God has spoken from his sanctuary: “In triumph, I will divide Shechem, and measure out the valley of Succoth.
Parallel Translations
-
God has spoken from his sanctuary: “In triumph, I will divide Shechem, and measure out the valley of Succoth.
-
God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
-
(108-8) God spoke in His holiness, that I would exult; that I would divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
Cross-references (12)
Passages linked to Psalms 108:7 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- 1 Peter 1:8 whom, not having known, you love. In him, though now you don’t see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory,
- Joshua 20:7 They set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (also called Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.
- 2 Peter 1:3-4 seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue, by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.
- Joshua 17:7 The border of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethath, which is before Shechem. The border went along to the right hand, to the inhabitants of En Tappuah.
- Joshua 24:1 Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.
- Judges 8:5-6 He said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me; for they are faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.” The princes of Succoth said, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?”
- 2 Samuel 7:20-29 What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Lord Yahweh. For your word’s sake, and according to your own heart, you have worked all this greatness, to make your servant know it. Therefore you are great, Yahweh God. For there is no one like you, neither is there any God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. What one nation in the earth is like your people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem to himself for a people, and to make himself a name, and to do great things for you, and awesome things for your land, before your people, whom you redeemed to yourself out of Egypt, from the nations and their gods? You established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever; and you, Yahweh, became their God. Now, Yahweh God, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, confirm it forever, and do as you have spoken. Let your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘Yahweh of Armies is God over Israel; and the house of your servant David will be established before you.’ For you, Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, have revealed to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found in his heart to pray this prayer to you. “Now, O Lord Yahweh, you are God, and your words are truth, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. Now therefore let it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you; for you, Lord Yahweh, have spoken it. Let the house of your servant be blessed forever with your blessing.”
- Psalms 16:9-11 Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices. My body shall also dwell in safety. For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, neither will you allow your holy one to see corruption. You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forever more.
- 1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
- Genesis 33:17 Jacob traveled to Succoth, built himself a house, and made shelters for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
- Psalms 89:35-36 Once I have sworn by my holiness, I will not lie to David. His offspring will endure forever, his throne like the sun before me.
- Amos 4:2 The Lord Yahweh has sworn by his holiness that behold, “The days shall come on you that they will take you away with hooks, and the last of you with fish hooks.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (7 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Private notes
Saved on this device only — never synced or sent anywhere.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain As he hath spoken to Samuel concerning me, so…
As he hath spoken to Samuel concerning me, so will he show himself constant, and holy in his promise, so that these nations following shall be subject unto me.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 7. God hath spoken in his holiness] בקדשו…
Verse 7. God hath spoken in his holiness] בקדשו 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.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain God hath spoken ... - This is taken, without…
God hath spoken ... - This is taken, without change, from Psa 60:6. See the notes at that place.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 7. in his holiness] Or, by his holiness, for…
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.
Read full note →
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.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Vers. 7, 8. God hath spoken, etc. Completely identical…
Vers. 7, 8. God hath spoken, etc. Completely identical with Psa_60:6, Psa_60:7.
Conscious strength through God"s pledge.
Read full note →
The construction of this and the three following verses is somewhat difficult to trace. It may be that the verses are the things that God "spoke in his holiness." But it is simpler to treat the verses as expressions of what the psalmist feels he can do, and means to endeavor to do, basing his confidence on the fact that "God has spoken in his holiness" has made promise and pledge to him; and God"s pledges, he is sure, are holy, inviolate, certain of fulfillment. In relation to David, the promise to secure for him the full sovereignty of the nation is probably referred to (2Sa 7) "In his holiness" means, "in the immutable integrity of his heart," which was an infallible guarantee for the fulfillment of his promise. The key-note of this portion of the psalm is the fact that the promises of God sent by Nathan to David ensured the establishment of the Davidic dynasty over the kingdom of Israel. But when the original of the psalm was composed, David had all the work before him. The northern portion of Canaan had to be won; neighboring nations had to be subdued, or put under tribute. But the promise gave him conscious strength, made him feel superior to his responsibilities; able even to speak lightly, almost scornfully, of those whose conquest would involve hard toil and fighting (see figures of ver. 9).
I FROM HOLD OF GOD"S PROMISE GIVES US CONSCIOUS SUPERIORITY TO LIFE"S DIFFICULTIES. This is true, whether our difficulties come from our circumstances or our sins. We have Divine promises that we shall finally master both our surroundings and ourselves, winning the whole kingdom of our being for righteousness. What keeps us full of good cheer? Not our evident successes, but our grip of the Divine promises. In God"s word and pledge, we rise above our circumstances and above our sins. We feel no sort of fear; we shall "come off more than conquerors.
