Psalms 60:3 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The wine of astonishment— i.e. "Thou hast so dispirited us, as if thou hadst given us a myrrhate drought." So Dr. Hammond interprets the wine of astonishment. See on Psalms 11:6 and Zechariah 12:2. Dr. Delaney is of opinion, that though it is contrary to the title of the present psalm, yet it was composed upon occasion of David's being crowned by all Israel at Hebron, and there sung, and with those variations which we find at the 108th psalm, after the taking of Jerusalem. This I am sure of, and this only I will venture to pronounce, that this golden memorial of David suits this occasion, and no other that I know of. It was written when the Israelites were dispersed, and driven out of their dwellings by their enemies. Thou hast scattered us, Psalms 60:1—When they were in terror, and divided amongst themselves: Thou hast made the earth to tremble, and divided it.—This was exactly the condition in which Israel was, from the death of Saul. The Israelite cities contiguous to the Philistines were deserted by their inhabitants after the battle of Gilboa; and soon after, the kingdom was divided under David and Ishbosheth. David now beseeches God to heal the divisions of his people: Heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh: and that was done when they all joined to make David their king at Hebron. God had now given them a centre of union, to which they might resort, as the forces of a broken army to their standard. Thou hast given a banner, &c. Psalms 60:4. David was the only centre of union that people ever had; and God now made him their captain and ruler, to manifest the truth of those promises long since made to him. David here sings in the rapture of a man who had just recovered his right, Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine.—Gilead and Manasseh were just before in the possession of Ishbosheth: no king of Israel but David was ever dispossessed of them and recovered them again. Life of David, book 2: chap. 5.