72:title Of Solomon Two psalms are affiliated with Solomon (Psa 72 and 127). Like the psalms affiliated with David, this does not necessarily mean that Solomon authored these psalms (see note on 3:title).

David and the Psalm Titles

72:1 O God, give your judgments to the king The ideal king rules in justice and righteousness (see Isa 9:1–7 and note).

Justice

72:2 May he judge your people with righteousness Since kings were responsible for judging legal disputes (see 1 Kgs 3:16–28), they needed to judge righteously and justly. Solomon asked Yahweh for understanding so that he could justly govern the people (1 Kgs 3:9).

72:3 Let the mountains yield prosperity The Hebrew word used here, shalom (which may be rendered as “prosperity” or “peace”), conveys the notion of wholeness or well-being.

72:4 May he provide justice for the poor of Since the king also acted as a judge, he was responsible for enacting justice and preventing oppression. Proverbs indicates that a king without understanding is an oppressor to the people (see Prov 28:16 and note). See note on Psa 72:2.

72:6 May he descend like rain on mown grass Describes the refreshing and nourishing benefits of a righteous ruler (see Deut 32:2; Prov 16:15).

72:8 from sea up to sea While the psalmist may have specific bodies of water in mind (see Exod 23:31; 1 Kgs 4:21), he is likely praying that God would extend the king’s rule (see Ps 2:8 and note).

72:10 Tarshish Represents the westernmost location known to the Israelites.

Let the kings of Sheba and Seba present gifts Associated with gold and spices, Sheba was located in the southwestern part of the Arabian Peninsula. The queen of Sheba brought gifts during Solomon’s reign (see 1 Kgs 10:1–13).

72:11 let all kings bow down to him After mentioning specific nations (Ps 72:10), the psalmist prays that all kings and nations will be subservient to Israel’s king.

72:16 an abundance of grain in the land The psalmist prays that the nation’s land would be fruitful (see Ps 65:9–13 and note) and that the people will increase in number.

May his crop sway like the trees of Lebanon The trees of Lebanon were symbols of strength and prosperity.

72:17 May his name endure forever Reflects God’s promise to establish the Davidic dynasty in the Davidic Covenant (2 Sam 7:16). See Ps 21:6 and note.

let them be blessed in him Reflects the Abrahamic covenant, where Yahweh promised Abraham that He would bless his descendants and that they would be a blessing (Gen 12:1–3; 22:18; 26:4).

72:18 wonderful things The word niphla'oth refers to God’s past acts of deliverance. See 9:1 and note.

72:19 blessed be his glorious name forever Yahweh’s name is representative of His power and character. See note on 33:21.

72:20 The prayers of David This statement seems to refer to the psalms in Book Three (Pss 73–89) being mainly associated with Asaph, while the psalms in the first two books (Pss 1–72) are mostly associated with David. There are psalms later in the book of Psalms associated with David (e.g., Pss 101; 103; 108), but only one in Book Three (Psa 86).

David and the Psalm Titles