Psalms 72 — with JFB Commentary
The King James text with the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary (1871, public domain) directly beneath the verses it explains. Verses without a JFB note stand alone.
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1Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son.
PSALM 72
Psa 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.
2He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.
3The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
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.
4He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.
4. That peace, including prosperity, as an eminent characteristic of Christ's reign (Is 2:4; Is 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 Is 65:25; Zec 9:10).
children of the needy--for the needy (compare sons of strangers, Psa 18:45 [Margin]).
5They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.
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).
6He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.
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."
7In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.
8He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.
8. The foreign nations mentioned (Psa 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).
9They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.
9-11. 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 Psa 45:12).
10The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
9-11. 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 Psa 45:12).
11Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.
9-11. 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 Psa 45:12).
12For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.
12-14. They are not the conquests of arms, but the influences of humane and peaceful principles (compare Is 9:7; 11:1-9; Zec 9:9, 10).
13He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.
12-14. They are not the conquests of arms, but the influences of humane and peaceful principles (compare Is 9:7; 11:1-9; Zec 9:9, 10).
14He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.
12-14. They are not the conquests of arms, but the influences of humane and peaceful principles (compare Is 9:7; 11:1-9; Zec 9:9, 10).
15And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.
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.
16There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.
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.
17His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.
17. His name--or, "glorious perfections."
as long as the sun--(Compare Psa 72:5).
men shall be blessed--(Ge 12:3; 18:18).
18Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.
18-19. These words close the Psalm in terms consistent with the style of the context, while Psa 72:20 is evidently, from its prosaic style, an addition for the purpose above explained [see on Psa 72:1].
19And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.
18-19. These words close the Psalm in terms consistent with the style of the context, while Psa 72:20 is evidently, from its prosaic style, an addition for the purpose above explained [see on Psa 72:1].
20The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.
20. ended--literally, "finished," or completed; the word never denotes fulfilment, except in a very late usage, as in Ezr 1:1; Da 12:7.