6 You make us a source of contention to our neighbors. Our enemies laugh among themselves.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Thou makest us a strife - An occasion of strife or wrangling; that is, of strife among themselves, to see who will get the most of our spoils; or of contention, to see which could do most to aggravate their sufferings, and to bring disgrace and contempt upon them. They were emulous with each other in the work of desolation and ruin.
Unto our neighbors - The surrounding nations. See Psalm 79:4.
And our enemies laugh among themselves - Over our calamities. They exult; they glory; they triumph in our ruin.
Thou makest us a strife - The neighboring districts have a controversy about us; we are a subject of contention to them. A people so wonderfully preserved, and so wonderfully punished, is a mystery to them. They see in us both the goodness and severity of God. Or, all the neighboring nations join together to malign and execrate us. We are hated by all; derided and cursed by all.
Thou makest us a (e) strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves.
(e) Our neighbours have continual strife and war against us.
Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours,.... Either obliges us to contend with them for our defence and safety; or having given us into their hands, they strive and contend one with another about dividing the spoil:
and our enemies laugh among themselves; at us, and because there is no help for us in God, as they imagine; or at God himself, as Kimchi, saying he cannot save as.
strife--object or cause of (Isaiah 9:11). On last clause compare Psalm 79:4; Ezekiel 36:4.
*More commentary available at chapter level.