What is the meaning of Psalm 83:10? Who perished Psalm 83:9 recalls, “Do to them as You did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the River Kishon,” and verse 10 continues, “who perished at Endor and became like dung on the ground”. • The “who” centers on Sisera and Jabin’s Canaanite forces (Judges 4:2–3, 15–16), but by folding Midian into the same sentence the psalmist also echoes Gideon’s victory over Oreb, Zeeb, Zebah, and Zalmunna (Judges 7:24–25; 8:10–12). • Both enemy coalitions were vastly superior in numbers and weaponry, yet God routed them when Israel cried out for help—an unmistakable reminder that “salvation belongs to the LORD” (Psalm 3:8). • The psalmist’s prayer is that the present confederacy of nations (Psalm 83:5–8) would meet the same fate. At Endor • Endor lay on the northern edge of the Jezreel Valley, a short distance from the Kishon River where Sisera’s chariots bogged down in the torrent (Judges 4:13; 5:21). • By naming the site, the psalmist anchors the memory in real geography—this was not myth but history. The fields around Endor still bore silent witness to God’s intervention. • The location also highlights how God can turn an enemy’s greatest strength into a liability; iron chariots became useless in the mud (Judges 4:15). And became like dung on the ground • The phrase pictures complete humiliation: the defeated armies were left unburied, their bodies decaying “like dung” that fertilizes the soil (cf. 2 Kings 9:37; Jeremiah 8:2; Psalm 79:2-3). • For the original singers, this vivid image reinforced two truths: – God’s judgment is thorough; no one who opposes Him escapes. – God’s people can trust Him to vindicate His name in ways that leave no doubt about His supremacy (Exodus 15:3-7). • By invoking such stark language, the psalmist teaches that the Lord’s deliverance is not partial or cosmetic. When He rises to defend His covenant people, He leaves tangible evidence that He alone is God. summary Psalm 83:10 recalls the utter defeat of Sisera and Jabin at Endor to bolster faith for a new deliverance. Those once-terrifying armies perished, their corpses scattered like manure, proving that every enemy who exalts itself against the Lord will fall. The verse urges believers to remember God’s past victories, trust His present power, and anticipate His future triumph with unwavering confidence. |
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