Add parallel Print Page Options

14 The peoples heard and quaked;
    anguish gripped the dwellers in Philistia.
15 Then were the chieftains of Edom dismayed,
    the nobles of Moab seized by trembling;
All the inhabitants of Canaan melted away;
16     (A)terror and dread fell upon them.
By the might of your arm they became silent like stone,
    while your people, Lord, passed over,
    while the people whom you created passed over.[a]
17 You brought them in, you planted them
    on the mountain that is your own—
The place you made the base of your throne, Lord,
    the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 15:16 Passed over: an allusion to the crossing of the Jordan River (cf. Jos 3–5), written as if the entry into the promised land had already occurred. This verse suggests that at one time there was a ritual enactment of the conquest at a shrine near the Jordan River which included also a celebration of the victory at the sea.

18 Now Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because the Lord had come down upon it in fire. The smoke rose from it as though from a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled violently. 19 The blast of the shofar grew louder and louder, while Moses was speaking and God was answering him with thunder.

20 [a]When the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain, the Lord summoned Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 19:20–25 At this point the Priestly additions of vv. 12–13a are elaborated with further Priestly instructions, which include the priests’ sanctifying themselves apart from the people (v. 22) and Aaron accompanying Moses to the top of the mountain (v. 24).

36 And when it came to rest, he would say,

“Bring back, O Lord, the myriads of Israel’s troops!”

Read full chapter

[a](A)Lord, when you went out from Seir,
    when you marched from the plains of Edom,
The earth shook, the heavens poured,
    the clouds poured rain,
The mountains streamed,
    before the Lord, the One of Sinai,
    before the Lord, the God of Israel.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 5:4–5 The Lord himself marches to war in support of Israel. Storm and earthquake are part of the traditional imagery of theophany; cf. Ex 19:16, 18–20; Dt 33:2–3; Ps 18:7–15; 77:17–20; 144:5–7.

God gives a home to the forsaken,
    who leads prisoners out to prosperity,
    while rebels live in the desert.[a]

III

God, when you went forth before your people,(A)
    when you marched through the desert,
Selah

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 68:7 While rebels live in the desert: rebels must live in the arid desert, whereas God’s people will live in the well-watered land (Ps 68:8–11).

17 You rugged mountains, why look with envy
    at the mountain[a] where God has chosen to dwell,
    where the Lord resides forever?(A)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 68:17 The mountain: Mount Zion, the site of the Temple.

Who in the skies ranks with the Lord?
    Who is like the Lord among the sons of the gods?[a](A)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 89:7 The sons of the gods: “the holy ones” and “courtiers” of Ps 89:6, 8. These heavenly spirits are members of God’s court.

[a]God came from Teman,[b]
    the Holy One from Mount Paran.(A)
Selah

His glory covered the heavens,
    and his praise filled the earth;
    his splendor spread like the light.
He raised his horns high,(B)
    he rejoiced on the day of his strength.
Before him went pestilence,
    and plague[c] followed in his steps.
He stood and shook the earth;
    he looked and made the nations tremble.
Ancient mountains were shattered,
    the age-old hills bowed low,
    age-old orbits[d] collapsed.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 3:3–15 Cf. the theophanies in Dt 33:2–3; Jgs 5:4–5; Ps 18:8–16; 68:8–9; 77:17–21; 97:1–5; Na 1:3–6, etc. Conventional language is employed to describe the appearance of the Lord, as in Ex 19:16–19.
  2. 3:3 Teman: a region in Edom. Mount Paran: in the territory of Edom, or the northern part of the Sinai peninsula.
  3. 3:5 Pestilence…plague: these may be figures who are part of the heavenly armies God leads into battle.
  4. 3:6 Age-old orbits: the regular paths through the skies of heavenly bodies are disrupted at the appearance of the divine warrior, as are the ancient mountains on earth. Such cosmic disruption is typical of divine appearances (Ps 18:8; Na 1:5).