What does Psalm 60:7 mean?

This is part of a declaration (Psalm 60:6), written by David, expressing the Lord's intent to rescue Israel (Psalm 60:1–5). The prior verse spoke of God being the one to parcel out the regions of Succoth (Genesis 33:17) and Shechem (Genesis 33:18–20). Those were important areas in Israel's history. Now, God makes similar assurances about other regions in the land of His chosen people.

Gilead was east of the Jordan River, while Manasseh stretched over both sides. Ephraim was centrally located in Israel and was a strong tribe. Often, after the kingdom of Israel was divided (1 Kings 12:16–20), decades after the battle referred to in this psalm, the name Ephraim was used to identify the northern kingdom of Israel. As God's "helmet," Ephraim would be Israel's defender.

The tribal name "Judah" signified the southern kingdom when the nation was split. Judah, called God's "scepter," was Israel's royal tribe. David came from the tribe of Judah, as did David's chief descendant, the Lord Jesus Christ. Genesis 49:10 prophesies the coming Messiah: "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples." When Jesus returns to earth and establishes His thousand-year reign, all nations will honor Him (Revelation 20:6). The restoration of both Judah and Ephraim at that future time is promised in Zechariah 10:6–7.