Psalm 83: The War of Israel's Neighbors

Originally written by Hiro Ababon, November 2024.

Psalm 83 prophesies a war between Israel and its immediate neighbors where they seek Israel's annihilation. Before being scattered by Rome in 70 AD, the peoples mentioned in this Psalm have all attacked Israel individually but never together. Since Israel's restoration in 1948, the surrounding Muslim nations refused to take in the Arabs that did not want to be part of Israel, creating the Palestinian problem. They have been propagandized and armed to fight Israel by those nations. The nations mentioned in this Psalm have spent decades in low-level conflict preparing to fight Israel and on Oct 7, 2023, started their war. (The Al-Aqsa Flood, with the stated purpose of preventing the Red Heifer sacrifice and the twice-daily sacrifices.)

Like Joel said, many people assumed that an Israeli victory against these nations would mean that Israel completely destroys or even occupies those nations, that is wrong. Psalm 83 specifies that the enemy forces attacking Israel and their leadership are destroyed, not their originating nations. In fact, those nations will continue to exist until the end when Jesus Himself deals with them.

I think we are seeing the actual end-time fulfillment of Psalm 83, not some "partial" or "interim" fulfillment. It has set the stage for the next prophecy to be fulfilled, the "strengthening" of a "covenant with the many", which I assume to be the UN's Pact for the Future that was signed last month. My thought is that they will push a peace plan on Israel that recognizes Palestinian demands for land. In my mind, that would confirm we have entered the time of Jacob's Trouble.

A Song. A Psalm of Asaph.

1 O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God!

2 For behold, your enemies make an uproar (Hamah - great commotion, to rage); those who hate you have raised their heads (Nasa Rosh - exalted themselves in defiance of God).

Since Oct 2023, Pro-Palestinian protests have sprung up around the world by those who oppose God, (Muslims and the left)

These protests are loud, disruptive and filled with anti-Semitic rage.

3 They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against your treasured ones.

Leaders of the anti-Israel coalition in the Middle East (Hamas, Hezbollah, West Bank, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Yemen) meet together to plan the eradication of Israel. Iranian proxies consult Iran (who provides all their funding) before any significant attack.

4 They say, "Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!"

The left's tagline of "From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free" is a call for the eradication of Israel since that would leave nothing for Israel. Meanwhile, they actively try to erase Israel's history and identity so they will not be remembered.

5 For they conspire with one accord; against you they make a covenant—

Muslims and the Left prepared, promoted and passed a covenant (Treaty) in the United Nations last Sep., the Pact for the Future, which gives the UN authority (but not power) to impose conditions on Israel for peace.

6 the tents (- nomadic / temporary homes usually of Arabs)

(Palestinians are Arabs who lived in the areas assigned to Israel before its formation in 1948.)

Of Edom (- Palestinians of Southern Jordan)

and the Ishmaelites, (- Palestinians of Sinai, Houthis in Yemen)

Moab (- Palestinians in central Jordan east of Dead Sea)

and the Hagrites, (- Palestinians of Golan Heights) (Many incorrectly conflate them with Hagar so associate them with Egypt)

7 Gebal (- Byblos & North Lebanon, Hezbollah)

and Ammon (NW Jordan)

and Amalek, (Palestinians of Negev desert into Sinai Peninsula)

Philistia (- Gaza, Hamas)

with the inhabitants of Tyre (- Lebanon, Hezbollah);

8 Asshur also has joined them; (Portions of Iraq, Syria)

they are the strong arm of the children of Lot (- Jordan). Selah

9 Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon,

10 who were destroyed at En-dor, who became dung for the ground.

The Midianite and other Canaanite armies were miraculously, utterly defeated by Gideon

Commander Sisera was killed and Jabin, King of Hazor, eventually lost his kingdom

11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,

12 who said, "Let us take possession for ourselves of the pastures of God."

Oreb, Zeeb, Zebah and Zalmunna were the Midianite military and civilian leaders who fought Gideon to take Israel's land

This Psalm makes special note of the leaders of enemy forces being killed, just as Israel is eliminating enemy leadership. The Psalm does not mention occupying or annihilating the invading nations, rather they will be put to shame.

13 O my God, make them like whirling dust, like chaff before the wind.

14 As fire consumes the forest, as the flame sets the mountains ablaze,

15 so may you pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your hurricane!

16 Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek your name, O Lord.

17 Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever; let them perish in disgrace,

18 that they may know that you alone, whose name is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth.

Bottom line: In spite of the incredible odds and overwhelming forces that were arrayed against them, expect Israel's complete victory in this war with enemy forces miraculously destroyed and their leaders killed. Since Jesus personally judges these nations when He returns, something will allow these nations to continue to exist despite their complete defeat.

Expected next stage: Peace treaty giving land to Palestinians enforced. Israel enjoys peace and prosperity for 3.5 years (with a reputation of having an exceedingly great army) while the 4 horsemen go forth across the world.

Note: Iran (-Elam) has played an active part of this whole conflict but isn't mentioned in this prophecy, perhaps because they will still have a military and will play a big role in the Ezekiel 38–39 war.