For the music director; by the Korahites; a psalm.
47:1 All you nations, clap your hands!
Shout out to God in celebration! 2
47:5 God has ascended his throne 3 amid loud shouts; 4
the Lord has ascended his throne amid the blaring of ram’s horns. 5
1 sn Psalm 47. In this hymn the covenant community praises the Lord as the exalted king of the earth who has given them victory over the nations and a land in which to live.
2 tn Heb “Shout to God with [the] sound of a ringing cry!”
3 sn God ascended his throne. In the context of vv. 3-4, which refer to the conquest of the land under Joshua, v. 5 is best understood as referring to an historical event. When the Lord conquered the land and placed his people in it, he assumed a position of kingship, as predicted by Moses (see Exod 15:17-18, as well as Ps 114:1-2). That event is here described metaphorically in terms of a typical coronation ceremony for an earthly king (see 2 Sam 15:10; 2 Kgs 9:13). Verses 1-2, 8-9 focus on God’s continuing kingship, which extends over all nations.
4 tn Heb “God ascended amid a shout.” The words “his throne” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The
5 tn Heb “the