Discovery BoxPsalms 2:2-4 
Context2:2 The kings of the earth 1 form a united front; 2
the rulers collaborate 3
against the Lord and his anointed king. 4
2:3 They say, 5 “Let’s tear off the shackles they’ve put on us! 6
Let’s free ourselves from 7 their ropes!”
2:4 The one enthroned 8 in heaven laughs in disgust; 9
the Lord taunts 10 them.
1 sn The expression kings of the earth refers somewhat hyperbolically to the kings who had been conquered by and were subject to the Davidic king.
2 tn Or “take their stand.” The Hebrew imperfect verbal form describes their action as underway.
3 tn Or “conspire together.” The verbal form is a Niphal from יָסַד (yasad). BDB 413-14 s.v. יָסַד defines the verb as “establish, found,” but HALOT 417 s.v. II יסד proposes a homonym meaning “get together, conspire” (an alternate form of סוּד, sud).
4 tn Heb “and against his anointed one.” The Davidic king is the referent (see vv. 6-7).
5 tn The words “they say” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The quotation represents the words of the rebellious kings.
6 tn Heb “their (i.e., the
7 tn Heb “throw off from us.”
8 tn Heb “sitting.” The Hebrew verb יָשַׁב (yashav) is here used metonymically of “sitting enthroned” (see Pss 9:7; 29:10; 55:19; 102:12; 123:1).
9 tn As the next line indicates, this refers to derisive laughter. The Hebrew imperfect verbal forms in vv. 4-5 describe the action from the perspective of an eyewitness who is watching the divine response as it unfolds before his eyes.
10 tn Or “scoffs at”; “derides”; “mocks.”
