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Psalm 83:10
who perished at Endor, who became as dung for the earth.
8Assyria also is joined with them. They have helped the children of Lot. Selah.
9Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the river Kishon;
10who perished at Endor, who became as dung for the earth.
11Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12who said, “Let’s take possession of God’s pasture lands.”
Notice
The dead at Endor become “as dung for the earth” in a prayer asking God to repeat an enemy’s defeat, a harsh picture of death and disgrace.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What troubles you about the comparison of those who died at Endor to dung?
Write on thisHow does the threat to seize God’s pasture lands shape your reading of this plea?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Jeremiah 16:4“They will die grievous deaths. They will not be lamented, neither will they be buried. They will be as dung on the surface of the ground. They will be …Both passages compare the dead to dung on the ground; Jeremiah also describes their lack of burial and mourning.
1 Samuel 28:7Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek for me a woman who has a familiar spirit, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” His servants said to him, “Behold, …Endor is the shared place name; Samuel describes Saul seeking a woman with a familiar spirit, a different event.
2 Kings 9:37and the body of Jezebel will be as dung on the surface of the field on Jezreel’s land, so that they won’t say, “This is Jezebel.”’”Both passages compare human remains to dung on the land, portraying death with stark disgrace.
Job 20:7yet he will perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’Both verses use dung as a degrading comparison for people who perish.
Zephaniah 1:17I will bring such distress on men that they will walk like blind men because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and …Both passages describe human destruction through the image of dung; Zephaniah names sin against the LORD as its cause.
Joshua 17:11Manasseh had three heights in Issachar, in Asher Beth Shean and its towns, and Ibleam and its towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, and the …Both passages name Endor; Joshua lists its inhabitants and towns, while the psalm recalls people who perished there.
Jeremiah 8:2They will spread them before the sun, the moon, and all the army of the sky, which they have loved, which they have served, after which they have walked, which …Both passages compare human remains to dung on the earth; Jeremiah adds that the remains will neither be gathered nor buried.
Jeremiah 9:22Speak, “The LORD says, “‘The dead bodies of men will fall as dung on the open field, and as the handful after the harvester. No one will gather them.’”Both passages portray the dead as dung on the ground, with Jeremiah also comparing bodies to what a harvester leaves.
1 Kings 14:10therefore, behold, I will bring evil on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam everyone who urinates on a wall, he who is shut up and he who is …Both passages use dung imagery for destruction, though Kings describes sweeping away Jeroboam’s house rather than bodies lying on earth.
Isaiah 5:25Therefore the LORD’s anger burns against his people, and he has stretched out his hand against them and has struck them. The mountains tremble, and their dead …Both passages portray the dead as waste, using dung in the psalm and refuse in Isaiah.
Isaiah 25:10For the LORD’s hand will rest in this mountain. Moab will be trodden down in his place, even like straw is trodden down in the water of the dunghill.Both passages use dung imagery to describe defeat; Isaiah compares Moab to straw trampled in dunghill water.
Jeremiah 25:33The slain of the LORD will be at that day from one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth. They won’t be lamented. They won’t be gathered or …Both passages compare the slain to dung on the ground; Jeremiah extends the scene across the earth.
Where this verse fits
Injustice and anger. fear for the future. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The prayer entrusts the defeat of threatening powers to God. Its language is severe: even enemies who seek to seize God’s land remain subject to his judgment.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).