Bashan was a territory on the east side of the Jordan River (see 22.12); other than in this psalm there is no reference to a mountain there or to a conflict between those who claimed that Zion was the holy mountain and those who said that a mountain in Bashan was. Some take this to be a reference to Mount Hermon, which was considered to be the dwelling place of the gods of Canaan. This mountain is here called “mountain of God (or, the gods),” that is, “mountain ʾelohim,” which Good News Translation, Revised Standard Version, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, and Dahood take as a superlative, mighty mountain; New International Version and New Jerusalem Bible have “majestic mountain(s).” But there are translations which have “mountain of God”; some phrase and punctuate verse 15a in a way that implies that the psalmist was stating that Mount Bashan was indeed “a mountain of God” (New Jerusalem Bible; New English Bible “a hill of God”; Bible en français courant “The mountain of Bashan is a sacred mountain”).
It seems reasonable to suppose that Mount Bashan is rebuked for its envy of Mount Zion, “the mountain on which God chose to live” (Good News Translation), that is, desired or longed for as his dwelling, and where he will live forever. In many languages which have only a term for a hill or slight elevation, there is no term for “peaks.” However, in such languages one may be able to say “a hill that has many high places.” Others say “rugged mountain.”
In many languages it will be necessary to make clear that the question is addressed to the mountain of Bashan. Since in many languages it will seem strange to accuse one mountain of being envious of another, it will often be necessary to shift to some kind of simile; for example, “Why do you, Bashan mountain, look with envy at the other mountain where the LORD chose to live, like one person looks at another with envy?” Or we may translate “Why do you people who worship on Bashan Mountain look with envy at those who worship on the mountain where God chose to live?”
Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on the Book of Psalms. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1991. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .