Wednesday Bible Study: Moar genocide

Regarding Psalm 60, the meaning of Shushan Eduth is disputed. It means something like "Lilly of Testimony," which doesn't make a lot of sense. It could be the name of a tune, but some authorities say it's the name of a city where Jews resided during the Babylonian exile, although that doesn't make much sense in context since this supposedly refers to a battle recounted in 1 Samuel 10, and repeated in 1 Chronicles 19. It could just be a metaphor for the content. Joab is one of David's generals, and like various passages in the Deuteronomistic History, this describes the massacre of the Moabites. 

 

Psalm 61 is one of those "Long Live the King" pieces.

To the choirmaster: according to Shushan Eduth. A Miktam of David; for instruction; when he strove with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and when Joab on his return killed twelve thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt.

60 O God, thou hast rejected us, broken our defenses;
    thou hast been angry; oh, restore us.
² Thou hast made the land to quake, thou hast rent it open;
    repair its breaches, for it totters.
³ Thou hast made thy people suffer hard things;
    thou hast given us wine to drink that made us reel.

⁴ Thou hast set up a banner for those who fear thee,
    to rally to it from the bow.^[a]Selah
⁵ That thy beloved may be delivered,
    give victory by thy right hand and answer us!

⁶ God has spoken in his sanctuary:^[b]
    “With exultation I will divide up Shechem
    and portion out the Vale of Succoth.
⁷ Gilead is mine; Manas′seh is mine;
    E′phraim is my helmet;
    Judah is my scepter.
⁸ Moab is my washbasin;
    upon Edom I cast my shoe;
    over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

⁹ Who will bring me to the fortified city?
    Who will lead me to Edom?
¹⁰ Hast thou not rejected us, O God?
    Thou dost not go forth, O God, with our armies.
¹¹ O grant us help against the foe,
    for vain is the help of man!
¹² With God we shall do valiantly;
    it is he who will tread down our foes.

Footnotes

1. Psalm 60:4 Gk Syr Jerome: Heb truth
2. Psalm 60:6 Or by his holiness

 

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

61 Hear my cry, O God,
listen to my prayer;
² from the end of the earth I call to thee,
    when my heart is faint.

Lead thou me
    to the rock that is higher than I;
³ for thou art my refuge,
    a strong tower against the enemy.

⁴ Let me dwell in thy tent for ever!
    Oh to be safe under the shelter of thy wings!Selah
⁵ For thou, O God, hast heard my vows,
    thou hast given me the heritage of those who fear thy name.

⁶ Prolong the life of the king;
    may his years endure to all generations!
⁷ May he be enthroned for ever before God;
    bid steadfast love and faithfulness watch over him!

⁸ So will I ever sing praises to thy name,
    as I pay my vows day after day.