Psalms 99:1-7

1 The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!

2 The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples.

3 Let them praise thy great and terrible name! Holy is he!

4 Mighty King, lover of justice, thou hast established equity; thou hast executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.

5 Extol the LORD our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!

6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called on his name. They cried to the LORD, and he answered them.

7 He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept his testimonies, and the statutes that he gave them.

Psalms 99:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 99

This psalm, with the foregoing from Ps 90:1 is ascribed to Moses by Jarchi and others; but cannot be his, since mention is made of Samuel in it, who lived many years after him. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, more rightly attribute it to David; the inscription of the Syriac version, after saying it is David's, subjoins,

``concerning the destruction of the Midianites, whom Moses and the people of Israel led captive;''

of which there is not the least mention in it; but it more truly adds,

``and a prophecy concerning the glory of the kingdom of the Messiah;''

as it undoubtedly is.