A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. A Song.
1-3 His foundation is on the holy mountains. 2 Adonai loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. 3Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God. Selah
4-6 Among those who know Me I mention Rahav and Babylon. Behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush – “This one was born there,” they say.
רחב (rachav) = “Rachav” (the person)
רהב (rahav) = “Rahav”
5 And of Zion it shall be said, “Every man (איש ואוש, ish v’ish) is born in it, and the Most High Himself establishes her.” 6Adonai records in the record of the peoples, “This one was born there.” Selah
סלה Selah
or
לעלמין (le’al’mi) = “for eternity” (Aramaic)
7 Singers and dancers alike say, “All my wellsprings are in you (f.).”
REFERENCES:
Verse 2
Numbers 24:5 How lovely are Your tents, O Jacob, Your dwelling places, O Israel!
Verse 3
Psalm 46:4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God (עיר האלהים, ir ha’Elohim), the holy habitation of the Most High.
Isaiah 60:14 The sons of those who afflicted you shall come bending low to you, and all who despised you shall bow down at your feet. They shall call you the City of Adonai (עיר יי, ir Adonai), the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
Hebrews 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,
Hebrews 11:10 For [Abfaham] was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
Hebrews 11:16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city.
Hebrews 13:14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.
Yehuda Avner was a British Jew who immigrated to Israel. He was the first English-born Israeli ambassador to England. When he presented his credentials to Queen Elizabeth, she commented, “This is the first time I have ever received credentials from a foreign ambassador who was actually born in this country.”
Mr. Avner replied, “Your Majesty, though physically born in this country I was birthed spiritually in Jerusalem from whence my ancestors were exiled by Roman legions two thousand years ago.” [From Living Tehillim, vol.3, pg. 366]
Verse 4
Psalm 40:4 Blessed is the man who makes Adonai his trust, who does not turn to the proud (רהב, rahav), to those who go astray after a lie!
Isaiah 30:7 Egypt’s help is worthless and empty, therefore I have called her “Rahav who sits still.”
Isaiah 51:9 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of Adonai. Awake, as in days of old, the generations of long ago. Was it not You who cut Rahav in pieces, who pierced the dragon?
Verse 5
Esther 1:8 And drinking was according to this edict: “There is no compulsion.” For the king had given orders to all the staff of his palace to do as every/each man(איש ואיש, ish v’ish) desired. [+Ps.48:8/101:8]
Verse 6
Galatians 4:26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.