Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 83:7
Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
7. the Philistines ] Lit. Philistia. In Amo 1:6 ff., Amo 1:9 ff., Philistia and Tyre are censured for surrendering Israelite captives to Edom, which in its turn ( Psa 83:11) is condemned for unbrotherly hostility to Israel.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Gebal – The Gebal here referred to was probably the same as Gebalene, the mountainous tract inhabited by the Edomites, extending from the Dead Sea southward toward Petra, and still called by the Arabs Djebal. (Gesenius, Lexicon) The word means mountain. Those who are here referred to were a part of the people of Edom.
And Ammon – The word Ammon means son of my people. Ammon was the son of Lot by his youngest daughter, Gen 19:38. The Ammonites, descended from him, dwelt beyond the Jordan in the tract of country between the streams of Jabbok and Arnon. These also would be naturally associated in such a confederacy. 1Sa 11:1-11.
And Amalek – The Amalekites were a very ancient people: In the traditions of the Arabians they are reckoned among the aboriginal inhabitants of that country. They inhabited the regions on the south of Palestine, between Idumea and Egypt. Compare Exo 17:8-16; Num 13:29; 1Sa 15:7. They also extended eastward of the Dead Sea and Mount Seir Num 24:20; Jdg 3:13; Jdg 6:3, Jdg 6:33; and they appear also to have settled down in Palestine itself, whence the name the Mount of the Amalekites, in the territory of Ephraim, Jdg 12:15.
The Philistines – Often mentioned in the Scriptures. They were the ancient inhabitants of Palestine, whence the name Philistia or Palestine. The word is supposed to mean the land of sojourners or strangers; hence, in the Septuagint they are uniformly called allophuloi, those of another tribe, strangers, and their country is called ge allophulon. They were constant enemies of the Hebrews, and it was natural that they should be engaged in such an alliance as this.
With the inhabitants of Tyre – On the situation of Tyre, see the Introduction to Isa. 23. Why Tyre should unite in this confederacy is not known. The purpose seems to have been to combine as many nations as possible against the Hebrew people, and – as far as it could be done – all those that were adjacent to it, so that it might be surrounded by enemies, and so that its destruction might be certain. It would not probably be difficult to find some pretext for inducing any of the kings of the surrounding nations to unite in such an unholy alliance. Kings, in general, have not been unwilling to form alliances against liberty.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 7. Gebal] The Giblites, who were probably the persons here designed, were a tribe of the ancient inhabitants of the land of Canaan, and are mentioned as unconquered at the death of Joshua, Jos 13:5. They are called stone-squarers or Giblites, 1Kg 5:18, and were of considerable assistance to Hiram king of Tyre, in preparing timber and stones for the building of the temple. They appear to have been eminent in the days of Ezekiel, who terms them the “ancients of Gebal, and the wise men-thereof,” who were ship-builders, Eze 27:3. What is now called Gibyle, a place on the Mediterranean Sea, between Tripoli and Sidon, is supposed to be the remains of the city of the Giblites.
Ammon and Moab were then descendants of the children of Lot. Their bad origin is sufficiently known. See Ge 19:30, c. Calmet supposes that Ammon is put here for Men or Maon, the Meonians, a people who lived in the neighbourhood of the Amalekites and Idumeans. See the notes on 2Ch 20:1; 2Ch 26:7.
Amalek] The Amalekites are well known as the ancient and inveterate enemies of the Israelites. They were neighbours to the Idumeans.
The Philistines] These were tributaries to Jehoshaphat, 2Ch 17:11; but it seems they took advantage of the present times, to join in the great confederacy against him.
The inhabitants of Tyre] These probably joined the confederacy in hopes of making conquests, and extending their territory on the main land.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Gebal; either,
1. The Giblites or Gebalites, dwelling near Zidon, of whom 1Ki 5:18; Eze 27:9. Or,
2. An Arabian people, so called by ancient writers, dwelling in the southern border of Canaan, where most of the people here mentioned had their abode. Yet some of these were in the northern parts, and not far from the other Gebal, as some of the Philistines and the Tyrians.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Gebal,…. Gubleans, or Gebalites, as the Targum; the same with Giblites, Jos 23:5, or men of Gebal, Eze 27:9 the same with Byblus: these dwelt in Phoenicia, near Tyre, where Pliny g makes mention of a place called Gabale: the Syriac version joins it with Ammon, and renders it “the border of Ammon”:
and Ammon and Amalek, the Philistines, with the inhabitants of Tyre; these are well known in Scripture, and as the enemies of Israel.
g Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 20.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(7) Gebal.If this is a noun, as generally supposed, and as printed in the text, we must take it as a synonym of Edom (the Gebalene of Eusebius). The Gebal of Eze. 27:9 is not to be thought of; but it is most likely a verb:
Both Ammon and Amalek are joined together,
The Philistines (are joined) with the men of Tyre.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. Gebal Not the one mentioned, Eze 27:9, which was an important city of Phoenicia, the people of which are called “Giblites,” (Jos 13:5, translated “stone squarers,” 1Ki 5:18,) for these would probably be included under Tyre, being one of its cities or dependencies, mentioned in this same verse. But the name here seems rather to apply to the mountainous district lying south of the Dead Sea on the east of the Ghor, and north of the territory of Edom proper, known anciently as Gebalene, and now by the name Jebel, that is, mountain. It was settled, according to Josephus, by the sons of Eliphaz, son of Esau.
Ammon Brother of Moab. Gen 19:37-38. They dwelt east of Gilead and northeast of Moab.
Amalek A nomadic people of uncertain but ancient origin, (Gen 14:7,) roaming between the mountains of Edom on the east, and Egypt on the west, in the peninsula of Mount Sinai. Exo 17:8; Deu 25:17-18; 1Sa 15:7. Philistines A powerful people on the west of Judah, the persistent enemies of Israel, descended from Mizraim. Gen 10:13-14.
Tyre The commercial metropolis of the world, and the chief city of Phoenicia, on the northwest coast of Palestine. The old friendship between this city and the Hebrews, in the days of David and Solomon, was now forgotten, probably chiefly through the influence of the Phoenician princess, Jezebel. 1Ki 16:31
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 83:7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
Ver. 7. Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek ] Sic enarrat et enumerat inimicos decem conglobatos, Eze 27:9 . Answerable whereunto were the ten kings of Christendom, who gave their power to the beast. Gebal might be the inhabitants of Gabel, a city of Phoenicia, saith Stephanus; or of Syria, saith Strabo, which Volateran saith was called Gibel in his time, but anciently Biblus. See Jos 13:5 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gebal: Jos 13:5, Eze 27:9
Reciprocal: Gen 16:10 – I will Exo 17:8 – General Num 13:29 – Amalekites Deu 25:19 – thou shalt Jdg 3:13 – the city 1Ki 5:18 – the stonesquarers 1Ch 18:11 – Amalek Neh 13:1 – Moabite Jer 49:1 – Ammonites Eze 25:15 – dealt Eze 26:2 – Tyrus Amo 1:13 – and for