Psalms 72

Ver. 1. Give the king thy judgments.] That is, cause him to govern the kingdom according to thy precepts. Rosenmuller.

— the king—the king’s son.] The king and the king’s son are the same person, a character that belongs to none before Solomon, who was the first prince in Israel that was at the same time king and son of a king. Mudge.

Psalms 72:3

3. The mountains shall bring &c.] In other words, Peace, manifested by its consequence, plenteousness, shall be upon the mountains and little hills of Judea, by means of that righteous judgment, which Solomon will execute in the land. Bp. Horne.

Psalms 72:5

5. They shall fear thee &c.] His righteous administration shall redound to his everlasting honour, and shall gain him the esteem and reverence of his people, through all generations: so that he shall be a lively

emblem of the great King, Christ Jesus, whose dominion shall endure as long as the world remaineth. Travell, Bp. Patrick.

Psalms 72:8

8. He shall have dominion &c.] “From sea to sea,” that is, with reference to the Messiah, over all the earth.

Psalms 72:9

9. They that dwell &c.] The most barbarous nations shall do him homage, and his enemies shall be constrained to prostrate themselves at his feet with the most abject submission. Travell.

Psalms 72:10

10. — Tarshish] For Tarshish, see note at 1 Kings x. 22.

— Sheba—Seba] For the former see the note on 1 Kings x. 1; the latter was also probably in Arabia Felix. Consult the “map of the world” for their probable situations.

Psalms 72:14

14. He shall redeem &c.] He shall preserve them from being ruined either by the deceitful wiles or violent attacks of their enemies; nor shall he, to gratify his own ambition, be prodigal of their precious lives. So shall the Saviour of the world redeem the souls of his people from their most cruel enemies, sin and death; and so valuable in his sight shall their blood be, that He shall shed his own for it! Bps. Patrick and Horne, Travell.

Psalms 72:16

16. There shall be an handful &c.] The country shall be so fruitful in his days, that even a handful of corn, sown upon the lofty hills, shall produce a crop that shall shake with a loud noise, like the cedars upon mount Lebanon: and the people in the city shall be fruitful and populous, like the innumerable blades of grass in a field, which the Lord hath blessed. Such, under the reign of the Messiah, shall be the amazing increase of the word, when sown in hearts that before were barren; such the astonishing multiplication of citizens in the Christian church. Travell, Bp. Horne.