Discovery BoxPsalms 132:11-12 
Context132:11 The Lord made a reliable promise to David; 1
he will not go back on his word. 2
He said, 3 “I will place one of your descendants 4 on your throne.
132:12 If your sons keep my covenant
and the rules I teach them,
their sons will also sit on your throne forever.”
Psalms 132:17
Context132:17 There I will make David strong; 5
I have determined that my chosen king’s dynasty will continue. 6
1 tn Heb “the
2 tn Heb “he will not turn back from it.”
3 tn The words “he said” are supplied in the translation to clarify that what follows are the
4 tn Heb “the fruit of your body.”
5 tn Heb “there I will cause a horn to sprout for David.” The horn of an ox underlies the metaphor (cf. Deut 33:17; 1 Kgs 22:11; Pss 18:2; 92:10). The horn of the wild ox is frequently a metaphor for military strength; the idiom “exalt the horn” signifies military victory (see 1 Sam 2:10; Pss 89:17, 24; 92:10; Lam 2:17). In the ancient Near East powerful warrior-kings would sometimes compare themselves to a goring bull that used its horns to kill its enemies. For examples, see P. Miller, “El the Warrior,” HTR 60 (1967): 422-25, and R. B. Chisholm, “An Exegetical and Theological Study of Psalm 18/2 Samuel 22” (Th.D. diss., Dallas Theological Seminary, 1983), 135-36.
6 tn Heb “I have arranged a lamp for my anointed one.” Here the “lamp” is a metaphor for the Davidic dynasty (see 1 Kgs 11:36).
