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Psalms

About this book
Psalm 2

1 Why do the nations rebel? Why are the countries devising plots that will fail? 2 The kings of the earth form a united front; the rulers collaborate against the Lord and his anointed king.⁠ 3 They say, “Let’s tear off the shackles they’ve put on us. Let’s free ourselves from their ropes.” 4 The one enthroned in heaven laughs in disgust; the Lord taunts them.⁠ 5 Then he angrily speaks to them and terrifies them in his rage, saying, 6 “I myself have installed my king on Zion, my holy hill.”⁠ 7 The king says, “I will announce the Lord’s decree. He said to me: ‘You are my son. This very day I have become your father.⁠ 8 Ask me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the ends of the earth as your personal property.⁠ 9 You will break them with an iron scepter; you will smash them like a potter’s jar.’”⁠ 10 So now, you kings, do what is wise; you rulers of the earth, submit to correction. 11 Serve the Lord in fear. Repent in terror. 12 Give sincere homage. Otherwise he will be angry, and you will die because of your behavior, when his anger quickly ignites. How blessed are all who take shelter in him!

Texts in conversation

Compare 2 Samuel 7:14 and Psalm 2:7

Hebrew Bible

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Summary

2 Samuel 7 depicts divine adoption by declaring that David's son will be regarded as God's son, repeated in Psalm 2 to describe the king’s enthronement. This language was common in the ancient Near East, where rulers were described as sons of the gods.

Passages

2 Samuel 7:14

Hebrew Bible
12 When the time comes for you to die, I will raise up your descendant, one of your own sons, to succeed you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He will build a house for my name, and I will make his dynasty permanent. 14 I will become his father and he will become my son. When he sins, I will correct him with the rod of men and with wounds inflicted by human beings. 15 But my loyal love will not be removed from him as I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will stand before me permanently; your dynasty will be permanent.’”
600–501 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in 2 Samuel

Psalm 2:7

Hebrew Bible
5 Then he angrily speaks to them and terrifies them in his rage, saying, 6 “I myself have installed my king on Zion, my holy hill.” 7 The king says, “I will announce the Lord’s decree. He said to me: ‘You are my son. This very day I have become your father. 8 Ask me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the ends of the earth as your personal property. 9 You will break them with an iron scepter; you will smash them like a potter’s jar.’”
600–201 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Psalms

References

"... As ancient Near Eastern parallels make clear, the use of father–son terminology is significant. The employment of the adoption formula, “I shall become his father and he shall become my son,” to depict YHWH's relationship to David's successor is remarkable, because it expresses a high royal theology. (Similar language appears in KTU 1.15; II.25–28, Isaiah 9:5 and Psalm 2:7–8) Moreover, the adoption of David's heir is linked to the granting of an enduring dynasty. Through the prophet Nathan, YHWH assures David that his throne will be confirmed forever ..."
Gary Knoppers, “David's Relation to Moses: The Contexts, Contents, and Conditions of the Davidic Promises,” in King and Messiah in Israel and the Ancient Near East: Proceedings of the Oxford Old Testament Seminar, ed. John Day (London: Sheffield Academic, 2013), 91–118.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

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2 Samuel 7:14 and Psalm 2:7

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