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[a]“Simeon and Levi, brothers indeed,
    weapons of violence are their knives.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. 49:5–7 This passage probably refers to their attack on the city of Shechem (Gn 34). Because there is no indication that the warlike tribe of Levi will be commissioned as a priestly tribe (Ex 32:26–29; Dt 33:11), this passage reflects an early, independent tradition.
  2. 49:5 Knives: if this is the meaning of the obscure Hebrew word here, the reference may be to the knives used in circumcising the men of Shechem (34:24; cf. Jos 5:2).

Cursed be their fury so fierce,
    and their rage so cruel!
I will scatter them in Jacob,
    disperse them throughout Israel.

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See how your enemies rage;
    your foes proudly raise their heads.
They conspire against your people,
    plot against those you protect.(A)
They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation;
    let Israel’s name be remembered no more!”
They scheme with one mind,
    they have entered into a covenant against you:(B)
[a]The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
    of Moab and the Hagrites,(C)
Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek,(D)
    Philistia and the inhabitants of Tyre.(E)
Assyria, too, in league with them,
    backs the descendants of Lot.
Selah

II

10 [b]Deal with them as with Midian;
    as with Sisera and Jabin at the wadi Kishon,(F)
11 Those destroyed at Endor,
    who became dung for the ground.(G)
12 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,
    all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
13 Who made a plan together,
    “Let us take for ourselves the pastures of God.”

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Footnotes

  1. 83:7–9 Apart from the Assyrians, all the nations listed here were neighbors of Israel. The Hagrites are a tribe of the desert regions east of Ammon and Moab (1 Chr 5:10, 19–22). Gebal is the Phoenician city of Byblos or perhaps a mountain region south of the Dead Sea. The descendants of Lot are Moab and Edom (Gn 19:36–38 and Dt 2:9). These nations were never united against Israel in the same period; the Psalm has lumped them all together.
  2. 83:10–13 For the historical events, see Jgs 4–8.