Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 48:11
Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.
11. The R.V. assimilates the rendering to that of Psa 97:8, where the same words recur:
Let mount Zion be glad,
Let the daughters of Judah rejoice.
The daughters of Judah are not the maidens of Judah, though the fact that women were wont to celebrate victories with dance and song may have suggested the use of the expression, but the cities of Judah, which had been captured by Sennacherib (Isa 36:1), and therefore had special cause for rejoicing at his overthrow. Country towns are regarded as ‘daughters’ of the metropolis. Cp. Num 21:25; Jos 17:11; Jos 17:16; the word for towns in both cases literally means daughters.
12ff. The inhabitants of Jerusalem had been confined within its walls during the siege: now they can freely walk round, and thankfully contemplate the safety of the walls and towers and palaces so lately menaced with destruction. Cp. Isa 33:20.
tell ] I.e. count, as in Psa 22:17; Gen 15:5. The retention of the archaism in R.V. is justifiable for the sake of the connexion with Psa 48:13, where the same word is used for tell = narrate. But lately the towers had been counted with a very different object by the Assyrian officers reconnoitring the city in preparation for the siege (Isa 33:18).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Let mount Zion rejoice – Let Jerusalem, the holy city, rejoice or be glad. Mount Zion is evidently used here to designate the city; and the idea is, that the city of God – the holy city – had occasion for joy and gladness in view of the manifestation of the divine favor.
Let the daughters of Judah be glad – The phrase daughters of Judah may denote the smaller cities in the tribe of Judah, that surrounded Jerusalem as the mother city – in accordance with an usage quite common in the Hebrew Scriptures. See the notes at Isa 1:8. Perhaps, however, the more obvious interpretation is the correct one, as meaning that the women of Judah had special occasion to rejoice on account of their deliverance from so great danger, and from the horrors which usually attended the siege or the conquest of the city – the atrocities which commonly befall the female sex when a city is captured in war. The daughters of Judah are those descended from Judah, or connected with the tribe of Judah. Jerusalem was in the bounds of that tribe, and the name Judah was given to all those that remained after the removal of the ten tribes.
Because of thy judgments – Thy righteous interposition in delivering the city and people.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 11. Let Mount Zion rejoice] The temple is restored in majesty, which was threatened with total destruction; it is again repaired.
Let the daughters of Judah be glad] That thou hast turned her captivity, and poured out thy judgments upon her oppressors.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Mount Zion; synecdochically put for Jerusalem. The daughters of Judah, i.e. the other and lesser cities and towns or villages (i.e. all the people) of Judah; for such are commonly called daughters in respect of the mother city, to which they are subjects: see Jos 15:45; 17:16; Psa 45:12; 137:8. He mentions Judah only, and not all Israel; partly because they were more immediately and eminently concerned in Jerusalems deliverance; and principally because ten of the tribes of Israel were now cut off from Jerusalem, and from the kingdom of Davids house, and possibly carried away captive, 2Ki 18:9-11.
Because of thy judgments upon thine and their enemies; at which they were glad, not simply, but because it was highly conducible to Gods honour, and to the preservation and enlargement of Gods church in the world.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
11. the daughters, &c.thesmall towns, or the people, with the chief city, or rulers of theChurch.
judgmentsdecisions andacts of right government.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Let Mount Zion rejoice,…. The church in general; see
Ps 48:1;
let the daughters of Judah be glad; particular churches; and so the Targum renders it, “the congregations of the house of Judah”; or particular believers; such as are called the daughters of Jerusalem, and the daughters of Zion, So 3:10; these are exhorted to joy and gladness, at the loving kindness of God, at the spread of his name and glory to the ends of the earth, and at his righteousness his right hand is full of; and as it follows,
because of thy judgments; executed on the antichristian kings,
Ps 48:4; and on all the antichristian states, and on the whore of Babylon, and those who have committed fornication with her; see
Re 19:1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
11 Mount Zion shall rejoice The Psalmist now concludes his exhortation to rejoicing, telling us that Jerusalem and the other cities of Judea shall have cause to commend the righteousness of God, (202) because they had found from undoubted experience that he was the protector of their welfare. He here makes use of the word judgment, because God, who undertook the cause of his Church, openly showed that he was the enemy of her oppressors, and that he would repress their presumption and audacity.
(202) “ Auront matiere de liesse.” — Fr. “Shall have matter of gladness.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(11) Daughters of Judah.Not the maidens of Jerusalem, but the towns and villages of Judah.
Judgments.Perhaps here, as in Psa. 119:132, with prominent idea of Gods customary dealings with His people.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 48:11-13. Let mount Zion rejoice, &c. Dr. Delaney thinks that these verses allude to the great improvements made at Jerusalem, the temple on mount Moriah, Millo, the house of the forest of Lebanon, the palace of Pharaoh’s daughter, and that of Solomon, &c. See b. ii. c. 8. Green renders Psa 48:11, When the daughter of Sion heard, she rejoiced; the daughters of Judah were transported with joy because of thy judgments. Mudge thinks that the three first verses of this psalm were insultingly thrown out upon the kings who had come up against Jerusalem, and had gone round her to reconnoitre her strength, in order to take her, but were now fled away; calling upon them to return and go round her again, and see how entire her fortifications were; and bidding them tell the next generation, that it would be in vain to attempt any thing against her, while she had Jehovah for her protector. “Tell the next generation that this God is our God; He will be our guide for ever and ever:” For Bishop Hare seems to have proved, beyond doubt, that al mut, rendered unto death, should be rendered one word, and make part of the title of the following psalm, being the same word which is rendered alamoth in the title of Psalms 46. Fenwick, however, thinks that there is no need of any correction, the sacred writer meaning, “God will lead us as conquerors, and enable us to triumph over death.”
REFLECTIONS.1st, The work of heaven will be everlasting praise; it is good to antedate the joy.
1. Great is the Lord, who in his mediatorial glory is so highly exalted, and greatly to be praised for all his wonderous works of power, grace, and love, manifested in all ages to his faithful people: and this his glory is to be set forth,
2. In the city of our God, in Jerusalem, the mountain of his holiness, in Zion, where, in his temple, his sacred presence dwelt between the cherubims: Beautiful for situation, eminent to view, and the country around it like the garden of Eden: the joy of the whole earth is mount Zion, being the favoured residence of the God of the whole earth, on the sides of the north, turned from the sultry beam of day, the city of the great King, where most eminently he fixes his throne, and manifests his glory. God is known in her palaces for a refuge, having protected it from every foe; and all who come to worship there find safety under his wings. Thus glorious was the earthly Jerusalem, but how much in glory does the spiritual Zion exceed her. In his church the great Redeemer is pleased to dwell now; bright in holiness she shines, and filled with inhabitants as a city: In beauty excellent, watered with the streams of grace, which flow from the fountain of blessedness, adorned with living palaces, the residence of the eternal Spirit: here a sure refuge is found in the arms of Jesus from guilt and sin, known by the word of his gospel, and proved by the experience of every faithful soul.
3. All attempts of foes to hurt are fruitless, where God is thus known and praised. This Jerusalem had experienced. The assembled kings passed by, they saw Almighty Power engaged to protect her, and with astonishment fled; a panic fear seized them, they were dashed in pieces by the stormy wind: and such will be the issue of the war against the church of God carried on by the antichristian foes, Rev 19:19-21. They will fall before the power of Jesus, be overthrown with perpetual desolations, and sink as a stone in the mighty waters of God’s wrath, and never rise up again.
