68:8 the earth shakes,
yes, the heavens pour down rain
before God, the God of Sinai, 1
before God, the God of Israel. 2
79:6 Pour out your anger on the nations that do not acknowledge you, 3
on the kingdoms that do not pray to you! 4
1 tn Heb “this one of Sinai.” The phrase is a divine title, perhaps indicating that the
2 sn The language of vv. 7-8 is reminiscent of Judg 5:4-5, which tells how the God of Sinai came in the storm and annihilated the Canaanite forces led by Sisera. The presence of allusion does not mean, however, that this is a purely historical reference. The psalmist is describing God’s typical appearance as a warrior in terms of his prior self-revelation as ancient events are reactualized in the psalmist’s experience. (For a similar literary technique, see Hab 3.)
3 tn Heb “which do not know you.” Here the Hebrew term “know” means “acknowledge the authority of.”
4 sn The kingdoms that do not pray to you. The people of these kingdoms pray to other gods, not the Lord, because they do not recognize his authority over them.