II FIRM HOLD OF GOD"S PROMISE GIVES US CONSCIOUS STRENGTH TO CARRY OUT OUR RESOLVES. David meant to win Moab, Edom, Philistia, etc.; and he knew he could because God had spoken. There is no sense of strength to accomplish life-purposes ever comes to a man like that he knows when he feels God is at his back. R.T.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Charles H. Spurgeon 1885 · Public Domain Ver. 7. God hath spoken in his holiness. Aforetime…
Ver. 7. God hath spoken in his holiness. Aforetime the Lord had made large promises to David, and these his holiness had guaranteed. The divine attributes were pledged to give the son of Jesse great blessings; there was no fear that the covenant God would run back from his plighted word.
I will rejoice. If God has spoken we may well be glad: the very fact of a divine revelation is a joy. If the Lord had meant to destroy us he would not have spoken to us as he has done. But what God has spoken is a still further reason for gladness, for he has declared "the sure mercies of David", and promised to establish his seed upon his throne, and to subdue all his enemies. David greatly rejoiced after the Lord had spoken to him by the mouth of Nathan. He sat before the Lord in a wonder of joy. See 1Ch 17:1-27, and note that in the next chapter David began to act vigorously against his enemies, even as in this Psalm he vows to do.
Read full note →
I will divide Shechem. Home conquests come first. Foes must be dislodged from Israel's territory, and lands properly settled and managed.
And mete out the valley of Succoth. On the other side Jordan as well as on this the land must be put in order, and secured against all wandering marauders. Some rejoicing leads to inaction, but not that which is grounded upon a lively faith in the promise of God. See how David prays, as if he had the blessing already, and could share it among his men: this comes of having sung so heartily unto the Lord his helper. See how he resolves on action, like a man whose prayers are only a part of his life, and vital portions of his action.
Ver. 7. God hath spoken the word of assurance. This refers to all the words in which the land of their inheritance was defined, especially Ge 15:18 Ex 23:31 De 11:24, and that remarkable prediction concerning the perpetuity of David's line, 2Sa 7:1-17, which must have made a deep impression on his mind. From these passages it is evident that Aram as well as Edom was included in the full compass of the territory designed for Israel, and that David felt himself to be in the path of destiny when he was endeavouring to extend his sway from the river of Egypt to the great river, even the Euphrates. In his holiness, in the immutable integrity of his heart, which was an infallible guarantee for the fulfilment of his promise. I will exult. This is the exclamation of the representative head of the people, when he ponders upon the divine utterance. James G. Murphy.
Ver. 7. Faith closing with a promise, will furnish joy to the believer before he enjoys the performance of it: God hath spoken, saith he, I will rejoice. David Dickson.
Ver. 7. He, the second David, had accomplished his warfare, and had crowned himself with victory. Henceforth he would apportion the kingdoms of the world and subdue them unto himself at his own holy will. Ephraim and Judah, Moab and Philistia, the Jew first and then the Gentile, were to be brought to confess him as their Lord. Plain Commentary.
Ver. 7. God's voice the cause of joy, the reason for action, the guarantee of success.
Psalms 108:8*
Charles H. Spurgeon's The Treasury of David (1869–1885) — public domain. Psalms only. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 General Information:
General Information:
These verses are the same as those in Psalms 60:6-7.
Read full note →
God has spoken in his holiness
Here David describes God speaking something because he is holy as speaking "in his holiness," as if his holiness were something that he was physically inside of. AT: "God, because he is holy, has said" (See: Metaphor)
I will divide Shechem and apportion out the Valley of Succoth
Here God is speaking about dividing the land of Shechem and the Valley of Succoth.
apportion
to divide into portions
Ephraim also is my helmet
God speaks of the tribe of Ephraim as if it were his army. The helmet symbolizes equipment for war. AT: "Ephraim is like a helmet I have chosen" or "The tribe of Ephraim is my army" (See: Metaphor)
helmet
a hard hat that soldiers wear to protect their heads from injury
Judah is my scepter
God chose men from the tribe of Judah to be the kings of his people, and he speaks of that tribe as if it were his scepter. AT: "The tribe of Judah is like my scepter" or "Judah is the tribe through whom I rule my people" (See: Metaphor)
translationWords
God
holy
joy
Shechem
Succoth
Gilead
Manasseh
Ephraim
Judah
scepter
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.