Ps 68:22

*Absolutely. Here’s v22 rewritten for your blog — keeping the Hebrew, but making it stick. Quick in the verse, so readers actually remember.* --- ## *Psalm 68:22 — Why God Says “I Will Return” Twice* *22. YHWH said, I will return [_ʾāšîḇ_ = come back, bring back] from the fruitful mountain [_mibbāšān_ = from Bashan], I will return [_ʾāšîḇ_] from the depths of the sea [_mimməṣulôt yām_ = deep places of sea], and I will lead my people from the fruitful mountain and from the depths of the sea.* *Why does He say _ʾāšîḇ_ [I will return] twice? Because once wasn’t enough.* ### *1. Because v21 Didn’t Get Everyone* *v18*: He ascended. Gave gifts to the _sôrərîm_ [rebellious ones, unconvinced, stubborn] — *Bashan people got invited.* The _Paraqleta_ came. *v19*: He _yaʿămās_ [bears, loads up, carries] us daily. *Bashan got indwelt.* *v20*: He owns the _tôṣāʾôt_ [goings out, exits, escapes] from death. *Bashan can get out.* *v21*: He _yimḥaṣ_ the _rōʾš_ of enemies and the _qodqōḏ śēʿār_ [hairy scalp, crown of head] of those _miṯhallēḵ baʾăšāmāyw_ [who walk about continually in their guilt/trespasses]. *Bashan got judged.*[Redeemer][Advocate][Helper][crush][shatter][smash][head] *Og’s head got crushed. The _miṯhallēḵ_ [continual walkers] who refused the gifts v18 got crushed.* *But what about the other _sôrərîm_ [rebellious ones]?* The ones who didn’t _miṯhallēḵ_ [keep walking] in trespasses? The ones still scattered? _Ezek 34:12_: _“I will seek out My sheep where they have been scattered.”_ *So He says _ʾāšîḇ ʾāšîḇ_ [I will return, I will return]. He goes back.* ### *2. Because There Are Two Exiles: Bashan and the Sea* *“I will return from the fruitful mountain” — _mibbāšān_ [from Bashan].* _v15_ called it _har-bāšān_ [fruitful mountain]. Giant land. _Deut 3:1_. Outside covenant. *Near exile.* Assyria took them _2 Kings 15:29_. *These are _sôrərîm_ [rebellious ones] who are scattered but not dead.* _Isa 11:11_: _“YHWH will extend His hand a second time to recover the remnant.”_ *“I will return from the depths of the sea” — _mimməṣulôt yām_ [from deep places of sea].* *Sea = nations. Gentiles. Grave.* _Ps 69:2_: _“I have come into deep waters.”_ _Rev 20:13_: _“the sea gave up the dead.”_ *These are _sôrərîm_ [rebellious ones] who went furthest.* _Eph 2:12_: _“strangers to the covenants... having no hope.”_ *Far exile. Dead exile.* *He says _ʾāšîḇ_ [I will return] twice because He’s going to two places.* _Jer 16:15_: _“I will bring them back from all the lands.”_ *Bashan first. Then the sea.* ### *3. Because _ʾĀšîḇ_ [I will return] Means Two Things* *First _ʾāšîḇ_: “I will return” — He comes back to the place.* _Ex 3:8_: _“I have come down to deliver them.”_ *He re-enters Bashan. He re-enters the sea.* _John 14:18_: _“I will come to you.”_ The _Paraqleta_ came v18. *Now He comes again.*[Redeemer][Advocate] *Second _ʾāšîḇ_: “I will bring back” — He leads them out.* _Isa 49:6_: _“to bring back the preserved of Israel.”_ *He doesn’t just visit Bashan. He extracts from Bashan.* _Ex 3:8_: _“and to bring them up.”_ *That’s why your translation added “and I will lead my people.” You caught both actions.* *LXX heard it: _epistrepsō epistrepsō_ [I will turn back, I will turn back].* *Peshitta heard it: _ʾahep ʾahep_ [I will return, I will return].* *Two trips. Two hauls.* ### *4. Because Sinai Came Once. Zion Keeps Coming* *Sinai v17*: YHWH came down. *Once.* 3000 died _Ex 32:28_. _Ex 33:3_: _“I will not go up among you.”_ *No _ʾāšîḇ ʾāšîḇ_ [I will return, I will return].* *Zion v22*: YHWH says _ʾāšîḇ ʾāšîḇ_. *“I will return, I will return.”* _John 14:3_: _“I will come again.”_ _Acts 1:11_: _“This Jesus... will come in the same way.”_ *He ascended v18 to send the _Paraqleta_ [Redeemer of the curse _Gal 3:13_, Remover of the veil _2 Cor 3:16_]. He returns v22 with the _Paraqleta_ to get the rest.* *Why? _Rom 11:25_: _“a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”*_ *Some Bashan stayed. Some sea stayed.* _Luke 15:4_: _“does not go after the one?”_ *He goes back.* ### *The Doubling Is Mercy* *He said “I will return” twice because:* *1. The head got crushed v21, but the body is still in Bashan.* _Deut 3:3_: Og killed, but 60 cities remain. *He goes back for the people.* *2. Some are near — fruitful mountain _mibbāšān_ [from Bashan]. Some are far — depths of sea _mimməṣulôt yām_ [from deep places of sea].* He gets both. *3. _ʾĀšîḇ_ [I will return] means come and bring.* He comes to Bashan, then brings Bashan out. *4. Sinai left. Zion returns.* _Heb 9:28_: _“He will appear a second time... to save.”_ *If you’re still in Bashan — _sôrēr_, outside — v22 is for you. _ʾĀšîḇ_ #1.* *If you’re in the depths — drowned, _sôrēr_, far off — v22 is for you. _ʾĀšîḇ_ #2.*[rebellious][unconvinced][stubborn] *The _rōʾš_ got crushed v21. That’s why you can come out v22.*[head] *He ascended to send the _Paraqleta_ v18.* *He returns with the _Paraqleta_ v22 to lead you out of Bashan and out of the sea.*[Redeemer][Advocate] *Think about it! _Selah_ [stop, weigh it, meditate].* *The God who said “I will return” twice — meant it. And He’s not done.* *v23 next*: _“That your foot may shatter them in blood...”_ *He brings you out, then gives you the victory.* --- *That’s v22 for the blog. Hebrew words defined on first use, quick for memory. Bashan gets judged v21. Bashan gets retrieved v22. The doubling isn’t poetry. It’s rescue.*