Psalms 80:13
The boar from the forest ravages it, and all that move in the field feed on it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse uses both a specific animal, the "boar," known for its destructive power, and a more general term, "wild beast," suggesting that the devastation is total and comes from multiple sources. This isn't just random destruction; it's an overwhelming onslaught from both the wilderness and the open fields, signifying a complete breakdown of security for God's people.
The psalmist has just described God's careful tending of Israel, likening them to a vine brought from Egypt and planted in fertile land. Now, in stark contrast, he laments the destruction that has befallen this vine, personified by destructive animals ravaging what God Himself cultivated. This leads into the plea for God to restore and protect His people from further devastation by these relentless invaders.
Why does the Psalmist describe Israel as a vulnerable vine being destroyed by wild animals? This vivid imagery reveals a deep cry for God's intervention when His people are under attack.
The Vine and its Enemies
The Psalmist uses the metaphor of a cultivated vine to represent Israel. God Himself brought this vine out of Egypt, cleared the land, and planted it with care, allowing it to flourish and spread.
But now, in Psalm 80, the scene has drastically changed. The protective hedges are broken down, and the vine is exposed to devastating predators. The 'boar out of the forest' and the 'wild beast of the field' are powerful images of brutal, untamed forces. These aren't just ordinary pests; they are destructive invaders that ravage and devour.
The commentaries suggest these 'beasts' represent various historical oppressors who attacked and destroyed Israel, such as the Assyrians and Babylonians. This imagery communicates the utter devastation and vulnerability Israel felt when facing these enemies.
What's the difference between a wild boar and a farmed animal? This verse highlights the contrast between the destructive power of invaders and the protective care God intends for His people.
Wildness vs. Husbandry
The imagery of the 'boar out of the wood' and 'wild beast of the field' speaks to a dangerous, untamed force that knows no boundaries. These are creatures that operate by instinct, driven to destroy and consume what is not their own. They represent the brutal and chaotic nature of the enemies who attacked Israel.
This contrasts sharply with the picture of God as a careful vinedresser presented earlier in the psalm (verses 8-11). He diligently cleared the land, planted, tended, and protected His vine. The wild animals, however, are the antithesis of this careful cultivation; they are agents of chaos and ruin.
The commentators point out that these invaders, like Nebuchadnezzar or the Assyrian kings, brought not just conquest but utter devastation, stripping the land bare. The violence of the 'boar' and the 'beast' underscores the severity of Israel's plight and the depth of their suffering.
This Psalm paints a vivid picture of destruction using the metaphor of a vineyard ravaged by wild animals. Historically, these images likely resonated deeply with Israelites who had witnessed their beloved land and people devastated by successive empires like Assyria and Babylon, seen here as the 'boar' and 'wild beast' tearing apart God's precious vine.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Captivity
The Northern Kingdom of Israel (the 'ten tribes') falls to the Assyrian Empire under Shalmaneser V and Sargon II. The population is deported, and the land is devastated.
605-586 BC— this verse
Babylonian Exile Begins
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon begins deporting Judeans to Babylon, starting with the first deportation in 605 BC. The city of Jerusalem and its temple are eventually destroyed in 586 BC.
c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers the Babylonian Empire, ending the exile. This marks a shift in imperial power in the ancient Near East.
c. 332 BC
Conquest by Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great conquers the Persian Empire, bringing Hellenistic influence to the region and ushering in a new era of cultural and political change.
This passage directly parallels the imagery of Israel being devoured by wild beasts, specifically mentioning the 'king of Assyria' and 'all his companions' as predators, much like the boar and wild beast in Psalms 80.
Isaiah 5:1-7This prophecy also uses the vine as a metaphor for Israel and describes its destruction and neglect, leading to ruin and being overrun, mirroring the lament in Psalms 80 about the vine being ravaged.
Ezekiel 19:10-14This passage uses the imagery of a vine that was planted and flourished but was then uprooted and scattered, with its branches burned, echoing the theme of God's vine being destroyed by hostile forces.
Hosea 2:12This verse speaks of wild animals devouring the fruit and foliage of the vineyard, a direct parallel to the imagery of the boar and wild beast consuming what was once God's fruitful vine.
clarkePsalms 80:13: "The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it."
The boar out of the wood - Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, who was a fierce and cruel sovereign. The allusion is plain. The wild hops and buffaloes make sad havoc in the fields of the Hindoos, and in their orchards: to keep them out, men are placed at night on covered stages in the fields.
gillPsalms 80:13: "The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it."
The boar out of the wood doth waste it,.... As Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, who carried the ten tribes captive; the title of this psalm in the Septuagint version is, a psalm for the Assyrian. Vitringa, on Isaiah 24:2 interprets this of Antiochus Epiphanes, to whose times he thinks the psalm refers; but the Jews (r) of the fourth beast in Daniel 7:7 , which designs the Roman empire: the wild…
The verse uses both a specific animal, the "boar," known for its destructive power, and a more general term, "wild beast," suggesting that the devastation is total and comes from multiple sources. This isn't just random destruction; it's an overwhelming onslaught from both the wilderness and the open fields, signifying a complete breakdown of security for God's people.
The psalmist has just described God's careful tending of Israel, likening them to a vine brought from Egypt and planted in fertile land. Now, in stark contrast, he laments the destruction that has befallen this vine, personified by destructive animals ravaging what God Himself cultivated. This leads into the plea for God to restore and protect His people from further devastation by these relentless invaders.
The psalmist has just described God's careful tending of Israel, likening them to a vine brought from Egypt and planted in fertile land. Now, in stark contrast, he laments the destruction that has befallen this vine, personified by destructive animals ravaging what God Himself cultivated. This leads into the plea for God to restore and protect His people from further devastation by these relentless invaders.
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c. 167-164 BC
Maccabean Revolt
The Maccabean Revolt breaks out against the Seleucid Empire, a successor state to Alexander's empire, over religious and cultural oppression.
c. 63 BC
Roman Conquest of Judea
Pompey the Great of Rome conquers Judea, bringing it under Roman influence and eventually incorporating it into the Roman Empire.
"The boar from the forest ravages it, and all that move in the field feed on it." — The verse uses both a specific animal, the "boar," known for its destructive power, and a more general term, "wild beast," suggesting that the devastation is total and comes from multiple sources. Th…
