Psalms 72


A Psalm for Solomon
[Psalms 72:1] GIVE THE KING THY JUDGMENTS, O GOD, AND THY RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO THE KING'S  SON.
This Psalm begins with David praying for a successful reign of his son, Solomon, and then continues to speak of the future Messianic era since the Messiah who will come will be a descendant of Solomon.             
 
[Psalms 72:2] HE SHALL JUDGE THY PEOPLE WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND THY POOR WITH JUDGMENT.                     
 
[Psalms 72:3] THE MOUNTAINS SHALL BRING PEACE TO THE PEOPLE, AND THE LITTLE HILLS, BY RIGHTEOUSNESS.   
The Radak and others say that the Mountains and hills represent the peoples of the world who shall be at peace with Israel.                 
 
[Psalms 72:4] HE SHALL JUDGE THE POOR OF THE PEOPLE, HE SHALL SAVE THE CHILDREN OF THE  NEEDY, AND SHALL BREAK IN PIECES THE OPPRESSOR.  
The Messiah will enforce justice. God is a God of righteousness and justice. This is a requirement of the Torah.                              
 
[Psalms 72:5] THEY SHALL FEAR THEE AS LONG AS THE SUN AND MOON ENDURE, THROUGHOUT ALL   GENERATIONS.
HaMairi: The world will be full of knowledge and fear of the Almighty as the days of the heavens upon the earth (Deuteronomy 11:21). The rulership of his offspring will be without interruption,   THE SCEPTRE SHALL NOT DEPART FROM JUDAH [Genesis 49:10]. Even if it happens that occasionally the rulership [of his House] is delayed due to transgressions at all events when the Kingdom returns it returns to him.                       
 
[Psalms 72:6] HE SHALL COME DOWN LIKE RAIN UPON THE MOWN GRASS: AS SHOWERS THAT WATER THE EARTH.  
<<MOWN GRASS>>:  Hebrew "gayz" similar to the English "grass".                   
 
[Psalms 72:7] IN HIS DAYS SHALL THE RIGHTEOUS FLOURISH; AND ABUNDANCE OF PEACE SO LONG AS THE MOON ENDURETH.                     
 
[Psalms 72:8] HE SHALL HAVE DOMINION ALSO FROM SEA TO SEA, AND FROM THE RIVER UNTO THE  ENDS OF THE EARTH.                     
 
[Psalms 72:9] THEY THAT DWELL IN THE WILDERNESS SHALL BOW BEFORE HIM; AND HIS ENEMIES  SHALL LICK THE DUST.                     
 
[Psalms 72:10] THE KINGS OF TARSHISH AND OF THE ISLES SHALL BRING PRESENTS: THE KINGS OF SHEBA AND SEBA SHALL OFFER GIFTS.
Rashi and other Commentators relate this verse to Solomon who sent Phoenician ships manned by sailors from Tyre to circumnavigate Africa starting out from the Red Sea port of Ezion Geber and return via Tarshish (Tartessos) in Southwest Spain that dominated the Straits of Gibraltar and the entrance to the Mediterranean (1-Kings 10:22). 
It may also relate to the future. 
  << THE KINGS OF TARSHISH AND OF THE ISLES>>:  Targum Yehonatan translates this expression in Aramaic as meaning, "The Kings of Tarsis and the Isles of the Atlantic Ocean".
<<SHALL BRING PRESENTS>>: The word translated as <<Shall Bring>> is "yashivu" meaning literally "shall return".
The Malbim explains this to mean that they will bring time after time.
Alternately they will recognize that their prosperity is from the POWER behind the Messiah and that the tribute they bring is only "returning" a little of what they had received.
Cf. FOR ALL THINGS COME OF THEE, AND OF THINE OWN HAVE WE GIVEN THEE [1-Chronicles 29:14].
S.R. Hirsch: <<Kings of Tarshish and of the Isles who heretofore had been accustomed only to receive tribute themselves , shall 'return' tribute; that is, they shall see in David's son a king to whom they themselves must render tribute instead>>.             
 
[Psalms 72:11] YEA, ALL KINGS SHALL FALL DOWN BEFORE HIM: ALL NATIONS SHALL SERVE HIM.                     
 
[Psalms 72:12] FOR HE SHALL DELIVER THE NEEDY WHEN HE CRIETH; THE POOR ALSO, AND HIM THAT HATH NO HELPER.                     
 
[Psalms 72:13] HE SHALL SPARE THE POOR AND NEEDY, AND SHALL SAVE THE SOULS OF THE NEEDY.  
Rulers when they take office despite their good intentions often feel forced to work within the existing framework,  at least at the beginning.  Governments are like people. Governments need money in order to function. For numerous reasons Government authorities find it easier to take money from they who can least afford to give it simply because it is easier to do so.  Governments receive revenue from drugs, tobacco, alcohol, and even from the insurance on car thefts!  The Messiah shall begin by simply sparing the poor and needy from Government extortion and this will be  a first step to actively assisting them.                
 
[Psalms 72:14] HE SHALL REDEEM THEIR SOUL FROM DECEIT AND VIOLENCE: AND PRECIOUS SHALL  THEIR BLOOD BE IN HIS SIGHT.                     
The Messiah will care and his concern will be felt.
 
[Psalms 72:15] AND 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.   
<<THE GOLD OF SHEBA>>: i.e. of  South Africa.
 
[Psalms 72:16] THERE 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.                     
HaMairi: Even a little bit of corn sown in an area that is not conducive to its growth will flourish exceedingly well. i.e. there will be true prosperity everywhere.
 
[Psalms 72:17] HIS 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.                     
<<SHALL BE CONTINUED>>: Hebrew "Yanoon". HaMairi explains this word as from the root "nin" which can mean "grandson" or "great-son" i.e. he will have descendants ruling for as long as the sun exists, i.e. forever in human terms.
 
[Psalms 72:18] BLESSED BE THE LORD GOD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, WHO ONLY DOETH WONDROUS THINGS. 
The Almighty God of Israel will give the Messiah the strength and wisdom to do HIS will.                   
 
[Psalms 72:19] AND BLESSED BE HIS GLORIOUS NAME FOR EVER: AND LET THE WHOLE EARTH BE  FILLED WITH HIS GLORY; AMEN, AND AMEN.  
The whole earth will acknowledge the Almighty.  The God of Creation is the God of Israel who chose Israel to be HIS Chosen People. There is no other.                  
 
[Psalms 72:20] THE PRAYERS OF DAVID THE SON OF JESSE ARE ENDED. 
 This does not mean that Psalms that come after this were not those of David since the Book of Psalms is not arranged in chronological order.                   
David composed this Psalm when he had Solomon his son coronated (1-Kings ch.1).  This was the last Psalm that David composed (Malbim).