Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 48:12

"Walk about Zion, and go round about her; Number the towers thereof;" — Psalms 48:12 (ASV)

Walk about Zion - This is a call on all persons to go around the city; to take a survey of it; to see how beautiful and how strong it was—how it had escaped all danger, and was uninjured by the attempt to destroy it—how capable it was of resisting an attack. The word “walk” here means simply to go around or surround. The other word used has a more direct reference to a solemn procession.

And go round about her - The word used here—from נקף nâqaph—to fasten together, to join together, means to move around in a circle, as if persons joined together (see the notes at Job 1:5), and would refer here properly to a solemn procession moving around the city, and taking a deliberate survey of its entire circuit.

Tell the towers thereof - That is, Take the number of the towers. See how numerous they are; how firm they remain; what a defense and protection they constitute. Cities, surrounded by walls, had always “towers” or elevated portions as posts of observation, or as places from which missiles might be discharged with advantage on those who should attempt to scale the walls. Compare Genesis 11:4-5; 2 Chronicles 26:9–10; Isaiah 2:15.