Psalm 2:2-12

2 Die Könige der Erde lehnen sich auf, und die Herren ratschlagen miteinander wider den HERRN und seinen Gesalbten:

3 "Lasset uns zerreißen ihre Bande und von uns werfen ihre Seile!"

4 Aber der im Himmel wohnt, lacht ihrer, und der HERR spottet ihrer.

5 Er wird einst mit ihnen reden in seinem Zorn, und mit seinem Grimm wird er sie schrecken.

6 "Aber ich habe meinen König eingesetzt auf meinem heiligen Berg Zion."

7 Ich will von der Weisheit predigen, daß der HERR zu mir gesagt hat: "Du bist mein Sohn, heute habe ich dich gezeuget:

8 heische von mir, so will ich dir Heiden zum Erbe geben und der Welt Enden zum Eigentum.

9 Du sollst sie mit einem eisernen Zepter zerschlagen; wie Töpfe sollst du sie zerschmeißen."

10 So lasset euch nun weisen, ihr Könige, und lasset euch züchtigen, ihr Richter auf Erden!

11 Dient dem HERRN mit Furcht und freut euch mit Zittern!

12 Küßt den Sohn, daß er nicht zürne und ihr umkommt auf dem Wege; denn sein Zorn wird bald entbrennen. Aber wohl allen, die auf ihn trauen!

Psalm 2:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 2

This psalm is the second in order, and so it is called in Ac 13:33; which shows that the book of Psalms was in the same form in the apostles' days as now, and as it ever had been; and though it is without a title, yet certain it is that it is a psalm of David, since the twelve apostles of Christ with one voice ascribe it to him, in which no doubt they the generally received sense of the Jewish Ac 4:24,25; and the Messiah is the subject of and that it is a prophecy concerning him, his person, office, and kingdom, appears from the express mention of the Lord's Anointed, or Messiah, in his being set as King over Zion, notwithstanding the opposition made against him; from the person spoken of being called the Son of God, and that in such sense as angels and men are not, and therefore cannot belong to any creature; and from his having so large an inheritance, and such power over the Heathen; and from the reverence, service, and obedience due to him from the kings and judges of the earth; and from the trust and confidence which is to be put in him, which ought not to be placed but in a divine Person; and more especially this appears from several passages cited out of it in the New Testament, and applied to the Messiah, \Ac 4:25-27 13:33 Heb 1:5 5:5\, to which may be added, that the ancient Jewish doctors interpreted this psalm of the Messiah {s}; and some of the modern ones own that it may be understood either of David or of the Messiah, and that some things are clearer of the Messiah than of David {t}; and some particular passages in it are applied to him both by ancient and later writers among the Jews, as Ps 2:1,2, "Why do the Heathen rage" {u}; Ps 2:6, "I have set" {w}; Ps 2:7, "I will declare the decree", &c. {x}, and Ps 2:8, "Ask of me" {y}; and we may very safely interpret the whole of him.

{s} Jarchi in loc. {t} Kimchi in v. 12. & Aben Ezra in v. 6. 12. {u} T. Bab. Avodah Zarah, fol. 3. 2. Pirke Eliezer, c. 19. {w} R. Saadiah Gaon in Dan. vii. 13. {x} Yalkut Simeoni, par. 2. fol. 90. 2. Zohar in Numb. fol. 82. 2. Maimon in Misn Sanhedrin, c. 11. 1. & Abarbinel Mashmiah Jeshuah, fol. 37. 4. &. 38. 1. {y} T. Bab. Succah, fol. 52. 1. & Bereshit Rabba, s. 44. fol. 38. 4.