Skip to content
Bible Studies

PSALMS 72

Old Testament Studies
Table of Contents
Previous Section
Next Section

 

STROPHE DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

NASB NKJV NRSV TEV NJB
The Reign of the Righteous King
MT Intro

A Psalm of Solomon		 Glory and Universality of the Messiah’s Reign Prayer for God’s Blessing On the King A Prayer for A King The Promised King
72:1-4 72:1-4 72:1-4 72:1-5 72:1-2
        72:3-4
72:5-7 72:5-7 72:5-7   72:5-6
      72:6-7  
        72:7-8
72:8-11 72:8-11 72:8-11 72:8-11  
        72:9-10b
        72:10c-11
72:12-15 72:12-15 72:12-14 72:12-14 72:12-13
        72:14-15
    72:15-17 72:15-17  
72:16-17 72:16     72:16
  72:17     72:17
72:18-19 72:18-19 72:18-19 72:18-19b 72:18-19
      72:19c  
72:20 72:20 72:20 72:20 72:20

READING CYCLE THREE (see
“Bible
Interpretation Seminar”)

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR’S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which
means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the
light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not
relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare
your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is
the key to following the original author’s intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every
paragraph has one and only one subject.

  1. First paragraph
  2. Second paragraph
  3. Third paragraph, etc.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS

  1. This is an extended prayer (i.e., “Give” – BDB 678, KB 733, Qal
    IMPERATIVE) for a righteous king and his son (possibly an allusion to
    2 Samuel 7, which ultimately refers to the Messiah).

     

    1. Your judgments – NASB, NKJV, JPSOA
      1. your justice – NRSV, REB
      2. your own fair judgment – NJB
    2. Your righteousness – NASB, NKJV, NRSV, JPSOA, REB
      – your own saving justice, NJB

     

  2. This Psalm captures the OT understanding of the “New Age.” The covenant
    requirements and promises come to fruition. If it is a coronation hymn, it is royal
    hyperbole, but if it is imagery of the new age, it finds fulfillment in Christ. This
    Psalm is not quoted in the NT but Jewish and Christian sources have seen it as Messianic.
    See Alfred Edersheim, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, Appendix IX, p. 719.

     

  3. This Psalm is dominated by IMPERFECT VERBS. The NASB, NRSV, and JPSOA,
    see Ps. 72:2-4,5-7,8-11,15-17,19 as IMPERFECTS used in a JUSSIVE
    sense (i.e., “may. . .,” “let. . .”), but NKJV and NJB see them all
    as IMPERFECTS (i.e., statements of what the Messiah will do). There are
    four JUSSIVES in this context (i.e., Ps. 72:8,15,16,17).

     

  4. Psalm 72:20 is a concluding remark by a later editor/compiler of Book Two (i.e., Psalm 42-72)
    of the Psalter.

     

    It is also possible that Ps. 72:18-19 comprise a closing doxology to
    Book Two of the Psalter.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 72:1-4
 1Give
the king Your judgments, O God,
 And
Your righteousness to the king’s son.
 2May
he judge Your people with righteousness
 And
Your afflicted with justice.
 3Let
the mountains bring peace to the people,
 And
the hills, in righteousness.
 4May
he vindicate the afflicted of the people,
 Save the children of the needy
 And crush the oppressor.

72:1-4 This strophe prays for the godly manner in which the new king (i.e., Messiah) should reign.

  1. judge (PLURAL in MT possible, expresses quality) with righteousness,
    cf. Isa. 9:7; 11:2-5; 32:1; for “righteousness” see
    SPECIAL
    TOPIC: RIGHTEOUSNESS
  2. judge with justice (see
    SPECIAL
    TOPIC: JUDGE, JUDGMENT, and JUSTICE (שפט) IN ISAIAH    ),
    cf. Ps. 82:3
  3. bring peace (the righteous king’s reign will cause the land to prosper, i.e., Leviticus 26;
    Deuteronomy 27-30)
  4. vindicate, cf. Isa. 11:4
  5. crush the oppressor

Notice the different terms used to describe God’s people.

  1. Your people, Ps. 72:2
  2. Your afflicted, Ps. 72:2,4 (JPSOA, “lowly ones”)
  3. the children of the needy, Ps. 72:4

All of God’s family will be protected and encouraged.

There developed a tension within the covenant community between the rich and poor. This
tension was transferred after the exiles to believing, faithful followers and the pagan invaders/occupiers.
It is the afflicted/poor/needy who will be restored. YHWH will care for and defend them (development of
Deuteronomy themes). He is their only hope and savior (cf. Ps. 103:6; 146:7).

72:3 This imagery can have several meanings.

  1. mountains. . .hills refer to godly leaders
  2. mountains. . .hills are functioning as personified messengers of prosperity (i.e., covenant
    blessings)
  3. mountains. . .hills refer to the permanent stability of the Promised Land

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 72:5-7
 5Let
them fear You while the sun endures,
 And as long as the moon, throughout
all generations.
 6May
he come down like rain upon the mown grass,
 Like showers that water the earth.
 7In his days may the
righteous flourish,
 And
abundance of peace till the moon is no more.

