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There is growing controversy surrounding a passage found in Psalm 83.  Authored by Asaph about 3000 years ago, the psalm is a plea for God to avenge Israel’s enemies.  The passage lists at least 10 enemies, some of whom can be fairly clearly identified today.

Championed by Bill Salus, the theory is that all the enemies listed in Psalm 83 are Israel’s immediate neighbors, and that they will be soundly defeated by the Israeli Defense Forces.  Salus contends that this battle will take place prior to the Ezekiel 38 invasion from the north.  His reasoning is that the nations listed in Psalm 83 are (for the most part) not listed in Ezekiel 38, and that the motive of the Psalm 83 invaders is to take territory.  Meanwhile, the motive of the Ezekiel 38 invaders is to take spoil.

Opponents of that theory point out that there are considerable similarities between the Psalm 83 nations and those listed in Ezekiel 38 if appropriate etymology is applied.  (For example, Turkey is a sizeable land, and is included in both passages.  Also, Ezekiel alludes to many other nations not listed.)  Secondly, whereas Salus contends that the nations listed in Psalm 83 are mostly neighboring lands to Israel (thus, forming an “inner ring), a look at a map of the lands listed in Psalm 83 reveals that not all lands are in close proximity to Israel.  (See the map below.)

Salus, in his book, Israelestine, contends that Israel will defeat and occupy the lands of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.  Others don’t go quite that far.  Instead, saying that those nations will simply be defeated (not occupied) by Israel.  In order for either to happen, Israel (home to about 6 million Jews) would have to thoroughly defeat Arab nations that total about 170 million Arabs.  Though Scripture clearly indicates that God will ultimately protect and defend Israel, it is difficult to comprehend such a miraculous victory simply at the hands of the IDF is likely.

Another difficult challenge to the Psalm 83 theory is the fact that Egypt is not listed in Psalm 83, though some say that the Hagrites refer to Egypt.  First, Egypt was a well-known nation at the time Asaph wrote this Psalm.  Why would he have used the term Hagrites?  Actually, Hagrites refer to a people group who lived in northern Jordan, east of Gilead.  (1 Chronicles 5:10)

So, when others ask me what I think of the Psalm 83 prophecy, this is my reply:  My desire is to be a student of the Word and, to this point, I have not found enough Biblical evidence to agree with the position that Psalm 83 predicts a battle between Israel and her immediate neighbors prior to the northern invasion detailed in Ezekiel 38.  It’s not an argument in which I will enter, but I’m also not staking my Biblical stance on it until I am able to satisfy for myself that there is Biblical evidence to support it!

So, my encouragement is this:  we are to be students of God’s Word.  This issue (and all others) should drive us to God’s Word to seek His truth.  Let’s be noble-minded, receiving the Word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things are so.  (Acts 17:11)

Shabbat shalom, friends!