Mazmur 60:7

60:7 Gilead belongs to me,

as does Manasseh! ¹ 

Ephraim is my helmet, ² 

Judah my royal scepter. ³ 

Mazmur 97:8

97:8 Zion hears and rejoices,

the towns ⁴  of Judah are happy,

because of your judgments, O Lord.

[60:7]  ¹ sn Gilead was located east of the Jordan. Half of the tribe of Manasseh lived east of the Jordan in the region of Bashan.

[60:7]  ² tn Heb “the protection of my head.”

[60:7]  sn Ephraim, named after one of Joseph’s sons, was one of two major tribes located west of the Jordan. By comparing Ephraim to a helmet, the Lord suggests that the Ephraimites played a primary role in the defense of his land.

[60:7]  ³ sn Judah, like Ephraim, was the other major tribe west of the Jordan. The Davidic king, symbolized here by the royal scepter, came from this tribe.

[97:8]  ⁴ tn Heb “daughters.” The term “daughters” refers to the cities of Judah surrounding Zion (see Ps 48:11 and H. Haag, TDOT 2:336).