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60 ‎[1] **For the chief musician, **on*** *****shushan edut,** meaning literally, “lily of testimony.”** **This psalm, like those immediately preceding it, was apparently accompanied by an ancient melody. The psalm was written in celebration of major victories in a war, and though the war might not have reached its decisive conclusion, there was already ample reason to give thanks. The psalm is called **an instruction** **by David to teach** because in addition to being a prayer, it also teaches of past events.
‎[2] David wrote this psalm **when **his armies were engaged in active combat on several fronts: **He contended with Aram****Naharayim,**at the northernmost border of David’s kingdom, **and with Aram Tzova,**** **to the northwest;** and Yoav, **his general, **returned **from those wars** and smote twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt,**** **apparently adjacent to the Dead Sea, or Salt Sea as it is known in Hebrew, to the south. In effect, then, David and his armies were fighting two major wars and won battles on both fronts. The psalm is thus a combination of praise, thanks, and remembrance.
‎[3] **God, **it appeared to us that **You **had **abandoned us **and that** You **had** sundered us. You were angry with us, **and we beseeched You to **restore us. **
‎[4] **You **had** made the land quake; You shattered it, **and we prayed: **Heal its broken pieces, for it has toppled. **
‎[5] **You showed Your people harshness; You gave us poison wine to drink, **so to speak.** **The years prior to the current victories were characterized by difficulties and defeats, with enemies pressing on all sides.
‎[6] Now, however,* ***You have given those who fear You a banner **of victory** to wave **proudly,** because of Your truth, **Your faithfulness in keeping the ancient covenant that You made with our forefathers.** Selah. **
‎[7] **So that Your beloved ones, **the people of Israel,** be saved, deliver us with Your right hand; answer me. **
‎[8] The psalmist now describes the victories:* ***God spoke **to me **in His holiness,** assuring me of victory;** I **therefore **exulted. I divided Shekhem and measured out the valley of Sukot.** Until this point, these regions had been only partially under the rule of Israel; other nations had occupied and fortified portions of them. After David’s victories they fell completely under Israelite control, and he was now able to divide these areas among the people.
‎[9] Israel’s victory in battle was made possible by the fact that the people of Israel were now united behind a single leader:** Gilad is mine, and Manasseh, **who dwelled in Gilad and the Bashan, **is **also **mine, and Ephraim is my stronghold. Judah **is** my lawgiver, **the one who decides and sets the laws.** **All of the tribes, even those who had not been on friendly terms with one another, were unified under David’s rule.
‎[10] **Moav**** is my washbasin,**an expression of contempt; **I will fling my shoe at Edom,**an insulting gesture recognized throughout the Middle East.** Philistia**** will be crushed because of me. **
‎[11] **Who leads me to besiege the city, who guides me to Edom? **
‎[12] **Is it not You, God, who had **previously **abandoned us, You, God, who would not go forth with our armies? **
‎[13] But now that You have once again come to our aid, **give us help against the foe, for deliverance by man **alone **is in vain. **
‎[14] And if You come to our assistance, we will require no other form of salvation, for **with God we will triumph, and He will rout our foes. **
Version: The Steinsaltz Tanakh - English
Source: https://korenpub.com/collections/the-steinsaltz-tanakh/products/steinsaltz-tanakh
License: Copyright: Steinsaltz Center