2nd, We have the church of God declaring by experience the truth of what the Psalmist had asserted. As we have heard, either in former ages when God vouchsafed such mighty aid, or in the word of promise, so have we seen the accomplishment of the promise, and the like protection, in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God; Jerusalem bore testimony to God’s faithfulness and care then, and in like manner may the people of God in every age increase the number of witnesses. God will establish it for ever; the gates of hell shall never prevail over the faithful children of God; but finally they shall triumph over all their enemies. We have thought of thy loving kindness, O God, from whence all his rich mercy springs, or waited for it, when dangers seemed to threaten, in the midst of thy temple, thy church, where in prayer we called upon thee, and with praises celebrated thy faithfulness. According to thy name, thy boundless perfections, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth, whither the glorious gospel has carried the discovery of that blessed name, the Lord our Redeemer and Saviour. Thy right hand is full of righteousness, every decision of his is equitable; and especially what seems here intended, the doom reserved for the opposers of God’s truth and kingdom is altogether righteous. And herein let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad; all true believers, because of thy judgments, which shall be executed on the powers of Antichrist in the great day of retribution. And in the mean time, walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. Jerusalem was regarded as an impregnable fortress; but stronger towers of angelic guards keep safe the spiritual Zion. Mark well her bulwarks, built on Christ, the rock of ages, defended by the arm of Omnipotence; consider her palaces, such as are the prophets, apostles, confessors, and faithful in every age, that ye may tell it to the generation following, for the support of their faith and hope in every exigence. For this God is our God for ever and ever, the same powerful protector, the same gracious and loving Saviour to all who trust in him. He will be our guide, the guide of the faithful, safely to preserve them from all the dangers of life; in death, to keep them from all fear or failing; and after death, to bring them to the eternal enjoyment of his blessed self. May we prove him such by happy experience!
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Here the church is called upon, and well she may, to rejoice in her unspeakable felicity.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 48:11 Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.
Ver. 11. Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters, &c. ] Let the Church catholic, and each particular member thereof: give God the glory of his justice, and see that their joy be spiritual.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
daughters = cities. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), for cities (compare Num 21:25. Jos 17:11, Jos 17:16). These cities of Judah had cause for rejoicing, for they were now free from Sennacherib, who had captured them (Isa 36:1). See Sennacherib’s cylinder. App-67.
judgments: on the Assyrian host.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
daughters: Psa 97:8, Son 1:5, Son 2:7, Son 3:5, Son 5:16, Isa 37:22, Zec 9:9, Luk 23:28
because: Psa 58:10, Psa 137:8, Psa 137:9, Jdg 5:31, 2Ch 20:26, 2Ch 20:27, Rev 15:4, Rev 16:5-7, Rev 18:20, Rev 19:1-3
Reciprocal: Jdg 5:2 – for the avenging 1Ch 16:14 – his judgments Job 22:19 – righteous Psa 7:7 – So Psa 9:16 – known Psa 35:9 – General Psa 69:35 – build Psa 87:3 – Glorious Psa 105:7 – judgments Psa 106:5 – rejoice Psa 119:164 – because Psa 147:13 – he hath Son 3:11 – O ye Isa 35:1 – be Jer 49:2 – her daughters Rev 19:7 – be glad
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 48:11. Let mount Zion rejoice That is, Jerusalem; let the daughters of Judah The other lesser cities, towns, and villages; be glad, because of thy judgments Upon thy and their enemies. Let the mother city give an example of joy and thankfulness to all the smaller places, and to the whole kingdom, and let them unanimously join together, with the greatest gladness, to express how sensible they are of thy power and goodness in the wonderful deliverance granted them. Just so, the church and all her children ought to rejoice with joy unspeakable, on account of the manifestation of divine power on her behalf against her enemies. Thus, at the fall of mystic Babylon, it is said, Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets, for God hath avenged you on her, Rev 18:20. Horne.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
48:11 Let {k} mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.
(k) Let Jerusalem and the cities of Judea rejoice, for your just judgments against your enemies.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Those who live near God’s presence can rejoice in His decision to protect them. The psalmist invited the residents of Jerusalem to examine the unscathed condition of the city that God had defended. He also urged them to report God’s protection to their children. The "daughters" of Judah (Psa 48:11) probably refers to its cities and villages. [Note: Kidner, p. 181.] Since God had so faithfully and powerfully preserved His people, the psalmist led them in a commitment to continue following Him as their guide forever.
The people of God should view divine deliverance as an evidence of the Lord’s faithfulness and power. We should remember the instances of His salvation and share them with other people. This information will fortify our own faith, and it will encourage others to trust in Him. As long as we trust and obey God, He will defend us. An intimate relationship with God is a very secure one.