¶ 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;
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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.
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
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:
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: