¶ Do unto them as [unto] the Midianites; as [to] Sisera, as [to] Jabin, at the brook of Kison:

Do {H6213}{H8798)} unto them as unto the Midianites {H4080}; as to Sisera {H5516}, as to Jabin {H2985}, at the brook {H5158} of Kison {H7028}:

Do to them as you did to Midyan, to Sisra and Yavin at Vadi Kishon

Do to them as You did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the River Kishon,

Do thou unto them as unto Midian, As to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the river Kishon;

Context

Psalm 83 is a powerful communal lament and imprecatory prayer, attributed to Asaph. The psalm opens with an urgent plea for God not to remain silent while a confederacy of ten nations conspires against Israel, seeking to destroy them and blot out their name. In verse 9, the psalmist transitions from describing the enemy's plot to a fervent appeal for divine intervention, specifically asking God to replicate past victories against Israel's historical adversaries. This verse serves as a direct petition for God to act with the same decisive power He demonstrated in earlier eras, ensuring His name is glorified through the defeat of His people's enemies, as elaborated in Psalms 83:18.

Key Themes

  • Divine Justice and Judgment: The verse is a prayer for God to execute justice upon those who oppose His people, invoking His proven character as a righteous judge.
  • God's Historical Faithfulness: By recalling specific past victories, the psalmist appeals to God's consistent record of defending Israel, reinforcing the belief in God's unchanging nature and power.
  • Imprecatory Prayer: This verse exemplifies a type of prayer found in the Old Testament where the psalmist asks God to defeat or punish enemies, reflecting a deep trust in God's sovereignty over nations and His ultimate vindication of His chosen people.
  • God's Glory and Name: The ultimate purpose behind these requests for judgment is often tied to the desire for God's name to be known and feared among all nations, demonstrating His unique power.

Historical and Cultural Context

Psalm 83:9 specifically references two significant historical defeats of Israel's enemies, serving as powerful precedents for the psalmist's plea:

  • The Midianites: This refers to the miraculous victory God granted Gideon and his small army over the vast Midianite forces, as detailed in the Book of Judges. God intentionally reduced Gideon's army to only 300 men so that the victory would clearly be attributed to divine power, not human strength (Judges 7:22). The psalmist asks God to scatter the current enemies just as He scattered the Midianites.
  • Sisera and Jabin: Jabin was the King of Canaan, and Sisera was the commander of his powerful army, which oppressed Israel for twenty years. Their defeat by the Israelites under the leadership of Deborah and Barak is recounted in Judges chapters 4 and 5. The battle took place "at the brook of Kison" (or Kishon River), where God intervened with heavy rains and flooding, turning the terrain against Sisera's chariots and leading to a decisive Israelite victory (Judges 4:15). Sisera himself was ultimately killed by Jael, a woman (Judges 4:21). The psalmist desires a similar, complete rout for the current enemies.

By recalling these specific, divinely orchestrated victories, the psalmist underscores God's ability and willingness to intervene supernaturally on behalf of His people against seemingly insurmountable odds.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Do unto them as [unto] the Midianites" is a direct imperative, a strong command or plea to God, indicating a desire for the same type of overwhelming defeat experienced by these historical foes. The "brook of Kison" (Hebrew: Nahal Kishon) refers to a specific, often-flooded riverbed in the Jezreel Valley, known as a strategic battleground where God's intervention through natural elements played a crucial role in Israel's military success.

Practical Application

While believers today, guided by New Testament teachings, are called to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them, Psalm 83:9 still offers valuable insights:

  • Trust in God's Justice: It reminds us that God is ultimately sovereign and just. When faced with oppression or injustice, we can trust that God will, in His time and way, bring about righteousness.
  • Remembering God's Faithfulness: The psalmist's method of recalling past divine interventions encourages us to remember God's faithfulness in our own lives and in history. Our prayers can be strengthened by reflecting on how God has acted powerfully in the past.
  • Praying for God's Glory: At its core, this psalm is a prayer for God's glory to be revealed. When we pray for justice or deliverance, our ultimate desire should be for God's name to be honored and known by all, even through difficult circumstances.
  • God Fights for His People: It reinforces the comforting truth that God actively defends His people. We are not alone in our struggles; the Lord of Hosts is our refuge and strength.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.
  • Judges 5:21

    The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.
  • Isaiah 9:4

    For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
  • Judges 4:15

    And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all [his] chariots, and all [his] host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off [his] chariot, and fled away on his feet.
  • Judges 4:24

    And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.
  • Isaiah 10:26

    And the LORD of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and [as] his rod [was] upon the sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt.
  • Judges 7:1

    ¶ Then Jerubbaal, who [is] Gideon, and all the people that [were] with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.
  • Judges 7:25

    And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.

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