Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 48:13

Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell [it] to the generation following.

13. bulwarks ] The outer wall or rampart.

consider ] Or, as R.V. marg., traverse. The word occurs here only, and is of doubtful meaning. But the rendering consider suits the context better. In either case the object is to convince themselves of the safety of the city. P.B.V. set up is derived from some Jewish authorities.

that ye may tell it] Cp. Psa 22:30-31; Psa 44:1.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Mark ye well her bulwarks – Margin, as in Hebrew, Set your heart to her bulwarks. That is, Pay close attention to them; make the investigation with care, not as one does whose heart is not in the thing, and who does it negligently. The word rendered bulwarks – cheyl – means, properly, a host or army, and then a fortification or entrenchment, especially the ditch or trench, with the low wall or breastwork which surrounds it: 2Sa 20:15; Isa 26:1. (Gesenius, Lexicon) The Septuagint translates it here: dunamis, power; the Vulgate, virtus, courage; Luther, Mauern – walls.

Consider her palaces – The word palaces here refers to the royal residences; and, as these were usually fortified and guarded, the expression here is equivalent to this: Consider the strength of the city; its power to defend itself; its safety from the danger of being taken. The word rendered consider – pas^egu – is rendered in the margin raise up. The word occurs nowhere else in the Bible. According to Gesenius (Lexicon), it means to divide up; that is, to walk through and survey them; or, to consider them accurately, or in detail, one by one. The Vulgate renders it distribute; the Septuagint, take a distinct view of (Thompson); Luther, lift up. The idea is, examine attentively or carefully.

That ye may tell it to the generation following – That you may be able to give a correct account of it to the next age. The object of this is to inspire the next generation with a belief that God is the protector of the city; that it is so strong that it cannot be vanquished; that there is safety in such a city as that. As applied to the church now, or at any time, it means that we are to take such views of its being a true church of God; of its being fixed on firm foundations; of its being so able to resist all the assaults of Satan, and of its being so directly under the divine protection, that it has nothing to fear. It will and must stand to all coming time, a place of absolute safety to all who seek protection and safety within it. The following remarks of Dr. Thomson (Land and the Book, vol. ii., 474, 475), may furnish an illustration of what the ancient defenses in the city may have been, and especially of the word towers in this passage in the Psalms: The only castle of any particular importance is that at the Jaffa Gate, commonly called the Tower of David. The lower part of it is built of huge stones, roughly cut, and with a deep bevel round the edges.

They are undoubtedly ancient, but the interspersed patch-work proves that they are not in their original positions. I have been within it, and carefully explored all parts of it that are now accessible, but found nothing which could cast any light upon its history. It is believed by many to be the Hippicus of Josephus, and to this idea it owes its chief importance, for the historian makes that the point of departure in laying down the line of the ancient walls of Jerusalem. Volumes have been written in our day for and against the correctness of this identification, and the contest is still undecided; but, interesting as may be the result, we may safely leave it with those who are now conducting the controversy, and turn to matters more in unison with our particular inquiries. Everything that can be said about this grand old tower will be found in the voluminous works of Williams, Robinson, Schultz, Wilson, Fergusson, and other able writers on the topography of the Holy City.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 13. Mark ye well her bulwarks] See the redoubts by which she is defended.

Consider her palaces] See her courts, chambers, altars, c., c. make an exact register of the whole, that ye may have to tell to your children how Jerusalem was built in troublesome times how God restored you; and how he put it into the hearts of the heathen to assist to build, beautify, and adorn the temple of our God.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

Consider; or, exalt, or admire, Tell it to the generation following, that they may be excited to continue their praises to God for this mercy, by which they hold and enjoy all their blessings, and to trust in God in the like difficulties for the future.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

Mark ye well her bulwarks,…. Such as the free favour of God in Christ; which is not only as a shield, but as a bulwark to the church; his everlasting love, electing grace, the covenant of grace, with its blessings and promises, all which are more immovable than rocks and mountains; and especially the power of God, which surrounds his church, as the mountains did Jerusalem; and by which they are kept and preserved as in a garrison, Ps 125:2. Also salvation by Christ; his righteousness, sacrifice, and satisfaction, which God has appointed for walls and bulwarks, and which make the city, the church, a strong and impregnable one, Isa 26:1. Likewise the Spirit of God, and his operations and influences, which are a standard against the enemy’s flood of opposition and persecution; and who being in his church and people, is greater than he that is in the world, Isa 59:19 1Jo 4:4. Some render the words, set “your hearts on her strength”, as the Vulgate Latin version; that is, on Christ, who is the strength of the poor and needy in their distress; the strength of their hearts, of their lives, and of their salvation, and the security of the church. Others readier them, “set your hearts on her armies”; as the Targum is; her volunteers, her soldiers, who endure hardness as good soldiers of Christ, fight the Lord’s battles, and are more than conquerors through him; and a lovely sight it is to behold them, with Christ at the head of them; see Re 19:14;

consider her palaces; for Jehovah, Father, Son, and Spirit, have their dwelling places in Zion; and here, besides apostles, prophets, evangelists, and ordinary ministers of the word, who are rulers and officers set in the first place, every saint is a prince and a king; and has a place and a name here, better than that of sons and daughters of the greatest potentate on earth; every dwelling place in Mount Zion is a palace.

that ye may tell [it] to the generation following: that is, the beauty and glory, strength and safety of the church; and even all that is spoken of her in this psalm, as well as what follows: this is the end proposed by taking a circuit round Zion, and making the above observations on it.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(13) Consider.The Hebrew word is peculiar to this passage. The root idea seems to be divide, and the natural sense of divide her palaces is, take them one by one and regard them.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

Psa 48:13 Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell [it] to the generation following.

Ver. 13. Mark ye well her bulwarks ] Not at all impaired. The Great Turk could never have gotten the Rhodes but by treachery, notwithstanding his long and mighty batteries made upon that place day and night. How he raged at the last assault of Scodra, and blasphemed, see Turk. Hist. p. 423. Geneva is environed with enemies, French, Spanish, Savoy, Pope, and barred out from all aid of neighbour cities and Churches; yet is upheld, as it were, by an immediate hand of heaven, as Beza hath set forth in an elegant emblem, Hanc urbem non nisi miraculose stetisse et stare per multos annos res ipsa clamat.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)