Psalm 83:9
ESV
Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon,
NIV
Do to them as you did to Midian, as you did to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon,
NASB
Deal with them as with Midian, As with Sisera and Jabin at the river of Kishon,
CSB
Deal with them as you did with Midian, as you did with Sisera and Jabin at the Kishon River.
NLT
Do to them as you did to the Midianites and as you did to Sisera and Jabin at the Kishon River.
KJV
Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:
NKJV
Deal with them as with Midian, As with Sisera, As with Jabin at the Brook Kishon,
What does Psalm 83:9 mean?
Asaph (Psalm 83:1) begins a passionate plea for the Lord to punish an aggressive coalition of nations (Psalm 83:6–8). These opponents are conspiring to annihilate the people of Israel (Psalm 83:2–5). Here, the psalm transitions into direct requests, calling on God for specific consequences. These harsh requests establish Psalm 83 as one of the "imprecatory psalms;" to "imprecate" means "to wish evil or to curse." At first, Asaph uses historical examples.When Israel first came into the Promised Land, the Midianites became one of their most insidious enemies. Working with the Moabites (Numbers 22:2–4) and with the advice of a greedy seer (Numbers 31:16), they led Israel into terrible immorality and evil. In response, God commanded their extermination (Numbers 31:7). Israel failed to follow through on this, and during the era of the judges (Judges 2:16–19), Midian oppressed Israel (Judges 6:1). Gideon arose to thoroughly defeat Midian despite their overwhelming numbers (Judges 7:12, 24–25).
Earlier in that same era, a Canaanite king named Jabin oppressed Israel along with his general, Sisera (Judges 4:1–3). Deborah and Barak were called to fight back near the Kishon river (Judges 4:12–14). They eventually defeated and killed Jabin (Judges 4:23–24). After his army was erased (Judges 4:15–16), Sisera attempted to escape, only to be tricked and killed by a clever woman (Judges 4:17, 21).
In the following verse, Asaph will describe the fate of these historical enemies in gruesome terms (Psalm 83:10). Given that context, Asaph's request is brutal. He is asking God to bring terror and destruction on these adversaries.
