atlantic Ocean] however
they experienced Divine Providence with their own eyes (48:6)
FEAR TOOK HOLD UPON THEM THERE and they attempted to flee AND
PAIN, AS OF A WOMAN IN TRAVAIL. And what had they seen? The
breaking of (48:7) THE SHIPS OF TARSHISH WITH AN EAST WIND. The
Malbim attributes the events described in the Psalm to an
earthquake and a real live experience of something that happened
in the past. Most Commentators however believe the Psalm is
basically referring to future events and we too agree with this.
Rashi on this verse appears to identify Tarshish ("Tarsis" in
Aramaic) with Carthage on the North African Coast who were
colonists of Tyre and pertained according to Rashi to Edom. The
Carthaginians also settled in Spain and conquered and replaced
the city of Tartessos which more usually is identified with
Tarshish.
[Psalms 48:8] AS WE HAVE HEARD, SO HAVE WE SEEN IN THE CITY
OF THE LORD OF HOSTS, IN THE CITY OF OUR GOD: GOD WILL ESTABLISH
IT FOR EVER. SELAH.
[Psalms 48:9] WE HAVE THOUGHT OF THY LOVINGKINDNESS, O GOD,
IN THE MIDST OF THY TEMPLE.
[Psalms 48:10] ACCORDING TO THY NAME, O GOD, SO IS THY
PRAISE UNTO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH: THY RIGHT HAND IS FULL OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS.
[Psalms 48:11] LET MOUNT ZION REJOICE, LET THE DAUGHTERS OF
JUDAH BE GLAD, BECAUSE OF THY JUDGMENTS.
[Psalms 48:12] WALK ABOUT ZION, AND GO ROUND ABOUT HER: TELL
THE TOWERS THEREOF.
[Psalms 48:13] MARK YE WELL HER BULWARKS, CONSIDER HER
PALACES; THAT YE MAY TELL IT TO THE GENERATION FOLLOWING.
[Psalms 48:14] FOR THIS GOD IS OUR GOD FOR EVER AND EVER: HE
WILL BE OUR GUIDE EVEN UNTO DEATH.
God will guide us all our lives.