Attributed commentary excerpt
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 68:17
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Notes on the Whole Bible
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · 19th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
The chariots of God - The meaning of this verse is, that God is abundantly able to maintain his position on Mount Zion; to defend the place which he had selected as his abode. Though it has less natural strength than many other places have - though other hills and mountains, on account of their natural grandeur, may be represented as looking on this with contempt, as incapable of defense, yet he who has selected it is fully able to defend it. He is himself encompassed with armies and chariots of war; thousands of angels guard the place which he has chosen as the place of his abode. “Chariots,” usually two-wheeled vehicles, often armed with scythes attached to their axles, were among the most powerful means of attack or defense in ancient warfare. See Psalms 20:7, note; Psalms 46:9, note; Isaiah 31:1, note; Isaiah 37:24, note; Compare Exodus 14:7; Joshua 17:16; Judges 4:15. Are twenty thousand - A closer version is “two myriads,” or twice ten thousand. The original word is in the dual form. The language is designed to denote a very great number. A myriad was a great number; the idea here is that even “that” great number was doubled. Even thousands of angels - Margin, “many thousands.” The Hebrew is, “thousands repeated,” or “multiplied.” There is in the Hebrew no mention of angels. The Septuagint and the Vulgate render it, “thousands of the rejoicing;” that is, thousands of happy attendants. The original, however, would most naturally refer to the chariots, as being multiplied by thousands. The Lord is among them - The real strength, after all, is not in Zion itself, or in the chariots of the Lord surrounding it, but in the Lord himself. “He” is there as the Head of the host; He, as the Protector of his chosen dwelling-place. As in Sinai, in the holy place - literally, “The Lord is among them; Sinai, in the sanctuary.” The idea seems to be, that even Sinai with all its splendor and glory - the Lord himself with all the attending hosts that came down on Sinai - seemed to be in the sanctuary, the holy place on Mount Zion. All that there was of pomp and grandeur on Mount Sinai when God came down with the attending thousands of angels, was really around Mount Zion for its protection and defense. return to 'Top of Page'
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