A processional hymn of divine victory and care: Victory proclamation and ascent

The Lord gives the word, and a great company of women announce the flight

The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it. Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil. Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold. When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.

Publishers of the victory are a great female company in this poetry. Home-dividing of spoil and dove-wings among the pots are images of reversal after lying in the ash-heaps. Several of these lines remain disputed in detail. Teach what is clear: kings flee at God's word, and women proclaim it.

Zion is chosen over Bashan's height, and the ascent receives gifts

The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan. Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell for ever in it. The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.

Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them. Ephesians 4 later hears this ascent as Christ's gift-giving. That is Christian reception. The psalm's first picture is the victorious God going up to the chosen hill and taking tribute, even from rebels, in order to dwell. Neither horizon is a modern conquest program.