Psalms 83:14

“As the fire burneth the wood, etc.] Or “forest” f1197; which is sometimes done purposely, and sometimes through carelessness, as Virgil f1198 observes; and which is done very easily and swiftly, when fire is set to it; even all the trees of it, great and small, to which an army is sometimes compared, (<231018>Isaiah 10:18,19), and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; either the mountains themselves, as Etna, Vesuvius, and others; or rather the grass and trees that grow upon them, smitten by lightning from heaven, which may be meant by the flame: in like manner it is wished that the fire and flame of divine wrath would consume the confederate enemies of Israel, above mentioned; as…”

“As the fire burneth a wood ... - The same idea is here presented under another form. No image of desolation is more fearful than that of fire raging in a forest; or of fire on the mountains. As trees and shrubs and grass fall before such a flame, so the prayer is, that they who had combined against the people of God might be swept away by his just displeasure. return to 'Top of Page'”

“The mountains - The woods upon the mountains, which in those hot countries, when they have once taken fire, burn with irresistible violence. Psalms 83:16”

“83:14-15 fire . . . fierce storm . . . tempest: These are images of God’s manifestation in judgment (see Isa 29:6).”

“As the fire: Isa 30:33, Isa 33:11, Isa 33:12, Isa 64:1, Isa 64:2; Eze 20:47, Eze 20:48; Mal 4:1 the flame: Deu 32:22; Nah 1:6, Nah 1:10 Psalms 83:15”