72:5-7 This strophe emphasizes two requests.

  1. that God’s people continue to fear/revere Him
  2. that this devotion continue through time (i.e., while the sun and moon endure, cf. Gen. 8:22;
    Ps. 89:36-37)

If they do, then the promises of abundance from the Mosaic covenant will continue
(cf. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 27-30). The king and the people must meet the covenant conditions.

72:5
NASB, JPSOA   ”them”
NKJV   ”they”
NRSV,NJB, REB, LXX   ”he”

The MT has the PLURAL, therefore, it could refer to

  1. the covenant people’s reverence
  2. the Messianic king’s (i.e., the PLURAL OF MAJESTY) reverence
▣
NASB, NKJV, REB, JPSOA   ”fear”
NRSV, NJB   ”live”
TEV   ”worship”
NJB, LXX   ”endure”

The UBS Text Project (p. 309) gives “last” a “C” rating
(considerable doubt). This follows the LXX. It fits the parallelism better.

72:6 “water” This word (BDB 284, KB 283) is found only here in the OT. It seems
to be from the Hiphil VERB “dripping”; in Arabic the root means “tears
flow.”

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 72:8-11
 8May
he also rule from sea to sea
 And
from the River to the ends of the earth.
 9Let
the nomads of the desert bow before him,
 And
his enemies lick the dust.
 10Let
the kings of Tarshish and of the islands bring presents;
 The kings of Sheba and Seba offer
gifts.
 11And
let all kings bow down before him,
 All
nations serve him.

72:8-11 The reign of the Messiah will be

  1. universal (i.e., using terms from the ANE)
    1. from sea to sea (cf. Zech. 9:10)
    2. from the river (i.e., Euphrates) to the ends of the earth (i.e., Solomon ruled this area)
  2. all peoples will honor Him and bring tribute, cf. Isa. 49:23

This universal reign (cf. Ps. 2:8; 59:13; 65:2; 67:7; Isa. 45:22; 52:10; Micah 5:4) is the
obvious conclusion from Gen. 1:26-27 and 12:3. If monotheism is true, the redemption of all the children
of Adam is the goal (see
SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH’S ETERNAL
REDEMPTIVE PLAN; Psalm 2 is another Messianic Psalm).

72:9
NASB   ”the nomads”
NKJV (MT)   ”those who dwell in the wilderness”
NRSV   ”foes”
TEV   ”peoples of the desert”
NJB   ”beasts”
LXX   ”Ethiopians”
REB   ”desert tribes”

The word (צי, BDB 850 II, KB 1020) can mean

  1. foes from צר, BDB 865 III (emendation, but fits the parallel “enemies”
    of Ps. 72:9b better)
  2. desert animals – Ps. 74:14; Isa. 13:21; 23:13; 34:14; Jer. 50:39 (from ץיה,
    “dryness,” BDB 851, cf. Jer. 50:12; 51:43)
  3. it is possible (cf. NEB) that #2 refers to desert demons (see Special Topic below)
  4. envoy or messenger — ציר (BDB 851 II), cf. Isa. 18:2

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE DEMONIC
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

▣ “his enemies lick the dust” This is an ANE picture (i.e., wall carving and
paintings) of someone bowing (cf. Ps. 72:9a) to the ground. To this was added a literary idiom of
“lick the dust” (BDB 535, KB 525, Piel IMPERFECT, cf. Isa. 49:23;
Micah 7:17), which denoted the defeat and subservience of the one bowing.

72:10 “Tarshish” This place name (BDB 1077, see
SPECIAL TOPIC: TARSHISH)
could refer to

  1. a city in southern Spain on the Atlantic side, which was a Phoenician colony (i.e., Tartessus)
  2. the island of Sardinia
  3. a city on the north African coast (Carthage was a colony of Phoenicia)
  4. a metaphor for a far distant port
  5. a type of large sea-going commercial ship
  6. a rival maritime nation (cf. 1 Kgs. 10:22)

▣ “islands” This word (BDB 15 I) usually means “coast” or “island.”
It denotes far away nations (cf. Isa. 40:15; 66:19; Jer. 25:22; 31:10). This fits the imagery of this
strophe (i.e., the universal reign of the Messiah).

▣ “Sheba” This refers to the nation or tribe from Ham living in southern Arabia.

▣ “Seba” This refers to the area of northeast Africa, often identified with Egypt
and Cush (cf. Isa. 43:3; 45:14).

The purpose of mentioning these place names is to back up the assertion of Ps. 72:8 and 11.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 72:12-15
 12For
he will deliver the needy when he cries for help,
 The afflicted also, and him who has
no helper.
 13He
will have compassion on the poor and needy,
 And the lives of the needy he will
save.
 14He will
rescue their life from oppression and violence,
 And their blood will be precious in
his sight;
 15So
may he live, and may the gold of Sheba be given to him;
 And let them pray for him
continually;
 Let them
bless him all day long.

