translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: PSA

label: NET study note

text: . This royal psalm contains a prayer for the Davidic king (note the imperatival form in v. 1 and the jussive forms in vv. 16-17 ). It is not entirely clear if vv. 2-15 express a prayer or anticipate a future reign. The translation assumes a blend of petition and vision: (I) opening prayer (v. 1 ), followed by anticipated results if prayer is answered (vv. 2-7 ); (II) prayer (v. 8 ), followed by anticipated results if prayer is answered (vv. 9-14 ); (III) closing prayer (vv. 15-17 ). Whether a prayer, vision, or combination of the two, the psalm depicts the king’s universal rule of peace and prosperity. As such it is indirectly messianic, for the ideal it expresses will only be fully realized during the Messiah’s earthly reign. Verses 18-19 are a conclusion for Book 2 of the Psalter ( Pss 42-72 ; cf. Ps 41:13 , which contains a similar conclusion for Book 1), while v. 20 appears to be a remnant of an earlier collection of psalms or an earlier edition of the Psalter.


text: Grant the king…Grant the king’s son . It is not entirely clear whether v. 1 envisions one individual or two. The phrase “the king’s son” in the second line may simply refer to “the king” of the first line, drawing attention to the fact that he has inherited his dynastic rule. Another option is that v. 1 envisions a co-regency between father and son (a common phenomenon in ancient Israel) or simply expresses a hope for a dynasty that champions justice.


text: These people are called God’s oppressed ones because he is their defender (see Pss 9:12, 18; 10:12; 12:5 ).


text: The imagery of this verse compares the blessings produced by the king’s reign to fructifying rains that cause the crops to grow.


text: From sea to sea . This may mean from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to the Dead Sea in the east. See Amos 8:12 . The language of this and the following line also appears in Zech 9:10 .


text: As they bow down before him, it will appear that his enemies are licking the dust .


text: Tarshish was a distant western port, the precise location of which is uncertain.


text: Sheba was located in Arabia.


text: Seba was located in Africa.