Psalm 108:8

108:8 Gilead belongs to me,

as does Manasseh!12

Ephraim is my helmet,13

Judah my royal scepter.14

12	tn Gilead was located east of the Jordan River. Half of the tribe of Manasseh lived east of the Jordan in the region of Bashan.
13	tn Heb “the protection of my head.” sn Ephraim, one of Joseph’s sons, was one of two major tribes located west of the Jordan River. By comparing Ephraim to a helmet, the Lord suggests that the Ephraimites played a primary role in the defense of his land.
14	sn Judah, like Ephraim, was the other major tribe west of the Jordan River. The Davidic king, symbolized here by the royal scepter, came from this tribe.