Psalms 87:4

I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there. I WILL MAKE MENTION OF RAHAB AND BABYLON TO THEM THAT KNOW ME - rather, as the sense requires, and as I WILL MAKE MENTION OF RAHAB AND BABYLON TO THEM THAT KNOW ME - rather, as the sense requires, and as the Hebrew lª- often means (Hebrew, ), 'I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon as persons that know me.' I count them among my true worshippers. God is the speaker. The Israel of God were before this time at a low ebb. The Ten tribes had been carried away, and Judah alone remained. How eagerly, then, would the mind of those who believed in the original promise to Abraham, that his seed should be multiplied 'as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand upon the sea-shore' ...

4_I will make mention of Rahab and Babel. _The name of _Rahab _is put for Egypt in many other parts of Scripture; and this signification is very suitable to the present passage, the object of which is to portray the magnificent amplitude of the Church, which as yet was only matter of hope. It is therefore said that those who formerly were deadly enemies, or entire strangers, shall not only become familiar friends, but shall also be ingrafted into one body, that they may be accounted citizens of Jerusalem. In the first clause it is said, _I will make mention of Egypt and Babylon among my household. _In the second, it is added, that the Philistines, Tyrians, and Ethiopians, who hitherto had been so much at variance with the people of God, shall now be brought into as cordial harmony with them as if they were Jews by birth. What a glorious distinction of the Church, that even those who held...

4-7 The church of Christ is more glorious and excellent than the nations of the earth. In the records of heaven, the meanest of those who are born again stand registered. When God renders to every man according to his works, he shall observe who enjoyed the privileges of his sanctuary. To them much was given, and of them much will be required. Let those that dwell in Zion, mark this, and live up to their profession. Zion's songs shall be sung with joy and triumph. The springs of the joy of a carnal worldling are in wealth and pleasure; but of a gracious soul, in the word of God and prayer. All grace and consolation are derived from Christ, through his ordinances, to the souls of believers...

Verse Psalms 87:4. _I WILL MAKE MENTION OF RAHAB_] The meaning seems to be, _Rahab_, i.e., _Egypt, Babylon, Tyre, Philistia_, and _Ethiopia_ are not so honourable as _Jerusalem_. To be born in any of them is no privilege when compared with being a native of Jerusalem: their cities are but heads of villages; Jerusalem alone is a CITY. I have met with a very similar sentiment in a Persian work, of which I know not the author: [---Persic---] [---Persic---] Tche Mesr, o tche Sham, o tche Birr o Buhr. Heme rustaee and, we Sheerazee Shuhr. What celebrity can _Egypt_ or _Syria_, or any thing on

I WILL MAKE MENTION OF RAHAB AND BABYLON ... - The word Rahab here refers to Egypt. See Isaiah 51:9. It is also applied to Egypt in Psalms 89:10. The reason why the name was given to Egypt is not certainly known. The Hebrew word properly means fierceness, insolence, pride; and it may have been given to Egypt by the Hebrews on account of its haughtiness, pride, and insolence. It has been supposed by some (Jablonski, Opusc. i. 228) that the name is of Egyptian origin, but this has not been clearly made out. (Gesenius, Lexicon) Egypt, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia, are mentioned here as among the best known nations and cities of the world; as places where it would commonly be regarded as an honor to have been born. The meaning is, “I will refer to these as places well-known

EXPOSITION THIS short psalm, opening with the praise of Zion, or of the Jewish Church (Psalms 87:1), passes into a glorification of the Church universal, when all the nations have come into it (Psalms 87:4). The glorification falls under two heads—God's acknowledgment of those who flock into his Church (Psalms 87:4), and their acknowledgment of the blessings which they receive through it. The two "selahs" divide the psalm into two stanzas, each of three verses, and a short epode consisting of a single verse. PSALMS 87:1 The praises of Zion. (1) She is bui

I WILL MAKE MENTION OF RAHAB,.... Not of Rahab the harlot, as Jerom and others of the ancients y interpret it; for the letters of both words are not the same in Hebrew; though mention is made of her in the Gospel, and Gospel times, in the genealogy of Christ, and by two of the apostles, Matthew 1:5, but of Egypt; and so the Targum interprets it, which is so called, as it is in Psalms 89:10 either from the pride of its inhabitants, the word having in it the sense of pride and haughtiness, and these being naturally proud and haughty, as Philo z the Jew observes; or from some city of this name in it; or rather this respects that part of Egypt called Delta, which was in the form of a pear; which "raab", or "rib", in the Egyptian language, signifies; in the midst of which was the city of Athribis of Ptolemy a, which

Psalms 87 Zion and Its Coming Glories Another Korah Psalm. Zion is the object of Jehovah's love where He will manifest His glory. Glorious things are spoken of the city of God. This we learn from many visions of the prophets. When these prophecies are fulfilled and the glory has come, then Rahab (pride--Egypt) and Babylon shall know, as well as Philistia, Tyre and Cush. Nations will be born again and turn to the Lord and share the blessings of the kingdom. Then the singers will sing “All my springs are in Thee,” in Him who dwelleth in Zion. The Christian believer gives now this testimony and knows its blessed truth, that Christ is all and in Him we have all our resources. But what will it be when nations with Zion shall know this!...

LXXXVII. ZION THE MOTHER OF ALL YAHWEH'S PEOPLE. When this Ps. was written, the Jews were scattered everywhere in the known world. But every true Jew recognised Jerusalem as his mother city. The glory of Zion was due to the establishment there of David's court and to the great principle of the Deuteronomic reform, one Yahweh and one altar, viz. at Jerusalem. Attempt was made by interpolation in ancient records (see Genesis 14:18 * and Genesis 22:2 *) to carry the consecration of Jerusalem back into patriarchal times. PSALMS 87:3. ARE SPOKEN: read, he speaketh. Psalms 87:4_ a._ A short speech by Yahweh. Render

RAHAB. pride, or haughtiness. Used as name for Egypt (by Figure of speech _Polyonymia,_ App-6), as in Psalms 89:10; Isaiah 51:9. Compare Job 9:13 with Job 26:12, not the same word as in Joshua 2. ETHIOPIA. Supply Ellipsis of the verb "say": "Tyre with Ethiopia [say]" this, &c....