1. The danger of destruction 83:1-8

The psalmist cried out to God to act for His people by expressing the alternatives negatively (v. 1). He described how Israel's enemies had conspired to oppose God by destroying His people. Asaph used a chiastic structure to connect God's interests with those of His nation (vv. 2-5). He then listed Israel's enemies (vv. 6-8). The Hagarites (Hagrites, NIV) or descendents of Hagar were the Ishmaelites. Gebal is another name for Byblos, a strong town in Lebanon. Lot's children were the Moabites and the Ammonites.