Psalms 60:9

KJV

Who will bring me [into] the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?

KJV (with Strong's)

Who will bring {H2986}{H8686)} me into the strong {H4692} city {H5892}? who will lead {H5148}{H8804)} me into Edom {H123}?

Complete Jewish Bible

Who will bring me into the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?

Berean Standard Bible

Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?

American Standard Version

Who will bring me into the strong city? Who hath led me unto Edom?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 60:9 captures King David's profound cry for divine intervention during a period of national humiliation and military struggle. The rhetorical questions, "Who will bring me [into] the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?", articulate a desperate acknowledgment of human inadequacy in the face of formidable, fortified enemies. This verse serves as a poignant prayer, expressing a deep reliance on God as the sole source of leadership and victory against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, embodying a shift from lament to a hopeful, though questioning, appeal for God's promised assistance in warfare and conquest.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 60 is designated as a "Michtam of David," a type of psalm often associated with instruction or a golden psalm, composed during a tumultuous period in Israel's history. The superscription provides crucial historical detail, indicating it was written "when he fought with Mesopotamia and Syria of Zobah, and Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand." The psalm opens with a lament, expressing national defeat and God's apparent rejection (verses 1-3), followed by a declaration of God's faithfulness and His covenant promises (verses 4-5). Verses 6-8 articulate God's prophetic declaration of dominion over surrounding nations. Verse 9, therefore, is a direct petition for God to lead them into the fortified enemy territory of Edom, acknowledging that human strength alone is insufficient to conquer such a "strong city" or nation. It reflects a pivotal shift from despair to a renewed, albeit still questioning, appeal for God's promised assistance in warfare and conquest, echoing the divine command for [Joshua to be strong and courageous](/joshua/1-9 "Joshua 1:9 - Be Strong and Courageous") because God would be with him.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop of Psalm 60 is David's military campaigns, specifically against the Arameans (Mesopotamia and Syria of Zobah) and the Edomites. The "Valley of Salt" (likely south of the Dead Sea) was a significant battleground where Joab, David's general, achieved a decisive victory over Edom (2 Samuel 8:13; 1 Chronicles 18:12). Edom, located southeast of Israel in a mountainous and rugged territory, was a descendant nation of Esau and a long-standing, often hostile, neighbor to Israel. Their cities were known for being heavily fortified due to the difficult terrain, making them a formidable military challenge. The phrase "strong city" (עִיר מִבְצָר, _ʿîr mivtsār_) points to a well-defended fortress or capital, emphasizing the immense difficulty of conquest without divine aid. In ancient Near Eastern warfare, success was often attributed to the favor of a nation's deity, making David's plea for God's leadership culturally resonant.
* **Key Themes:** This verse encapsulates several major theological and narrative themes within the broader context of Psalm 60 and the Davidic narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Leadership and Help**, positioning God as the ultimate strategist and deliverer whose guidance is indispensable for victory. Secondly, it underscores the **Conquest of Obstacles**, with the "strong city" and "Edom" symbolizing formidable, seemingly impregnable challenges that require supernatural intervention. Thirdly, the verse powerfully articulates **Dependence on God**, as David, despite being a mighty warrior king, humbly acknowledges his and the nation's utter reliance on God for national security and military success. This theme resonates deeply with the biblical principle that [some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord](/psalms/20-7 "Psalm 20:7 - Trust in the Name of the Lord our God"). Finally, situated within a psalm that transitions from despair to hope, Psalm 60:9 anticipates **Restoration and Victory**, expressing a longing for God to fulfill His promises of triumph over Israel's enemies, specifically Edom, and to re-establish their fortunes.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **strong city (Hebrew, עִיר מִבְצָר, _ʿîr mivtsār_):** This compound noun literally means "city of fortress" or "fortified city." It emphasizes the impregnable nature of the enemy's stronghold, implying a place that is militarily secure and exceptionally difficult to conquer without extraordinary intervention. It suggests a challenge that human might alone cannot overcome.
* **Edom (Hebrew, אֱדוֹם, _ʾĔḏōm_):** Refers to the nation located southeast of Israel, a mountainous and rugged territory inhabited by the descendants of Esau. Edom was often hostile to Israel, making their conquest a significant challenge. In this context, Edom serves not only as a specific historical enemy but also as a symbol of any stubborn, entrenched, and formidable adversary that Israel faced.
* **Who will bring me/lead me (Hebrew, מִי־יֹבִלֵנִי, _mî-yōḇilēnî_):** This is a rhetorical question, literally "Who will lead me?" or "Who will bring me in?" The interrogative "who" (מִי, _mî_) underscores the profound human inability and the desperate need for a divine solution. It is not a question seeking a human agent, but rather an expression of the conviction that only God possesses the power and authority to accomplish such a feat.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Who will bring me [into] the strong city?":** This clause expresses the profound human inability to conquer formidable, heavily fortified strongholds without divine aid. It is a rhetorical question, not seeking an answer from a human agent, but rather highlighting the desperate need for a supernatural intervention. It acknowledges the overwhelming nature of the obstacle and the inadequacy of human strength or strategy.
* **"who will lead me into Edom?":** This second clause reinforces the first through parallelism, specifically naming Edom as the target. Edom represents a historically hostile and geographically challenging enemy, symbolizing any seemingly insurmountable obstacle or entrenched foe. The repetition of the rhetorical question emphasizes the profound dependence on God for strategic guidance, military success, and ultimate victory over such formidable adversaries. It is a plea for God to take the lead where human efforts are destined to fail.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 60:9 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message of desperate reliance on God. The most prominent is the **Rhetorical Question**, repeated twice ("Who will bring me...?", "who will lead me...?"). This device is not meant to elicit an answer but to emphasize the speaker's profound helplessness and the conviction that only God can accomplish the seemingly impossible task. The questions highlight the human inability to conquer the "strong city" or "Edom" on their own, thereby magnifying the necessity of divine intervention. **Parallelism** is also evident in the repetition of the question structure and the similar nature of the two targets ("strong city" and "Edom"). This reinforces the central plea and underscores the magnitude of the challenge. Furthermore, **Symbolism** is at play, where the "strong city" and "Edom" transcend their literal meanings to represent any formidable, entrenched, or seemingly unconquerable obstacle—whether military, personal, or spiritual. Finally, there is an element of **Metonymy** or **Synecdoche**, where "Edom" stands not just for the nation itself, but for the entire military might and hostile intent it represents.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 60:9 stands as a powerful testament to the biblical principle of divine sovereignty and humanity's utter dependence on God for victory, especially against overwhelming odds. Theologically, it underscores God's role as the ultimate warrior and leader of His people, capable of achieving what is impossible for human strength. It challenges the notion of self-reliance, redirecting faith and hope toward the One who commands armies and determines the outcome of battles. This verse teaches that true security and triumph are not found in military might, strategic genius, or fortified defenses, but in the active presence and leadership of the Almighty. It is a prayer that acknowledges God's supreme authority over nations and His covenant faithfulness to deliver His people, even when they face their deepest despair.

