Chú giải Kinh Thánh

Ps 72:1-19.

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.

1. Give the king, &c.--a prayer which is equivalent to a prediction.

judgments--the acts, and (figuratively) the principles of a right government

(Joh 5:22; 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, &c. 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; 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; Zec 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

Ge 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.

the righteous--literally, "righteousness."

flourish--literally, "sprout," or, "spring forth."

8. The foreign nations mentioned

(Ps 72:9, 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

(Ex 23:31; De 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).