Bible Strands
Psalms 83:9
Do to them as You did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the River Kishon,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses God directly, pleading for intervention against a coalition of nations assembling for war. This petition follows a list of hostile allies, including Assyria and the descendants of Lot, and precedes a reference to those who perished at Endor.
The words — The imperative עֲשֵׂה ('a.seh, "do") initiates the request, followed by repeated כְּ (ke, "like") that ties the petition to specific historical events. The text names Midian, Sisera, Jabin, and the River Kishon as the exact pattern for the requested judgment.
The thread — The passage directly echoes the rout of Sisera’s army and chariots recorded in Judges 4:15 and the destruction of Midian in Numbers 31:7. Isaiah 9:4 later repurposes the Midian motif to describe God’s past shattering of oppressive yokes.
Why it lands — The text commands God to replicate past military interventions against the current coalition, moving from historical recitation to active petition. The reader must recognize the pattern of divine judgment and align present trust with those established precedents.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:
Cross-references
- Isaiah 9:4 For as in the day of Midian You have shattered the yoke of their burden, the bar across their shoulders, and the rod of their oppressor.
- Numbers 31:7 Then they waged war against Midian, as the LORD had commanded Moses, and they killed every male.
- Judges 4:15 And in front of him the LORD routed with the sword Sisera, all his charioteers, and all his army. Sisera abandoned his chariot and fled on foot.
- Judges 5:21 The River Kishon swept them away, the ancient river, the River Kishon. March on, O my soul, in strength!
- Judges 4:7 And I will draw out Sisera the commander of Jabin’s army, his chariots, and his troops to the River Kishon, and I will deliver him into your hand.’”
- Judges 7:1 Early in the morning Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the men with him camped beside the spring of Harod. And the camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh.
- Isaiah 10:26 And the LORD of Hosts will brandish a whip against them, as when He struck Midian at the rock of Oreb. He will raise His staff over the sea, as He did in Egypt.