Psalm 48
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Tanakh versions:
Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the TaNaKh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF).
Colour coded details of the - TaNaKh:
1. Torah =
History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical
books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations
of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and
history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.
Please Note: Some alterations or
(additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected
like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following truth
from our beloved Torah!
“Ye
shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2.
However, sadly both the later priests (second Temple days) as well as our rabbis of long ago have completly disobeyed this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ - ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’
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With Rabbi,
Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Foreword:
Psalm 48 is a
magnificent choice to follow our many studies of Psalms with the internal life.
If Psalm 32 was about the “city of the soul”, Psalm 48 is
about בְּעִיר
אֱלֹהֵינוּ -
the “City of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim” - Jerusalem - Zion.
In our tradition, this is the “Shir Shel Yom” (Psalm of the Day) for Monday. It is a song of national pride, focusing on the physical and spiritual security of Zion. It portrays Jerusalem not just as a capital city, but as the meeting point between Heaven and Earth.
Introduction: The
Beauty of the Heights.
Psalm 48 is a “Song of the Sons of Korah”. It celebrates the city of Jerusalem as the “joy of the whole earth”. The Psalm describes a failed siege by foreign kings who, upon seeing the city’s splendour and Divine protection, are struck with panic. It concludes with an invitation to “walk about Zion”, counting her towers as a testament to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s eternal guidance.
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Let us now read Tehillim - Psalm 48:
1. “A Song; a Psalm of the sons of Korah.
2. Great is יְהוָה - the LORD, and highly to be praised, in the city of our אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, His holy mountain.
3. Fair in situation, the joy of the whole earth; even mount Zion, the uttermost parts of the north, the city of the great King.
4. אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God) in her palaces hath made Himself known for a stronghold.
5. For, lo, the kings assembled themselves, they came onward together.
6. They saw, straightway they were amazed; they were affrighted, they hasted away.
7. Trembling took hold of them there, pangs, as of a woman in travail.
8. With the east wind Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish.
9. As we have heard, so have we
seen
in the city of יְהוָה
- the LORD of hosts, in the city of our אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim - אֱלֹהִים establish it for ever.
Selah.
10. We have
thought on Thy loving-kindness, O אֱלֹהִים, in the midst of Thy
temple.
11. As is Thy Name, O אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim, so is Thy praise unto the ends of the earth;
Thy right hand is full of righteousness.
12. Let mount Zion be glad, let the daughters of Judah rejoice, because of Thy judgments.
13. Walk about Zion, and go round about her; count the towers thereof.
14. Mark ye well her ramparts, traverse
her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.
15. For
such is אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim, our אֱלֹהִים, for ever and ever; He
will guide us eternally”.
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The Greatness of the City (Verses 1-4).
Verse 1: “Great is יְהוָה - the LORD, and highly to be praised, in the city of our אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, in His holy mountain”.
The greatness of the city is a direct reflection of the greatness of its King.
Verse 2: “Fair in situation, the joy of the whole earth; even mount Zion, the uttermost parts of the north, the city of the great King”.
*Teaching Note: “Fair in situation” (Yefeh Nof) refers to the beautiful climate and elevation. Jerusalem sits high, inviting all to look upward.
Verse 3: “אֱלֹהִים - Elohim in her palaces hath made Himself known for a stronghold”.
The “stronghold” is not the stone walls, but His Presence within them.
The Defeat of the Kings (Verses 5-9).
Verse 5: “For, lo, the kings assembled themselves, they passed by together”.
Enemies gathered to attack, but their plan failed before it began.
Verse 6: “They saw it, then were they amazed; they were affrighted, they hasted away”.
Verse 7: “Trembling took hold of them there, pangs as of a woman in travail”.
The mere sight of Zion’s holiness caused the enemies to lose their courage.
Verse 8: “With the east wind Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish”.
Even the strongest naval powers of the time are nothing compared to the “East Wind” of the Almighty.
Verse 9: “As we have heard, so have we seen...”
This is a powerful statement of faith. The stories we heard from our fathers (history) have now been witnessed with our own eyes (experience).
The Response of the People (Verses 10-12).
Verse 10: “We have thought on Thy loving-kindness, O אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, in the midst of Thy temple”.
While the world rages outside, the faithful meditate on Chesed (loving-kindness) within the Sanctuary.
Verse 11: “As is Thy Name, O אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, so is Thy praise unto the ends of the earth...” אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s reputation is global, but His justice is felt locally in the “daughters of Judah” (the cities of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s Israel).
The Eternal Legacy (Verses 13-15).
Verse 13: “Walk about Zion, and go round about her; tell the towers thereof”.
*Verse 14: “Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following”.
Verse 15: “For such is אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, our אֱלֹהִים, for ever and ever; He will be our guide even unto death”.
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Cross-References (from the JPS-1917 Tanakh).
1. Lamentations 2:15 (The Contrast).
The verse: “Is this the city that men called the perfection of beauty, the joy of the whole earth?”
Insight: Lamentations mourns the loss of what Psalm 48 celebrates. It reminds us that the city’s beauty is tied to our relationship with the “Great King”.
2. Psalm 122:3 (The Unity of Zion).
The Verse: “Jerusalem, that art builded as a city that is compact together”.
Insight: This reinforces the “bulwarks” and “palaces” mentioned in Psalm 48:14.
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Conclusion: Telling the world the Following:
The beauty of Psalm 48 is that it turns a ‘physical city into a spiritual lesson’. You may not be walking the physical ramparts of Jerusalem today, but by learning from these Psalms, we are “marking well the bulwarks” of our tradition.
What you have been shown is that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is a “stronghold” (v. 3) who guides us “forever and ever” (v. 15). The “joy of the whole earth” is found wherever the “Great King” is recognized!
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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following via several of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem;
walk in My statutes, and keep Mine
ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign
between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה
- the LORD your Eloheichem”.
Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as
follows;
“The More Torah, the More Life”
For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה
- the LORD
Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,
He
is the one who gave us our Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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