1Von Schlomo. Gott, deine Rechtsbräuche dem Könige gib, deinen Wahrspruch dem Königssohn! 2Er urteile deinem Volke in Wahrheit, in Gerechtigkeit deinen Gebeugten! 3Frieden tragen dann die Berge dem Volk zu, die Hügel in Wahrhaftigkeit. 4Er rechte für die Gebeugten des Volks, befreie die Söhne des Dürftigen und ducke den Unterdrücker! 5Man fürchtet dich mit dem Sonnenschein dann, angesichts des Monds für Geschlecht der Geschlechter. 6Er senke sich wie Regen auf die Matte, wie Rieseln, Getröpfel zur Erde. 7In seinen Tagen sproßt der Bewährte, Friedens Fülle ist, bis es keinen Mond gibt. 8Er befehligt vom Meere zum Meer und vom Strom zu den Rändern der Erde. 9Schiffsmächte knien ihm vorm Angesicht, seine Feinde lecken den Staub. 10Die Könige von Tarschisch und den Inseln, Zinsspende entrichten sie, die Könige von Saba und Sseba, Tribut nahen sie dar. 11Ihm bücken alle Könige sich, alle Stämme dienen ihm. 12Denn er rettet den Dürftigen, der aufstöhnt, den Gebeugten, dem kein Helfer ist. 13Ihn dauert des Armen und Dürftigen, die Seelen der Dürftigen befreit er, 14löst ihre Seele aus Pressung und Unbill, teuer ist in seinen Augen ihr Blut. 15Er lebe! Man gibt ihm von Sabas Gold, man betet für ihn beständig, all den Tag segnet man ihn: 16»Er sei wie Schwellen des Getreids überm Erdland, am Haupte der Berge woge libanongleich auf seine Frucht, mögen der Stadt sie entblühen wie Kraut der Erde! 17Sein Name bleibe auf Weltzeit, angesichts der Sonne pflanze sein Name sich fort, mögen alle Stämme sich segnen mit ihm, ihn glücklich heißen.« 18Gesegnet ER, Gott, Der Gott Jissraels, der Wunder tut, er allein, 19gesegnet der Name seiner Ehre auf Weltzeit, mit seinem Ehrenschein fülle sich alles Erdland! Jawahr, jawahr! 20Zu Ende sind die Gebete Dawids Sohnes Jischajs.
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.