1A Psalm for SolomonH8010. GiveH5414 the kingH4428 thy judgmentsH4941, O GodH430, and thy righteousnessH6666 unto the king'sH4428 sonH1121. 2He shall judgeH1777 thy peopleH5971 with righteousnessH6664, and thy poorH6041 with judgmentH4941. 3The mountainsH2022 shall bringH5375 peaceH7965 to the peopleH5971, and the little hillsH1389, by righteousnessH6666. 4He shall judgeH8199 the poorH6041 of the peopleH5971, he shall saveH3467 the childrenH1121 of the needyH34, and shall break in piecesH1792 the oppressorH6231 . 5They shall fearH3372 thee as long asH5973 the sunH8121 and moonH3394 endureH6440, throughout allH1755 generationsH1755. 6He shall come downH3381 like rainH4306 upon the mownH1488 grass: as showersH7241 that waterH2222 the earthH776. 7In his daysH3117 shall the righteousH6662 flourishH6524 ; and abundanceH7230 of peaceH7965 so long as the moonH3394 endureth. 8He shall have dominionH7287 also from seaH3220 to seaH3220, and from the riverH5104 unto the endsH657 of the earthH776. 9They that dwell in the wildernessH6728 shall bowH3766 beforeH6440 him; and his enemiesH341 shall lickH3897 the dustH6083. 10The kingsH4428 of TarshishH8659 and of the islesH339 shall bringH7725 presentsH4503: the kingsH4428 of ShebaH7614 and SebaH5434 shall offerH7126 giftsH814. 11Yea, all kingsH4428 shall fall downH7812 before him: all nationsH1471 shall serveH5647 him. 12For he shall deliverH5337 the needyH34 when he criethH7768 ; the poorH6041 also, and him that hath no helperH5826 . 13He shall spareH2347 the poorH1800 and needyH34, and shall saveH3467 the soulsH5315 of the needyH34. 14He shall redeemH1350 their soulH5315 from deceitH8496 and violenceH2555: and preciousH3365 shall their bloodH1818 be in his sightH5869. 15And he shall liveH2421, and to him shall be givenH5414 of the goldH2091 of ShebaH7614: prayer also shall be madeH6419 for him continuallyH8548; and dailyH3117 shall he be praisedH1288 . 16There shall be an handfulH6451 of cornH1250 in the earthH776 upon the topH7218 of the mountainsH2022; the fruitH6529 thereof shall shakeH7493 like LebanonH3844: and they of the cityH5892 shall flourishH6692 like grassH6212 of the earthH776. 17His nameH8034 shall endure for everH5769: his nameH8034 shall be continuedH5125 H5125 as long asH6440 the sunH8121: and men shall be blessedH1288 in him: all nationsH1471 shall call him blessedH833 . 18BlessedH1288 be the LORDH3068 GodH430, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478, who only doethH6213 wondrous thingsH6381 . 19And blessedH1288 be his gloriousH3519 nameH8034 for everH5769: and let the whole earthH776 be filledH4390 with his gloryH3519; AmenH543, and AmenH543. 20The prayersH8605 of DavidH1732 the sonH1121 of JesseH3448 are endedH3615 .
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 For, or literally, "of Solomon." The closing verse rather relates to the second book of Psalms, of which this is the last, and was perhaps added by some collector, to intimate that the collection, to which, as chief author, David's name was appended, was closed. In this view, these may consistently be the productions of others included, as of Asaph, sons of Korah, and Solomon; and a few of David's may be placed in the latter series. The fact that here the usual mode of denoting authorship is used, is strongly conclusive that Solomon was the author, especially as no stronger objection appears than what has been now set aside. The Psalm, in highly wrought figurative style, describes the reign of a king as "righteous, universal, beneficent, and perpetual." By the older Jewish and most modern Christian interpreters, it has been referred to Christ, whose reign, present and prospective, alone corresponds with its statements. As the imagery of the second Psalm was drawn from the martial character of David's reign, that of this is from the peaceful and prosperous state of Solomon's. (Psa. 72:1-19)
Give the king, &c.--a prayer which is equivalent to a prediction.
judgments--the acts, and (figuratively) the principles of a right government (
John 5:22;
John 9:39).
righteousness--qualifications for conducting such a government.
king's son--same person as a king--a very proper title for Christ, as such in both natures.
2 The effects of such a government by one thus endowed are detailed.
thy people . . . and thy poor--or, "meek," the pious subjects of his government.
3 As mountains and hills are not usually productive, they are here selected to show the abundance of peace, being represented as
bringing--or, literally, "bearing" it as a produce.
by righteousness--that is, by means of his eminently just and good methods of ruling.
4 That peace, including prosperity, as an eminent characteristic of Christ's reign (
Isa 2:4;
Isa 9:6;
Isa 11:9), will be illustrated in the security provided for the helpless and needy, and the punishment inflicted on oppressors, whose power to injure or mar the peace of others will be destroyed (compare
Isa 65:25;
Zech 9:10).
children of the needy--for the needy (compare sons of strangers,
Ps 18:45 [Margin]).
5 as long as . . . endure--literally, "with the sun," coeval with its existence, and before, or, in presence of the moon, while it lasts (compare
Gen 11:28, "before Terah," literally, "in presence of," while he lived).
6 A beautiful figure expresses the grateful nature of His influence;
7 and, carrying out the figure, the results are described in an abundant production
8 The foreign nations mentioned (
Ps 72:9-
Ps 72:10) could not be included in the limits, if designed to indicate the boundaries of Solomon's kingdom. The terms, though derived from those used (
Exod 23:31;
Deut 11:24) to denote the possessions of Israel, must have a wider sense. Thus, "ends of the earth" is never used of Palestine, but always of the world (compare Margin).
9 The extent of the conquests.
They that dwell in the wilderness--the wild, untutored tribes of deserts.
bow . . . dust--in profound submission. The remotest and wealthiest nations shall acknowledge Him (compare
Ps 45:12).
12 They are not the conquests of arms, but the influences of humane and peaceful principles (compare
Isa 9:7;
Isa 11:1-
Isa 11:9;
Zech 9:9-
Zech 9:10).
15 In his prolonged life he will continue to receive the honorable gifts of the rich, and the prayers of his people shall be made for him, and their praises given to him.
16 The spiritual blessings, as often in Scripture, are set forth by material, the abundance of which is described by a figure, in which a "handful" (or literally, "a piece," or small portion) of corn in the most unpropitious locality, shall produce a crop, waving in the wind in its luxuriant growth, like the forests of Lebanon.
they of the city . . . earth--This clause denotes the rapid and abundant increase of population--
of--or, "from"
the city--Jerusalem, the center and seat of the typical kingdom.
flourish--or, glitter as new grass--that is, bloom. This increase corresponds with the increased productiveness. So, as the gospel blessings are diffused, there shall arise increasing recipients of them, out of the Church in which Christ resides as head.
17 His name--or, "glorious perfections."
as long as the sun--(Compare
Ps 72:5).
men shall be blessed-- (
Gen 12:3;
Gen 18:18).
18 These words close the Psalm in terms consistent with the style of the context, while
Ps 72:20 is evidently, from its prosaic style, an addition for the purpose above explained [see on
Ps 72:1].
20 ended--literally, "finished," or completed; the word never denotes fulfilment, except in a very late usage, as in
Ezra 1:1;
Dan 12:7.