Psalm 83 contains an intriguing prophecy of many Middle Eastern
nations that appears to be as yet unfulfilled and to possibly tie
in with end-time events. If so, it foretells a confederation of
Arab nations that are determined to eliminate Israel.
"They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and
consulted together against Your sheltered ones. They have said, 'Come,
and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel
may be remembered no more.' For they have consulted together
with one consent; they form a confederacy against You: The tents
of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites; Gebal, Ammon
and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assyria also
has joined with them" (verses 3-8).
These biblical names are significant when we understand the areas
and peoples to which this prophecy refers. Edom includes the Palestinians
and some of the Turks. The Ishmaelites, descendants of Ishmael,
are many of the Arab peoples throughout the Middle East and North
Africa. Moab is the area of central Jordan. The Hagrites appears
to refer to other descendants of Hagar, mother of Ishmael.
Gebal, meaning "mountain" or "boundary," is
commonly equated with the Phoenician city of Byblos, modern Jubayl
in Lebanon. Ammon refers to northern Jordan around Amman, the capital
(which gets its name from Ammon). Amalek appears to refer to a
branch of Edomite Palestinians. Philistia is the area around what
is today known as the Gaza Strip. Anciently Tyre was a major city-state
in southern Lebanon along the Mediterranean coast. Assyria ethnically
appears to refer to inhabitants of Central Europe who migrated
there many centuries ago, while geographically Assyria is in what
is today northern Iraq. The children of Lot refers to Moab and
Ammon-again, regions of modern-day Jordan.
