I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon— Shall I celebrate Egypt and Babylon to them that know me? Behold, O Phistia, Tyre, and Cush, such a man was born there.—"Is this his honour, shall I mention this as his privilege, that he was born in one or other of those celebrated cities and countries? No; But of Sion it shall be said, this or the other person was born in her. To be a citizen of any other place, is an honour nothing comparable to that of being a citizen of Sion." Thus Buchanan seems to have understood the words in his elegant version:
Tecumne Babylon se audeat componere?
Tecumne Memphis insolens? Praeclara quamvis et Palaestina et Tyros Jactet virorum Robora: Nihil ad Sionem fortibus foetam viris, Favore tutam Numinis.
R. S. Jarchi also expounds the words much in the same manner. "The Philistines, &c. extol Egypt and Babylon, nations celebrated for antiquity, learning, and arts, when they say, Such a man was born there. But that praise which formerly belonged to them shall now return to Sion; of which it shall with much more justice be said to his honour, This or the other person was born there." The privileges of being citizens of Sion were unspeakably greater than what the inhabitants of any other city in the world were entitled to; as the city had God for its founder, as the ark of his presence dwelt in it, as the solemnities of his worship were with great magnificence performed there, as it was governed by his laws, and as it was under his immediate and constant protection. In these things no other city could compare or vie with it.