Jesus' Conquest: Spoils of Victory for Believers

Paul quotes Psalm 68 for the ascension: he ascended on high, leading a host of captives, and gave gifts to men.
The popular reading takes those captives as the righteous dead, released from some holding place. The sources call that backwards. Taking captivity captive is not a release of the righteous - it is the conquest of the ungodly. The captives are the defeated, not the rescued.
Psalm 68 supplies the setting: Yahweh the divine warrior tearing down the strongholds of Bashan, the mountain tied to the rebellion of the Watchers.
And the honest wrinkle, which is worth naming. In the Old Testament the figure ascends and receives gifts. Paul has Christ giving them.
Scripture links:
- Psalm 68:18 - ascended on high, leading captives, receiving gifts.
- Ephesians 4:8 - ascended on high, leading captives, giving gifts.
The ascension is a victory parade. The gifts are what the victor hands out afterwards.