Sides of the North

[SureWord]

Only twice is this phrase used in the bible (Psalm 48:2; Isaiah 14:13).

What exactly does it means? The top of a mountain? The top side?

[Salyan]

Both seem to refer to a specific place (Mt Zion?) rather than a generic mountain or even the direction of north. 

[SureWord]

5 hours ago, Salyan said:

Both seem to refer to a specific place (Mt Zion?) rather than a generic mountain or even the direction of north. 

Yes, though I think it can be applied to God's "mountain" in heaven where his throne is.

What I don't understand is the word "sides". If north is UP what are the sides?

[Razor]

You can check on the meaning of "sides of the north" in a number of commentaries at:

https://biblehub.com/commentaries/psalms/48-2.htm

[SureWord]

3 hours ago, Razor said:

You can check on the meaning of "sides of the north" in a number of commentaries at:

https://biblehub.com/commentaries/psalms/48-2.htm

 The "quarters of the north"?

Still doesn't make sense to me.

I guess this one will go on the back burner for now.

[BrotherTony]

We were always taught that this is just a reference to Jerusalem, but could be a possible reference to the New Jerusalem. Some of my commentaries that I had researched on this seem to support these possibilities.

[Salyan]

Maybe it's just being poetical. If North is up and represented by the top of the mountain, then the sides are logically the sides. And it's a nice-sounding phrase.  

[Jerry]

The North side of mount Zion?

[SureWord]

6 hours ago, Jerry said:

The North side of mount Zion?

I thought this like when the speak of a north face of a mountain but it says "sides" plural. 

11 hours ago, Salyan said:

Maybe it's just being poetical. If North is up and represented by the top of the mountain, then the sides are logically the sides. And it's a nice-sounding phrase.  

This may be it. If you look at a pyramid the top or capstone (headstone) has three sides and it's at the top so if north is up than that's the meaning.

11 hours ago, BrotherTony said:

We were always taught that this is just a reference to Jerusalem, but could be a possible reference to the New Jerusalem. Some of my commentaries that I had researched on this seem to support these possibilities.

Yes, I believe it refers to Mt. Zion on earth as well as in heaven.

[Jerry]

Who says North is up? God didn't. North is a direction, not an elevation. Also, a mountain range is not like a building with straightedged sides.

Psalm 48:2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

Sounds like God is saying Mount Zion is on the North side of Jerusalem. Can anyone verify that?

[Salyan]

33 minutes ago, Jerry said:

Who says North is up? God didn't. North is a direction, not an elevation. Also, a mountain range is not like a building with straightedged sides.

Psalm 48:2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

Sounds like God is saying Mount Zion is on the North side of Jerusalem. Can anyone verify that?

In David’s time (and time’s previous), the Temple Mount was due north of the city, and nothing built out to the west yet either. 

[SureWord]

8 hours ago, Jerry said:

Who says North is up? God didn't. North is a direction, not an elevation. Also, a mountain range is not like a building with straightedged sides.

Psalm 48:2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

Sounds like God is saying Mount Zion is on the North side of Jerusalem. Can anyone verify that?

Which way is the north star? Straight up. I didn't say it was an elevation. I said it is "up".

Unless you think Satan only wanted to sit on the temple mount in Jerusalem and not God's temple mount in the "north" then I guess north would be only heading in that direction on a map. (Revelation 11:19; Hebrews 9:23)

8 hours ago, Salyan said:

In David’s time (and time’s previous), the Temple Mount was due north of the city, and nothing built out to the west yet either. 

Yes, sounds good, but Isaiah 14:13 is speaking of a different temple mount. Also, Solomon's temple was in existence during Isaiah's time.

Edited February 8, 2022 by SureWord

[Jerry]

The North Star is directly UP from the North pole (hence the name, also called the Pole Star, being above the North Pole), not just generally up; therefore, the North in North Star is still a direction.

9 hours ago, SureWord said:

Yes, sounds good, but Isaiah 14:13 is speaking of a different temple mount. Also, Solomon's temple was in existence during Isaiah's time.

? That passage is referring to something in Heaven - using earthly directions to make a comparison. Don't explain something away because you can't understand how it fits in every passage. Psalm 48 is referring to physical Mount Zion and Jerusalem, Isaiah 14 is referring to God's throne in Heaven.

Edited February 8, 2022 by Jerry

[Jerry]

This is interesting:

Jerusalem was a tough proposition for any army, however seasoned. It could be approached only from the north; on the east, south, and west it was surrounded by deep valleys, some of them steep and precipitous. The towering walls of the city added even greater height, so any attack of Jerusalem from these directions presented significant problems. Jerusalem crowned the highest tableland in the country. It was indeed a mountain city.

 

John Phillips Exploring The Psalms

[John Young]

On 2/8/2022 at 5:27 PM, Jerry said:

Isaiah 14 is referring to God's throne in Heaven

I would say Isaiah 14:13-14 is referring to both heaven, earth and the realm in-between. The Jerusalem Temple, with the mercy seat symbolized God's earthy authority and covenant with the earthy people/nation of God. The devil wanted to dominate God by ruling over the seat of the spirit realm (heaven, stars) and the seat of earthly authority (congregation, side of the north, etc)