Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 108:7
God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
7. in his holiness ] Or, by his holiness, for ‘spoken’ is the equivalent of ‘promised’ or ‘sworn.’ Cp. Psa 89:35; Amo 4:2. God’s ‘holiness’ includes His whole essential nature in its moral aspect, and that nature makes it impossible for Him to break His promise (Num 23:19; Tit 1:2). It is equivalent to ‘Himself’ (Amo 6:8; Heb 6:13; Heb 6:17-18). In his sanctuary (cp. Psa 63:2) is a possible but less probable rendering.
I will rejoice ] Better as R.V., I will exult. God is the speaker. The language is bold, but not bolder than that of Isa 63:1 ff. God is represented as a victorious warrior, conquering the land, and portioning it out to His people. He makes Ephraim the chief defence of His kingdom, and Judah the seat of government, while surrounding nations are treated as vassals. It is possible that the original Psalmist was quoting some actual oracle, but more probably he was reproducing freely in poetical form the drift of the great promise to David (2Sa 7:9-10). Cp. Psa 2:7; Psa 89:19. Though the words in their full meaning could no longer be applicable to the community of the Restoration, they would serve as an assurance of God’s purpose to establish them once more securely in His own land.
Shechem the valley of Succoth ] Shechem, as a central place of importance, represents the territory west of the Jordan; Succoth, ‘in the vale’ (Jos 13:27), somewhere to the south of the Jabbok, between Peniel and the Jordan, represents the territory east of the Jordan. These two places in particular may be named, because of their connexion with the history of Jacob, who halted first at Succoth and then at Shechem, when he returned to Canaan (Gen 33:17-18). God will fulfil His promise to Jacob, apportioning to His people the land in which their great ancestor settled.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
God hath spoken … – This is taken, without change, from Psa 60:6. See the notes at that place.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 7. God hath spoken in his holiness] bekodsho; some think this means in his Holy One, referring to the Prophet Jeremiah, who predicted the captivity, its duration of seventy years, and the deliverance from it.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
[See comments on Ps 60:6].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psa 108:7-9
7God has spoken in His holiness:
I will exult, I will portion out Shechem
And measure out the valley of Succoth.
8Gilead is Mine, Manasseh is Mine;
Ephraim also is the helmet of My head;
Judah is My scepter.
9Moab is My washbowl;
Over Edom I shall throw My shoe;
Over Philistia I will shout aloud.
Psa 108:7-9 YHWH is speaking (several cohortatives) from His temple (lit. sanctuary) about His ownership of Canaan. This strophe is from Psa 60:6-8. Some of the strophes became slogans, catchphrases, or liturgy.
Psa 108:8 Judah is My scepter This is an allusion to Jacob’s blessing of his children in Genesis 49, especially Gen 49:10. This is also mentioned in Num 24:17 (cf. Psa 60:7).
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
spoken in: or sworn by.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
spoken: Psa 89:35, Psa 89:36, Amo 4:2
I will rejoice: Psa 16:9-11, 2Sa 7:20-29, 1Pe 1:3, 1Pe 1:8, 2Pe 1:3, 2Pe 1:4
Shechem: Jos 17:7, Jos 20:7, Jos 24:1
the valley: Gen 33:17, Jdg 8:5, Jdg 8:6
Reciprocal: Psa 60:6 – God Psa 119:74 – I have
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
108:7 God hath spoken in his {e} holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
(e) As he has spoken to Samuel concerning me, so will he show himself constant and holy in his promise, so that these nations following will be subject to me.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
2. A confident prayer request 108:7-13
The psalmist cited God’s promise to subdue the nations around Israel (Psa 108:7-9). Then he expressed his confidence that victory was possible if God would grant it, but impossible if He would not. David was relying on Israel’s Warrior, not his army, to defeat the enemy. He realized and confessed that if victory depended on the sinful people, they would fall in defeat.
This is a great expression of dependence on God and trust in Him for the deliverance He promised. We who are God’s people should face our spiritual enemies with the same humility and confidence.