Psalm-2

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Tanakh versions:

Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the TaNaKh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF).

Colour coded details of the - TaNaKh:

1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.

*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.

Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.

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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago have completly disobeyed this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ - ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’

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“Tehillim - Psalm 2”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

I already have Psalm 1 online, but I thought I would now add Psalm 2, as it has quite some relevant details!

Tehillim - Psalm Chapter 2: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).

1. “Why are the nations in an uproar? And why do the peoples mutter in vain?

2. The kings of the earth stand up, and the rulers take counsel together, against יְהוָה - the LORD, and against His anointed:

3. 'Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.'

4. He that sitteth in heaven laugheth, יְהוָה - the LORD hath them in derision.

5. Then will He speak unto them in His wrath, and affright them in His sore displeasure:

6. ‘Truly it is I that have established My king upon Zion, My Holy mountain’.

7. I will tell of the decree: יְהוָה - the LORD said unto me: 'Thou art My son, this day have I begotten thee.

8. Ask of Me, and I will give the nations for thine inheritance, and the ends of the earth for thy possession.

9. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.'

10. Now therefore, O ye kings, be wise; be admonished, ye judges of the earth.

11. Serve יְהוָה - the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

12. Do homage in purity, lest He be angry, and ye perish in the way, when suddenly His wrath is kindled. Happy are all they that take refuge in Him”.

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Introduction: The King and the Nations:

Tehillim - Psalm 2 is traditionally classified as a Royal Psalm. It describes a world in rebellion against Divine authority and the ‘Anointed’ king. The Psalm is structured like a ‘four-act drama’:

1. The Rebellion (1-3): The nations plot to break free from אֱלֹהִים - Elohim.

2. The Divine Response (4-6): אֱלֹהִים - Elohim laughs at their futility and affirms His King.

3. The Decree (7-9): The King speaks, declaring his אֱלֹהִים - Elohim-given authority.

4. The Advice (10-12): The Psalmist warns the rulers to submit and find joy in service.

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Let us now look and learn at our ‘verse by verse’ section, with commentary:

The Futility of Rebellion (Verses 1-3):

Verse 1:

‘Why are the nations in an uproar?’ The word ‘mutter’ (yeghu) implies a low, constant plotting. It is ‘in vain’ because their power is nothing compared to our beloved Creator.

Verse 2:

The rulers take counsel together. Note the targets of their rebellion: יְהוָה - the LORD and His Anointed king. To reject the righteous King is to reject the One who appointed him.

Verse 3:

They view אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s laws as ‘bands’ and ‘cords’, burdens to be cast off, rather than the life-giving boundaries that they truly are.

The View from the Heavens (Verses 4-6):

Verse 4:

“He that sitteth in heaven laugheth”. This is one of the most striking anthropomorphisms in the Tanakh. It is not a laugh of cruelty, but a laugh of absolute confidence. The ‘derision’ emphasizes the absurdity of a clay pot rebelling against the Potter.

Verse 5:

אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s silence ends. He speaks in ‘wrath’.

Verse 6: The central claim: ‘I have established My king upon Zion’. Human kings are elected or seize power; this King is installed by אֱלֹהִים - Elohim Himself on His Holy Mountain.

The Royal Decree (Verses 7-9):

Verse 7:

The King speaks. ‘Thou art My son, this day have I begotten thee;. In the context of the Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7), this expresses the intimate, father-son relationship between אֱלֹהִים - Elohim and the King of Israel.

Verse 8:

The King’s inheritance is not just Israel, but ‘the ends of the earth’.

Verse 9:

The ‘rod of iron’ and the ‘potter's vessel’ signify total authority. Rebellion is fragile; it shatters easily when the Truth is revealed.

The Call to Wisdom (Verses 10-12):

Verse 10:

A bridge to wisdom literature. The kings are told to ‘be wise’:

Verse 11:

“Rejoice with trembling”. A profound paradox. True joy comes from serving the Almighty, but it must be tempered with ‘Yirat Shamayim’ (Fear of Heaven).

Verse 12:

“Do homage in purity”. (The phrase ‘Nashku-bar’). This is an appeal for sincerity and cleansing. It concludes with a beautiful ‘Ashrei’ (Happy/Blessed) statement, mirroring the beginning of Psalm 1.

Cross-References (JPS-1917 Tanakh):

1. 2 Samuel 7:14 (The Father-Son Relationship):

The verse:

“I will be to him for a father, and he shall be to Me for a son”.

Insight: This is the bedrock for Verse 7 of Psalm 2. It confirms the covenantal relationship אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, established with the House of David.

2. Isaiah 40:15–17 (The Scale of Nations):

The verse:

“Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket... all the nations are as nothing before Him”.

Insight: This supports the ‘laughter’ in Verse 4. It puts the ‘uproar’ of the nations into perspective against the vastness of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim.

3. Jeremiah 18:6 (The Potter's Vessel):

The verse:

“Behold, as the clay in the potter's hand, so are ye in My hand, O house of Israel”.

Insight: This enriches Verse 9. If אֱלֹהִים - Elohim can build up a vessel, He can also dash it to pieces if it refuses its purpose.

A Concluding Thought:

We should take note, that while Psalm 1 focuses on the individual (the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked), Psalm 2 focuses on the community and the world (the nations that take counsel together). Together, they show that whether we are ‘alone or in a crowd’, our ‘refuge’ is found only in אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim’.

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Please Note: “hebraicstudies” links are located down the page!

This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!

Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following via several of our prophets...

“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).

And Remember ...

Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!

אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ אוֹתָם

וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem; walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).

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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;

“The More Torah, the More Life”

For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name.

He is the one who gave us our Life!”

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

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