They have taken crafty counsel - The one word translated “have taken crafty” - ערם ‛âram - means properly to make naked; and then, to be crafty, cunning, malignant, 1 Samuel 23:22. It is well rendered here, they have taken crafty counsel. The meaning is, they have made their counsel or their consultations crafty, cunning, artful, malignant. Instead of pursuing a course in their deliberations that would be just, true, honorable, they have followed the reverse. On the word rendered “counsel” - סוד sôd - which means a couch or cushion, and hence, a divan - see Job 15:8, note; Psalms 25:14, note; Psalms 64:2, note. The idea here is, that the persons referred to in the subsequent part of the psalm (Psalms 83:6-8) had been assembled in a divan, or for consultation, and that they had there formed a malignant plan - against God and his people - which they were now proceeding to execute.
Against thy people - For the purpose of destroying them.
And consulted against thy hidden ones - The word rendered “hidden ones” - from the verb צפן tsâphan, to hide, to conceal - properly denotes that which is secret, private, inaccessible Ezekiel 7:22; and then, anything protected or hidden so as to be secure. Compare the notes at Psalms 27:5. It would seem here to refer to those who were so protected by Yahweh - so inaccessible to others by reason of his guardian care - that they would be safe.