Discovery BoxPsalms 72:2-7 
Context72:2 Then he will judge 1 your people fairly,
and your oppressed ones 2 equitably.
72:3 The mountains will bring news of peace to the people,
and the hills will announce justice. 3
72:4 He will defend 4 the oppressed among the people;
he will deliver 5 the children 6 of the poor
and crush the oppressor.
72:5 People will fear 7 you 8 as long as the sun and moon remain in the sky,
for generation after generation. 9
72:6 He 10 will descend like rain on the mown grass, 11
like showers that drench 12 the earth. 13
72:7 During his days the godly will flourish; 14
peace will prevail as long as the moon remains in the sky. 15
1 tn The prefixed verbal form appears to be an imperfect, not a jussive.
2 sn These people are called God’s oppressed ones because he is their defender (see Pss 9:12, 18; 10:12; 12:5).
3 tn Heb “[the] mountains will bear peace to the people, and [the] hills with justice.” The personified mountains and hills probably represent messengers who will sweep over the land announcing the king’s just decrees and policies. See Isa 52:7 and C. A. Briggs and E. G. Briggs, Psalms (ICC), 2:133.
4 tn Heb “judge [for].”
5 tn The prefixed verbal form appears to be an imperfect, not a jussive.
6 tn Heb “sons.”
7 tn In this context “fear” probably means “to demonstrate respect for the
8 tn God is the addressee (see vv. 1-2).
9 tn Heb “with [the] sun, and before [the] moon [for] a generation, generations.” The rare expression דּוֹר דּוֹרִים (dor dorim, “generation, generations”) occurs only here, in Ps 102:24, and in Isa 51:8.
10 tn That is, the king (see vv. 2, 4).
11 tn The rare term zg refers to a sheep’s fleece in Deut 18:4 and Job 31:20, but to “mown” grass or crops here and in Amos 7:1.
12 tc The form in the Hebrew text appears to be an otherwise unattested noun. Many prefer to emend the form to a verb from the root זָרַף (zaraf). BHS in textual note b on this verse suggests a Hiphil imperfect, third masculine plural יַזְרִיפוּ (yazrifu), while HALOT 283 s.v. *זרף prefers a Pilpel perfect, third masculine plural זִרְזְפוּ (zirzÿfu). The translation assumes the latter.
13 sn The imagery of this verse compares the blessings produced by the king’s reign to fructifying rains that cause the crops to grow.
14 tn Heb “sprout up,” like crops. This verse continues the metaphor of rain utilized in v. 6.
15 tn Heb “and [there will be an] abundance of peace until there is no more moon.”
