Israel’s Ten Long-Standing Enemies

[Psalm 83:3-8] “They conspire with malicious craftiness against your people; they consult together against your treasured ones. They say, ‘Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more.’ For they conspire with one accord; against you they make a covenant—the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites, Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assyria also has joined them; they have become a strong arm for the children of Lot.”

People in the world find it difficult to agree on most matters because individual, group, and national interests vary. Only in opposing God can people consistently conspire and form alliances, because rebellion against God is a common human nature. The ten enemies of Israel mentioned in Psalm 83:6-8, although they did not historically attack Israel simultaneously, have long encircled Israel menacingly. Given any opportunity, they would create difficulties for God’s people, serving as “thorns” placed by God around Israel. Today, the countries surrounding Israel are descendants of these peoples. Although they have gradually accepted the reality of coexisting with Israel after five Middle East wars, distant Iran has begun to incite the annihilation of Israel, seeking to “wipe them out as a nation” and “let the name of Israel be remembered no more.”

Edomites are descendants of Esau, Jacob’s twin brother (Genesis 36:9), living southeast of the Dead Sea.

Ishmaelites are descendants of Ishmael, born to Abraham and Hagar (Genesis 16:11), and are ancestors of the Arabs.

Moab is a descendant of Lot, Abraham’s nephew (Genesis 19:37), living southeast of the Dead Sea, north of Edom.

Hagrites are an Arab people living east of Gilead (1 Chronicles 5:10).

Gebal is located in Phoenicia, north of Mount Carmel, near Sidon (Joshua 13:5).

Ammon is a descendant of Lot, Abraham’s nephew (Genesis 19:38), living east of the Jordan River, north of Moab.

Amalek is a nomadic tribe in the southern wilderness of Israel, a traditional enemy of Israel (Exodus 17:8).

Philistia is located on the southwestern Mediterranean coastal plain of Israel.

Tyre is a Phoenician seaport north of Mount Carmel.

Assyria refers to the Assyrian Empire, which was farthest from Israel.