72:12-15 In Ps. 72:12-14 the IMPERFECTS characterize the Messiah’s reign (not used
in a JUSSIVE sense). However, in Ps. 72:15 the NASB returns to IMPERFECTS
used in a JUSSIVE sense.

Notice the variety in the names and characterizations of God’s people (cf. Ps. 72:2-4).

  1. the needy, Ps. 72:12
  2. the afflicted, Ps. 72:12
  3. the poor, Ps. 72:13
  4. the needy, Ps. 72:13

As Ps. 72:4 named their enemies “the oppressor,” here they are described
as “oppressors” and “those of violence.” It is difficult to identify these people
in Psalms.

  1. unfaithful Israelites
  2. pagan neighbors
  3. foreign invaders

The Messianic king will

  1. deliver the needy and afflicted
  2. have compassion on the poor and needy
  3. save the lives of the needy (cf. Ps. 69:18)
  4. rescue the covenant people from oppression and violence
  5. their blood/lives are precious in His sight (cf. Ps. 116:15)

72:14 “their blood will be precious in his sight” The Messiah is contrasted with “the
oppressor” (cf. Ps. 72:4). He will genuinely care for the poor, needy, and afflicted (cf. Ps. 116:15).
He has the heart of the Creator (cf. Gen. 1:26,27)! All humans are important to Him!

72:15 This verse has two thrusts.

  1. the first two VERBS relate to the Messianic king
    1. may he live – BDB 310, KB 309, Qal JUSSIVE
    2. may he be given tribute – BDB 678, KB 733, Qal IMPERFECT used
      in a JUSSIVE sense
  2. the next two VERBS relate to His people
    1. let them pray for Him continually – BDB 813, KB 933, Hithpael
      IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense
    2. let them bless Him all day long – BDB 138, KB 159, Piel
      IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense

It is obvious that Ps. 72:15a is using a common royal expression (i.e., “long live
the king”), but it takes on new meaning in light of NT revelation of the Messiah’s incarnation
and triumphal entry into Jerusalem!

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 72:16-17
 16May
there be abundance of grain in the earth on top of the mountains;
 Its fruit will wave like the
cedars of Lebanon;
 And
may those from the city flourish like vegetation of the earth.
 17May his name endure
forever;
 May his name
increase as long as the sun shines;
 And let men bless themselves
by him;
 Let all nations
call him blessed.

72:16-17 Both Ps. 72:16 and 17 start with a JUSSIVE VERB, which gives a context
to see all the IMPERFECT VERBS in these two verses as JUSSIVE in meaning.

This strophe continues the abundance theme begun in Ps. 72:3,5-6. This abundance is the
covenantal promises of Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 27-30.

Psalm 72:17 focuses on the Messiah’s reign.

  1. may His name endure forever – used of YHWH in Ps. 135:13
  2. may His name increase as long as the sun shines (cf. Ps. 72:5-7); the VERB
    “increase” is found only here in the OT (BDB 630, KB 696, cf. NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 1161);
    the LXX has “endure” in the parallel of Ps. 72:17a
  3. let men bless themselves by Him (i.e., an allusion to Gen. 12:3; 22:18; the Abrahamic covenant,
    see SPECIAL
    TOPIC: YHWH’S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN
  4. let all the nations call Him blessed (parallel to #3)

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 72:18-19
 18Blessed
be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
 Who alone works wonders.
 19And blessed be His
glorious name forever;
 And
may the whole earth be filled with His glory.
 Amen, and Amen.

72:18-19 Notice how Ps. 72:17 (about the Messiah) is paralleled in Ps. 72:18 (about the
covenant God of Israel). The king, as well as the Messiah, is to reflect the character of YHWH.

Notice the universal element again in Ps. 72:19b (cf. Num. 14:21; Isa. 6:3).

72:18 “works wonders” See
SPECIAL TOPIC: WONDERFUL
THINGS.

72:19 “Amen” See
SPECIAL TOPIC: AMEN.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 72:20
 20The
prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

72:20 This verse is an editorial note showing the close of the second book of Psalms. It is
possible that Ps. 72:18-19 is also a doxological close (cf. Ps. 41:13; 89:52) to the whole second book.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own
interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation.
You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of
the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

  1. Is this Psalm about Solomon or the future Messiah?
  2. Did Solomon’s reign fit Ps. 72:8?
  3. How do these OT Scriptures about Israel’s dominance of all nations fit with the NT?
  4. Who do the “afflicted” represent?
  5. How is Ps. 72:16 related to Genesis 12?
  6. Are Ps. 72:18-19, and 20 a part of this Psalm or a close to Book II?

 

Copyright © 2014 Bible
Lessons International

 

Old Testament Studies
Table of Contents
Previous Section
Next Section