15. Here the priests on the summit of the chosen hill begin to extol the
Lord for his choice of Zion as his dwelling-place. The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan, or more accurately, “a hill of God is Bashan”; that
is to say, Bashan is an eminent mountain, far exceeding Zion in height. Where
we talk of the Devil’s Dyke, the Devil’s Punch Bowl, etc., the more commendable
idiom of the Hebrews speaks of the hill of God, the trees of the Lord, etc. A high hill as the hill of Bashan, or rather, “a mount of peaks is Bashan.” It does
not appear that Zion is compared with Bashan, but contrasted with it. Zion was
certainly not a high hill comparatively; and it is here conceded that Bashan is
a greater mount, but not so glorious, for the Lord in choosing Zion had exalted
it above the loftier hills. He selects Zion and passes by the proud, uplifted
peaks of Bashan; thus does he make the base things of this world, and things
that are despised, to become monuments of his grace and sovereignty.
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