How does Psalm 83:8 illustrate the unity of Israel's enemies against them?

Psalm 83:8: “Even Assyria has joined them, lending strength to the sons of Lot. Selah.”

1. The verse caps a list of ten nations (vv. 6–7) by adding Assyria, a major eastern empire. Including a distant super-power shows the coalition is wider than Israel’s immediate neighbors.

2. “Has joined them” points to an intentional alliance; diverse peoples set aside differences to pursue a common goal—Israel’s eradication (v. 4).

3. “Lending strength” reveals coordinated sharing of military resources, highlighting collective resolve rather than isolated skirmishes.

4. “Sons of Lot” (Moab and Ammon) receive backing from Assyria, illustrating layered unity: close relatives join forces with a far-off empire, knitting regional hostility into one front.

5. The eleven-nation roster portrays completeness; Israel appears encircled on every side (cf. Judges 6:3–5; 2 Chronicles 20:1–2).

6. Similar patterns of enemies uniting against God’s purposes recur throughout Scripture (Isaiah 7:1–2; Acts 4:26–27), underscoring that such coalitions, though formidable, remain under divine restraint.

7. Psalm 83’s closing petitions (vv. 13–18) look beyond the alliance to God’s ultimate vindication, echoing Zechariah 12:2–9 and Romans 8:31: if God is for His people, united opposition cannot prevail.