Psalm 72

Authorship

This Psalm was authored by Solomon.

Outline

(This began as Wendland's Expository Outline, but may be adapted.)

I. The concern of the king. He wants to judge the people righteously. (1-2)

II. The characteristics of the Divine King. (3-17)

A. The peace of His reign: The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.

B. The security of His reign:

1. He shall judge the poor of the people.

2. He shall save the children of the needy.

3. He shall break in pieces the oppressor.

4. He will be like rain on parched ground.

C. The duration of His reign:

1. It will last as along as the sun and moon.

2. It will last through all generations.

D. The extent of His reign:

1. From sea to sea.

2. From the river unto the ends of the earth.

3. To the wilderness.

4. To the islands.

5. To the kings and kingdoms of the world.

6. To all nations .

E. The compassion of His reign:

1. He will deliver the needy, poor, and those that have no helper.

2. He will spare the poor and needy and save and redeem their souls from deceit and violence.

3. Their blood will be precious in His sight.

4. He will provide materially (gold and grain) and spiritually (redemption).

5. Their cities will flourish like the grass of the earth.

F. The eternal nature of His reign:

1. His name shall endure for ever.

2. Men shall be blessed in Him.

3. All nations shall call him blessed.

III. The confidence of the psalmist. (18-19)

A. God does only wondrous things.

B. His glorious name will be blessed for ever.

C. The whole earth will be filled with his glory.

Textual Criticism

The following is from Barthélemy's Critique textuelle de l’Ancien Testament volume on the Psalms. For a key to the various symbols and abbreviations, click here.

Ps 72,3 וּגְבָעוֹת בִּצְדָקָה {B} MT, G, T // facil-synt: g1 / lic: g2, Hebr, S

Ps 72,5 יַאֲרִיךְ cor {C} G // err-graph: MT, σ', Hebr, S, T יִירָאוּךָ

Ps 72,7 צֶדֶק cor {C} m, G, Hebr, S (?) // assim 92,13: MT, α', σ', T צַדִּיק

Ps 72,9 צִיִּים {A} MT // exeg: G, α', σ', Hebr / assim-ctext: S, T

Ps 72,12 מְשַׁוֵּע {C} MT, T // err-ponct: G, Hebr, S clav מִשּׁוֹעַ

Ps 72,16 וְיָצִיצוּ מֵעִיר {A} MT, G, Hebr, T // assim-ctext: S

Ps 72,17A שְׁמוֹ (one°) {B} MT, g, π', Hebr, S // glos: G, T

Ps 72,17B יִנּוֹן {C} MTQ, α'σ', g // lic: G, Hebr, S, T / err-voc: MTK ינין

Ps 72,17C בּוֹ {B} MT, g, Hebr, S, T // glos: G