Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Psalms 125:2
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
As the mountains [are] round about Jerusalem, etc.] There was Mount Zion on the side of the north, and the mount of Olives on the east, and other mountains on the other sides of it; so that it was encompassed with them, and was naturally as well as artificially fortified. Tacitusf1758 describes Jerusalem as inaccessible, walls and mountains, rocks and towers, surrounding it: and the poet Coerilusf1759 makes mention of a people that spoke the Phoenician language, by whom he plainly means the Jews, oikoun d’en solumoiv oresi, “that inhabited the mountains of Solyma”; which are spoken of by Homerf1760, from whence, according to Tacitusf1761, Jerusalem had its name: yet, as Kimchi observes, this did not hinder the enemy from taking it; wherefore the Lord is a greater security to his people; so the Lord [is] round about his people, from henceforth even for ever; he encompasses them with his favour and lovingkindness as a shield; he encircles them in the arms of everlasting love; he guards them by his providence all around, and keeps a wakeful and watchful eye over them, that nothing hurts them: he keeps them, as in a garrison, by his almighty power: these are the walls that are around them, yea, he himself is a wall of fire about them, and the glory in the midst of them, (<380205>Zechariah 2:5); and so he continues; he never leaves his people, nor forsakes them, but is their God and guide even unto death. The Targum is, “the Word of the Lord is round about his people;” Christ, the essential Word of God.
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