Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon, who were destroyed at En-dor, who became dung for the ground.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm doesn't just recall past victories; it deliberately invokes specific, almost poetic echoes of God's past interventions. By referencing the defeats of Midian and Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon, the psalmist isn't just listing battles, but recalling moments where God turned impossible odds into decisive, almost legendary triumphs for His people.
Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon, who were destroyed at En-dor, who became dung for the ground.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist is calling on God for deliverance from a coalition of nations plotting against Israel. To encourage this prayer, he reminds God of past victories where He decisively defeated Israel's enemies, specifically referencing the destruction of the Midianites by Gideon and the defeat of Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon. These powerful historical examples serve to bolster faith that God can and will act again on behalf of His people.
Ever feel like you're facing impossible odds? This verse calls on an ancient memory to fuel faith for the present.
The psalmist isn't just recounting history; he's weaponizing it. He reminds God (and himself!) of two epic victories:
These weren't just military wins; they were divine interventions. By invoking these events, the psalmist is pleading, 'God, you showed up then in incredible ways. Do it again!'
Why does the psalmist bring up these old battles? It's about more than just history; it's about the unchanging character of God.
The power of these historical allusions lies in who God is.
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Understand the original words
šā-maḏ · Hebrew Verb
To bring to nothing, to annihilate, or to ruin; used in reference to God’s judgment upon the wicked or enemies of His people.
dō-men · Hebrew Noun
Refuse or excrement; used here metaphorically to describe the complete humiliation, worthlessness, and ignominious end of those who opposed God.
The Psalmist calls on God to enact judgment by referencing two pivotal moments of divine intervention in Israel's history: the defeat of the Canaanite general Sisera and King Jabin, and the victory over the Midianites under Gideon. These powerful memories served as a reminder of God's power to save and a plea for Him to act similarly against contemporary enemies.
c. 13th century BC
Oppression by Jabin and Sisera
Jabin, king of Canaan, and his general Sisera brutally oppressed the Israelites for twenty years.
c. 13th century BC— this verse
Victory over Jabin and Sisera
Led by Deborah and Barak, the Israelites achieved a miraculous victory over Sisera's army by the River Kishon, leading to Sisera's death.
c. 13th century BC
Gideon's Victory over Midian
Gideon, with a small force of 300 men, miraculously defeated the much larger Midianite army, causing them to turn on each other.
c. 8th century BC
Assyrian Empire's Expansion
The powerful Neo-Assyrian Empire was expanding its influence and military might throughout the ancient Near East.
This passage details Gideon's miraculous victory over the Midianites with a small force, mirroring the prayer for divine intervention against overwhelming enemies.
Judges 4:1-15It recounts the defeat of Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon, directly aligning with the historical precedent mentioned in the psalm.
2 Chronicles 20:1-30This chapter describes a similar situation where an invading army is miraculously defeated by God after prayer and reliance on Him, providing a parallel account of divine deliverance.
Isaiah 9:4This prophecy directly alludes to the victory over Midian as a precedent for future deliverance, showing the enduring significance of this historical event in God's redemptive plan.
Psalm 106:10-12This psalm also recalls God's deliverance of Israel from oppressors, including the scattering of their enemies, echoing the sentiment of turning the tables on those who threaten God's people.
clarkePsalms 83:9: "Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:"
Do unto them as unto the Midianites - Who were utterly defeated by Gideon, Judges 7:21 , Judges 7:22 . As to Sisera - Captain of the army of Jabin, king of Canaan, who was totally defeated by Deborah and Barak, near Mount Tabor, by the river Kishon; and himself, after having fled from the battle, slain by Jael, the wife of Heber, the Kenite. See Judges 4:15, etc.
ellicottPsalms 83:9: "Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:"
(9-12) For the historical allusion see references in margin. The splendid victories of Barak and Gideon were the constant theme of poets and prophets when trying to encourage their own generation by the examples of the past. (See Isaiah 9:4 ; Isaiah 10:26 ; Habakkuk 3:7 .)
This psalm doesn't just recall past victories; it deliberately invokes specific, almost poetic echoes of God's past interventions. By referencing the defeats of Midian and Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon, the psalmist isn't just listing battles, but recalling moments where God turned impossible odds into decisive, almost legendary triumphs for His people.
The psalmist is calling on God for deliverance from a coalition of nations plotting against Israel. To encourage this prayer, he reminds God of past victories where He decisively defeated Israel's enemies, specifically referencing the destruction of the Midianites by Gideon and the defeat of Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon. These powerful historical examples serve to bolster faith that God can and will act again on behalf of His people.
The psalmist is calling on God for deliverance from a coalition of nations plotting against Israel. To encourage this prayer, he reminds God of past victories where He decisively defeated Israel's enemies, specifically referencing the destruction of the Midianites by Gideon and the defeat of Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon. These powerful historical examples serve to bolster faith that God can and will act again on behalf of His people.
"Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon, who were destroyed at En-dor, who became dung for the ground." — This psalm doesn't just recall past victories; it deliberately invokes specific, almost poetic echoes of God's past interventions. By referencing the defeats of Midian and Sisera and Jabin at the riv…
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Last reviewed October 2026