* [Psalm 20:7](/psalms/20-7 "Psalm 20:7 - Trust in the Name of the Lord")
* [Proverbs 21:31](/proverbs/21-31 "Proverbs 21:31 - Victory Belongs to the Lord")
* [Deuteronomy 20:4](/deuteronomy/20-4 "Deuteronomy 20:4 - The Lord Fights for You")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
For the modern believer, Psalm 60:9 offers profound insights into how we approach our own "strong cities" and "Edoms"—the seemingly impossible challenges, spiritual battles, persistent sins, overwhelming circumstances, or entrenched societal issues we face. Just as King David recognized his and the nation's limitations, we are called to acknowledge our utter need for God's leadership and power in every sphere of life. This verse encourages us to shift our perspective from human capability to divine omnipotence, reminding us that no obstacle is too great for God. It compels us to seek His guidance first, to trust in His unfailing strength, and to engage in fervent prayer when confronted with what appears to be an insurmountable barrier. Ultimately, it fosters a spirit of humble dependence, reminding us that true victory and progress in life's most formidable battles come not from our own might or cleverness, but from the sovereign hand and unfailing leadership of God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What are the "strong cities" or "Edoms" that I am currently facing in my personal life, family, or community?**
* **In what areas am I tempted to rely on my own strength, intellect, or resources, rather than seeking God's leadership and power?**
* **How does this verse encourage my prayer life when confronted with seemingly impossible challenges, and what specific steps can I take to more fully surrender these battles to God?**

### FAQ
**Question: Why is Edom specifically mentioned in this psalm?**

Answer: Edom is specifically mentioned for several reasons rooted in Israel's history and the immediate context of Psalm 60. Historically, the Edomites were descendants of Esau, making them distant relatives of Israel, yet they were often hostile neighbors. Their territory was mountainous and rugged, making their strongholds particularly difficult to conquer. The superscription of Psalm 60 explicitly states that it was written "when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand." This indicates that Edom was a current and significant military challenge for David's kingdom. Therefore, "Edom" serves not only as a literal enemy but also as a powerful symbol of any formidable, entrenched, and seemingly insurmountable obstacle that Israel faced, representing a persistent and difficult foe that only divine intervention could overcome. It underscores the specific, tangible nature of the threat that prompted David's desperate plea.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 60:9 finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is the true and ultimate leader who brings His people into victory over the most formidable "strong cities" of sin, death, and the devil. Humanity, in its fallen state, is utterly incapable of conquering these spiritual strongholds; we cannot "bring ourselves into the strong city" of salvation or "lead ourselves into Edom" to defeat the powers of darkness. It is Christ alone who, through His life, death, and resurrection, triumphed over all principalities and powers, making a public spectacle of them (as seen in [Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Triumph Over Principalities and Powers")). He is the one who, by His own blood, has destroyed him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and delivered those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery ([Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14-15 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Christ's Victory Over Death")). Just as David sought God's leadership into Edom, Christ leads His church, promising that the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it ([Matthew 16:18](/matthew/16-18 "Matthew 16:18 - The Gates of Hades Shall Not Prevail")). He is the victorious warrior, riding forth to conquer, who will ultimately lead His people into the "strong city" of the New Jerusalem, where all enemies will be under His feet ([Revelation 19:11-16](/revelation/19-11-16 "Revelation 19:11-16 - Christ as the Victorious Warrior")). In Him, the desperate human cry for a leader against insurmountable odds is answered definitively and eternally.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Samuel 12:26

¶ And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

2 Samuel 12:31

And he brought forth the people that [were] therein, and put [them] under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 11:1

¶ And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth [to battle], that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.

Judges 1:12

And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.

1 Chronicles 11:6

And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief.

1 Chronicles 11:17

And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that [is] at the gate!

1 Chronicles 11:19

And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with [the jeopardy of] their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest.