Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 108:10
Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?
10. into the strong city ] Into the fortified city, a different word from that in Psa 60:9, though with similar meaning. Probably Sela or Petra, the capital of Edom, famous for its inaccessibility (Oba 1:3), was meant in the original Psalm.
who will lead me into Edom?] The verb is in the perfect tense, and the R.V. renders, Who hath led me into Edom? But such a reference to some previous successful invasion does not suit the context. The Ancient Versions all render by the future, and the perfect is sometimes used in questions in Hebrew to express difficulty or hopelessness. ‘Who,’ it implies, ‘could lead me right into (the preposition is emphatic) Edom? The obstacles are apparently insuperable.’ See Driver, Tenses, 19.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Who will bring me … – This is taken, without alteration, from Psa 60:9.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 10. The strong city] The possession of the metropolis is a sure proof of the subjugation of the country.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
This he repeats in this place, either because, though the enemies were defeated and subdued, yet there was some strong city or cities which were not yet taken; or in way of thankful commemoration of Gods goodness in answering his former requests, as if he had said, I remember this day, to thy glory and my own comfort, my former straits and dangers, which made mile cry out, Who will bring me, &c.?
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
[See comments on Ps 60:9].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psa 108:10-13
10Who will bring me into the besieged city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
11Have not You Yourself, O God, rejected us?
And will You not go forth with our armies, O God?
12Oh give us help against the adversary,
For deliverance by man is in vain.
13Through God we will do valiantly,
And it is He who shall tread down our adversaries.
Psa 108:10-13 Because YHWH is the owner and controller of the Promised Land (i.e., Canaan), surely He will not allow His people to be defeated and displaced!
Psa 108:10 the besieged city The MT has fortified city (BDB 747 construct BDB 131). This may refer to the city of Bozrah because Edom is mentioned in the next line of poetry. Bozrah (BDB 131 II) is from the same Hebrew root as city or fortification (BDB 131, see IVP Bible Background Commentary, p. 551).
Psa 108:11 The covenant people were defeated in battle (cf. Psa 44:9) because YHWH did not accompany them. The ark was carried into battle as a symbol of YHWH’s personal presence with the soldiers. But if His people had proved unfaithful to the covenant, He would not give them the victory.
Psa 108:12 This is an acknowledgment that Israel’s only hope is YHWH. Their military might and battle strategies cannot bring victory, only YHWH can!
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought provoking, not definitive.
1. Who are the two speakers in this Psalm?
2. What other Psalms does this one draw from?
3. What is Psa 108:7-9 trying to communicate?
4. What major truths are expressed in Psa 108:11-12?
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
who will lead: Psa 20:6-8, Psa 60:1, *title Isa 63:1-6, Jer 49:7-16, Oba 1:3, Oba 1:4
Reciprocal: 2Sa 8:14 – all they 1Ki 11:15 – when David 1Ki 22:47 – no king 2Ki 3:4 – rendered Psa 60:8 – triumph
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
OPENED CITY GATES
Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?
Psa 108:10
I. The strong city built on the rock, even mans hardened heart, stronger and more stony than the tomb, He has conquered and overcome; and in Him and His might are His people to carry on His warfare, casting down all the strongholds of human pride and stubbornness and unrepentance.
II. There is another application of these words which should not be overlooked.According to Jewish tradition, Edom typifies Rome. Rome means strength, and as the great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth, it is regarded by many as having been the most formidable antagonist to Gods Word and Gods people. Even to-day, the strong city of Romanism is the chief opponent of the Gospel on the Continent of Europe, and the soul zealous for the spread of Gods truth has still to cry, Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom? and to add, if entrance for the Gospel is to be obtained, Vain is the help of man. Through God we shall do valiantly.
Illustrations
(1) We cannot find it in our heart to dismiss this psalm (as most of the commentators have done) by merely referring the reader first to Psa 57:7-11, and then to Psa 60:5-12, though it will be at once seen that these two portions of Scripture are almost identical with the verses before us. The Holy Spirit is not so short of expressions that He needs to repeat Himself. There must be some intention in the arrangement of two former Divine utterances in a new connection.
(2) Let it be noted how over against Gods strong city stands another strong city in the 108th psalm, and how in the later strains of prophecy down to the Apocalypse, the destruction of a strong city is one great theme of joy.