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The Sumerian poem of Shulgi describes the king as divinely chosen and known for his beauty and strength, standing between the human and divine realms. Psalm 45 follows this tradition, describing the king with attractiveness, wisdom, and divine favor.
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A Praise Poem of Shulgi
The Run of King Shulgi of Ur
Ancient Near East
I, the king, was a hero already in the womb; I, Šulgi, was born to be a mighty man. I am a fierce-looking lion, begotten by a dragon. I am the king of the four regions; I am the herdsman and shepherd of the black-headed people. I am a respected one, the god of all the lands. I am a child born of Ninsun. I am the choice of holy An’s heart. I am the man whose fate was decided by Enlil. I am Šulgi, the beloved of Ninlil. I am he who is cherished by Nintud. I am he who was endowed with wisdom by Enki. I am the powerful king of Nanna. I am the growling lion of Utu. I am Šulgi, who has been chosen by Inana for his attractiveness. I am a mule, most suitable for the road. I am a horse, whose tail waves on the highway. I am a stallion of Šakkan, eager to run.
Date: 2000 B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Psalm 45:2
Hebrew Bible
1 For the music director, according to the tune of “Lilies”; by the Korahites, a well-written poem, a love song. My heart is stirred by a beautiful song. I say, “I have composed this special song for the king; my tongue is as skilled as the stylus of an experienced scribe.” 2 You are the most handsome of all men. You speak in an impressive and fitting manner. For this reason God grants you continual blessings. 3 Strap your sword to your thigh, O warrior. Appear in your majestic splendor.
Date: 6th-3rd Centuries B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... some gods have made a specialty of everything related to the granting of the title of the king. In the early periods it was mainly the role of Enlil, who was himself king of gods. Later, when Marduk also called Bēl (“Lord”) took his place, he was assisted by his son Nabu who made the kings of Babylon. In Assyria the monarchy was conferred by the national god Aššur and the king was his vicar (iššiakku). Monarchs were indeed enthroned through priests, but received their powers from the world of the gods. As such, they were not individuals like the others, because they were somewhere between the world of men and the divine. Moreover, after the creation of men in order to serve the gods, god Ea suggested modelling the beings destined to lead these new servants. These were of course kings who did not have exactly the same nature as the rest of mankind ..."
Clancier, Philippe
"The Mesopotamian King between Gods and Men in the First Millennium BCE" in Pachoumi, Eleni (ed.) Conceptualising Divine Unions in the Greek and near Eastern Worlds
(pp. 13-44) Brill, 2022
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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