O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.
See introduction to Psalms 44:1-26, the sister psalm. Three strophes, four verses in each.
Psalms 60:1-12.-The covenant peoples affliction; the full healing of the breach anticipated, already healed in part (Psalms 60:1-4); confidence, grounded on God's Word assuring Israel of possession of Canaan and triumph over the pagan (Psalms 60:5-8); conquest of Edom, against which he was marching, anticipated, through God's help (Psalms 60:9-12).
Title. - Upon Shushan-eduth - i:e., 'upon the lily of testimony.' The lily expresses loveliness (note on Psalms 45:1-17, title). God's promise of Canaan to Israel (Psalms 60:6), is the lovely testimony of which assurance was already given in a partial deliverance (Psalms 60:4-5).
Michtan - `secret,' (cf. note on title, Psalms 16:1-11.)
To teach. It is a national psalm to be taught to the people (Deuteronomy 31:19). Psalms 44:1-26 was sung by the sons of Korah To teach. It is a national psalm to be taught to the people (Deuteronomy 31:19). Psalms 44:1-26 was sung by the sons of Korah in the midst of Edom's invasion of Israel during David's absence at the Euphrates. Our psalm was composed by David subsequently, when victory had been gained in part.
When he strove with Aram-naharaim - `when he had beaten down Aram (Syria) of the two floods' (Hengstenberg). So the Hebrew, Jeremiah 4:7. Compare the history, 2 Samuel 8:1-18; 2 Samuel 10:1-19; 1 Chronicles 18:1-17.
And with Aram-zobah - the Syrians of Zobah, the region between the Orontes and the Euphrates (2 Samuel 10:6; 2 Samuel 10:8) under King Hadadezer, or Hadarezer, who came to help his vassals, the Syrians (Aram) of Mesopotamia (the region between the Tigris and Euphrates) (2 Samuel 10:16; 2 Samuel 10:19).
When Joab returned. This he did not do until he had, at the head of the main army, fully conquered the Syrians; so that Hengstenberg's translation must be adopted, 'when he had beaten down' or 'laid waste Aram-naharaim and Aramzobah.' Psalms 60:4 alludes to this victory, and to that over Edom in the valley of Salt, as the token that the expedition for occupying Edom, in revenge for his invasion of Israel, would succeed.
And smote of Edom in the valley of Salt. Here also was the scene of Amaziah's victory over Edom long subsequently (2 Kings 14:7; 2 Chronicles 25:11-12) - the plain at the south end of the Dead Sea, where terminates the Ghor, or valley of the Jordan. The Khasm Usdum (a mount of rock-salt) is in its northwest corner. David as king, Joab as commander-in-chief, and Abishai, under Joab, smote Edom (cf. 2 Samuel 8:13; 2 Samuel 10:10, with 1 Chronicles 18:12).
Twelve thousand. Instead, we find 18,000 mentioned both in 2 Samuel 8:13 and 1 Chronicles 18:12. Yarchi and Kimchi explain by supposing that Abishai first slew 6,000, and afterward Joab 12,000, when he returned from smiting Syria.
O God, thou hast cast us off - (Psalms 43:2; Psalms 44:9).
Thou hast scattered us - literally, 'thou hast made a breach in us:' a Davidic phrase (2 Samuel 5:20; 2 Samuel 6:8; cf. Judges 21:15; Job 16:14). The reference here is to the losses sustained already in the war with the Syrians and especially through the invasion of Edom.
O turn thyself to us again - rather present, 'thou turnest to us again in compassion.' So the Septuagint, Vulgate, Ethiopic, and Arabic versions. As Psalms 60:2-3 expand the first part of the verse, as to the effects of God's displeasure, so Psalms 60:4 expands this clause concerning God's now returning to comfort His people; literally, 'thou causest (our former prosperity) to return to us.'