Psalms 83:1-18

This Ps. describes a confederacy of God's enemies, the object of which is to attack and exterminate Israel (Psalms 83:2). A list of the allies is given (Psalms 83:6). The Psalmist appeals to God to interpose (Psalms 83:1), and to deal with these hostile nations as He dealt with the Midianites (Judges 6-8) and the Canaanites (Judges 4:5) of old (Psalms 83:9). Psalms 83:13 continue the prayer for their overthrow, in order that they may seek and acknowledge the true God. No historical occasion is known on which all the nations mentioned were leagued against Israel. The Ps. is connected by some with the invasion in the reign of Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20), by others with the opponents of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 4:7), and by others still with the enemies of Judas Maccabgeus (1 Maccabees 5).