Psalm 83:8

Psalm 83:8, in plain English

Even Assyria—perhaps the most powerful empire in the region—has joined the alliance, making this an almost overwhelming force.

Why it's here

Assyria was the superpower of its day, known for brutal military campaigns and imperial conquest. That they've allied with these other nations to target Israel shows how coordinated and serious the threat is. The phrase 'sons of Lot' refers to Moab and Ammon, descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew—reinforcing the irony that even distant relatives have joined against God's people.

Who's speaking

Asaph, adding the heaviest hitter to the coalition.

Where it sits in the story

Even when the most powerful nations align against God's purposes, God remains sovereign. This is a setup for what's about to come in the next verses.

The scholarly reading

Even Assyria, the superpower of the ancient Near East, has joined the coalition, strengthening the descendants of Lot (Ammon and Moab).

Language and setting

Assyria's inclusion is historically significant—though the psalm's title suggests pre-exilic composition, the actual involvement of the Assyrian Empire would place this during the 8th century BCE, when Neo-Assyrian expansion threatened Israel's existence. The phrase 'lending strength to the sons of Lot' (אֶזְרוֹעַ לִבְנֵי־לוֹט, ezroa livnei-Lot) employs military terminology: Assyria provides military 'arm' (muscle) to the Transjordanian kingdoms. This represents the worst-case scenario—local enemies backed by imperial hegemony.

Voice

The psalmist identifying the superpower dimension of the crisis.

Significance

This aligns with the prophetic literature's preoccupation with Assyrian imperialism—Isaiah's oracles against Assyria, Hosea's warnings about playing international politics, and the historical narrative of Sargon's conquest of the northern kingdom in 722 BCE.

6the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagrites,

7of Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, of Philistia with the people of Tyre.

8Even Assyria has joined them, lending strength to the sons of Lot.

9Do to them as You did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the River Kishon,

10who perished at Endor and became like dung on the ground.

Read all of Psalm 83 — Every enemy of Israel has allied against them. Do to them as you did to Midian — let them know that You alone are the Most High.