47:9 The nobles of the nations assemble,
along with the people of the God of Abraham, 1
for God has authority over the rulers 2 of the earth.
He is highly exalted! 3
For the music director; by the Korahites; a psalm.
47:1 All you nations, clap your hands!
Shout out to God in celebration! 5
2:10 So now, you kings, do what is wise; 6
you rulers of the earth, submit to correction! 7
1 tc The words “along with” do not appear in the MT. However, the LXX has “with,” suggesting that the original text may have read עִם עַם (’im ’am, “along with the people”). In this case the MT is haplographic (the consonantal sequence ayin-mem [עם] being written once instead of twice). Another option is that the LXX is simply and correctly interpreting “people” as an adverbial accusative and supplying the appropriate preposition.
2 tn Heb “for to God [belong] the shields of the earth.” Perhaps the rulers are called “shields” because they are responsible for protecting their people. See Ps 84:9, where the Davidic king is called “our shield,” and perhaps also Hos 4:18.
3 tn The verb עָלָה (’alah, “ascend”) appears once more (see v. 5), though now in the Niphal stem.
4 sn Psalm 47. In this hymn the covenant community praises the Lord as the exalted king of the earth who has given them victory over the nations and a land in which to live.
5 tn Heb “Shout to God with [the] sound of a ringing cry!”
6 sn The speaker here is either the psalmist or the Davidic king, who now addresses the rebellious kings.
7 tn The Niphal has here a tolerative nuance; the kings are urged to submit themselves to the advice being offered.