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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 Psalm 2:9 and Psalms of Solomon 17:24

Hebrew Bible · Pseudepigrapha, Wisdom and Poetry

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Summary

The Psalms of Solomon 17 draws on the imagery of Psalm 2, especially the imagery of smashing with a potter’s jar and ruling with an iron scepter, to portray a Davidic messiah who defeats foreign oppressors and restores Jerusalem.

Passages

Psalm 2:9

Hebrew Bible
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.
600–201 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Psalms

Psalms of Solomon 17:24

Pseudepigrapha, Wisdom and Poetry
22 And strengthen him so that he may shatter unrighteous rulers, and so that he may cleanse Jerusalem of nations that trample (her) down to destruction. 23 Wisely, righteously he shall drive out sinners from (the) inheritance; He shall destroy the pride of the sinner as a potter's jar. 24 With a rod of iron he shall shatter all their possessions; He shall destroy the godless nations with the word of his mouth; 25 At his rebuke nations shall flee from him, And he shall rebuke sinners for the thoughts of their heart. 26 And he shall gather a holy people, whom he shall lead in righteousness, And he shall judge the tribes of the people who have been made holy by the Lord his God.
65–30 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in the Psalms of Solomon

References

"... Note the application of Psalm 2 to the Davidic Messiah in Psalms of Solomon 17:21-25. This particular passage includes a reference to the purging of the Temple and Jerusalem, a theme found in Revelation 11:1-3. In fact, the language of Psalms of Solomon 17 and Revelation 11 is strikingly similar. In Psalms of Solomon 17:22, the psalmist implores God to purge the city and to remove the 'gentiles who trample her (Jerusalem) to destruction,' while Revelation 11:2 describes a section of the Temple that 'is given over to the nations (translated 'Gentiles'), and they will trample over the holy city ... ' At the very least, both the authors expected a kingly Messiah who would usher in the last age and ultimately overthrow the enemies of God's people ..."
Leo R. Percer, “The War in Heaven: Michael and Messiah in Revelation 12” (PhD diss., Baylor University, 1999), 57–58.

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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Psalm 2:9 and Psalms of Solomon 17:24

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