Psalm 83 (82):11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

They were devoured in Aendor, a place of shame, since Aendor signifies inappropriate. They resembled the filth of the earth. When left unburied, they decayed and, like refuse, became one with the ground.

Jabin and Sisera were the adversaries that Deborah and Barak engaged in combat. “The mouthpiece of Kison, who perished in Aendor” (Psalm 82:10-11). Deborah and Barak defeated Sisera, the commander. Thus, consider the words of the psalmist. Lord, in light of their arrogance, marching forth with a formidable army, with Nebuchadnezzar, the leader of the Assyrians, in their ranks, and having formed alliances with the descendants of Lot, behaving like demons and their pride reaching You—therefore, I beseech You that their disgrace comes not at the hands of a man, but through a woman. “Who has become like the dung of the earth” (Psalm 82:11). Who do these figures represent? They are Midian, Sisera, and Jabin. Collectively, these three have become fertilizer for the land.

"You shall treat them like Midian and Sisera, like Jabin at the river of Kisson." "They were destroyed in Endor." With deep appreciation, they recall the blessings of the past, imploring for similar assistance for their own needs. These leaders were defeated by Barak and the prophetess Deborah. "They were as the refuse of the earth," for being left unburied, they became dust, as if they were waste mingled with the ground.

They perished in Aendor, akin to the refuse of the earth. Aendor was the battleground against Sisera. However, some referred to the aforementioned stream of the Kissonians as Aendor, considering it a location with dual names. He states that those two, previously mentioned, after being slain, became refuse for the land; for, left unburied, they decayed and dispersed.

The choice of adversaries by the prophet was deliberate, as their defeat was unforeseen. Gideon vanquished the Midianites, who swarmed the land in vast numbers, unarmed, and triumphed with only three hundred men. These warriors possessed no swords, shields, or helmets; they fought solely with torches and trumpets. Conversely, Sisera, the commander of the forces from Jabim, advanced with nine hundred iron chariots but was struck with fear by God. In his flight, he fell into the hands of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, who ended his life with a tent peg. The prophet thus implores that those named earlier may likewise be overcome by God's might. The mention of the Kishon stream and Aendorah highlights the location of the battle against Sisera.

The Psalm, inspired by the Holy Spirit and attributed to David, was provided to Asaph, the leader of the choirs, to declare the prophetic message within it regarding the impending trials faced by the Jewish people, particularly the faithful followers of Christ during various periods, especially during the reign of the Antichrist. In this Psalm, the prophet earnestly reflects the prayers of the Holy Church directed to God amid persecution (Theodoret). Malice acts as a demonic allure, drawing individuals into idolatry and sin. Through God's forbearance, adversaries grew arrogant, becoming brazen in their defiance. Those who rage against God's people and His holy ones ultimately wage war against Him, the One whose servants and kin they are.