Psalms 60:1

Psalm 60 ▼

▼sn Psalm 60. The psalmist grieves over Israel’s humiliation, but in response to God’s assuring word, he asks for divine help in battle and expresses his confidence in victory.

For the music director, according to the shushan-eduth style; ▼

▼tn The Hebrew expression means “lily of the testimony.” It may refer to a particular music style or to a tune title.

a prayer ▼

▼tn The precise meaning of the Hebrew word מִכְתָּם (miktam), which also appears in the heading to Pss 16, 56-59, is uncertain. HALOT 582-83 s.v. defines it as “inscription.”

of David written to instruct others. ▼

▼tn Heb “to teach.”

It was written when he fought against Aram Naharaim and Aram Zobah. That was when Joab turned back and struck down ▼

▼tn In Josh 8:21 and Judg 20:48 the two verbs “turn back” and “strike down” are also juxtaposed. There they refer to a military counter-attack.

12,000 Edomites ▼

▼tn Heb “12,000 of Edom.” Perhaps one should read אֲרַם (’aram, “Aram”) here rather than אֱדוֹם (’edom, “Edom”).

in the Valley of Salt. ▼

▼sn The heading apparently refers to the military campaign recorded in 2 Sam 10 and 1 Chr 19.