Psalms 72:3-7

Context

72:3 The mountains will bring news of peace to the people,

and the hills will announce justice.¹

72:4 He will defend² the oppressed among the people;

he will deliver³ the children⁴ of the poor

and crush the oppressor.

72:5 People will fear⁵ you⁶ as long as the sun and moon remain in the sky,

for generation after generation.⁷

72:6 He⁸ will descend like rain on the mown grass,⁹

like showers that drench¹⁰ the earth.¹¹

72:7 During his days the godly will flourish;¹²

peace will prevail as long as the moon remains in the sky.¹³

[72:3] ¹tn Heb “[the] mountains will bear peace to the people, and [the] hills with justice.” The personified mountains and hills probably represent messengers who will sweep over the land announcing the king’s just decrees and policies. See Isa 52:7 and C. A. Briggs and E. G. Briggs, Psalms (ICC), 2:133.

[72:4] ²tn Heb “judge [for].”

[72:4] ³tn The prefixed verbal form appears to be an imperfect, not a jussive.

[72:4] ⁴tn Heb “sons.”

[72:5] ⁵tn In this context “fear” probably means “to demonstrate respect for the Lord’s power and authority by worshiping him and obeying his commandments.” See Ps 33:8. Some interpreters, with the support of the LXX, prefer to read וְיַאֲרִיךְ (vÿ’a’arikh, “and he [the king in this case] will prolong [days]”), that is, “will live a long time” (cf. NIV, NRSV).

[72:5] ⁶tn God is the addressee (see vv. 1-2).

[72:5] ⁷tn Heb “with [the] sun, and before [the] moon [for] a generation, generations.” The rare expression דּוֹר דּוֹרִים (dor dorim, “generation, generations”) occurs only here, in Ps 102:24, and in Isa 51:8.

[72:6] ⁸tn That is, the king (see vv. 2, 4).

[72:6] ⁹tn The rare term zg refers to a sheep’s fleece in Deut 18:4 and Job 31:20, but to “mown” grass or crops here and in Amos 7:1.

[72:6] ¹⁰tc The form in the Hebrew text appears to be an otherwise unattested noun. Many prefer to emend the form to a verb from the root זָרַף (zaraf). BHS in textual note b on this verse suggests a Hiphil imperfect, third masculine plural יַזְרִיפוּ (yazrifu), while HALOT 283 s.v. *זרף prefers a Pilpel perfect, third masculine plural זִרְזְפוּ (zirzÿfu). The translation assumes the latter.

[72:6] ¹¹sn The imagery of this verse compares the blessings produced by the king’s reign to fructifying rains that cause the crops to grow.

[72:7] ¹²tn Heb “sprout up,” like crops. This verse continues the metaphor of rain utilized in v. 6.

[72:7] ¹³tn Heb “and [there will be an] abundance of peace until there is no more moon.”