Psalm 2 is about the nations that try to break the bond between the Jewish People and HaShem (G-d) because they fear the eventual coming of the Messiah. The darkness is a tactical move by the forces of evil to cut us off from our sacred Source. The darkness can come from both outside and inside. But HaShem mocks evil and speaks angrily to it. As we persevere in our fight against evil, HaShem finds heavenly joy in our growth. How did Rabbi Yitzchok Rubin, a modern-day Hasidic rabbi, and Rashi, the medieval Jewish Bible commentator (1040-1105), explain Psalm 2?
- Text Psalm 2
- Hebrew text of Psalm 2 – תהילים ב
- Listen to Psalm 2
- Explanation of Psalm 2 by Rabbi Yitzchok Rubin
- Rashi’s commentary on Psalm 2
- Psalm 1 to 92
Text Psalm 2
Why have nations gathered together, and why do kingdoms think vain things? The kings of the earth rebel, the world powers conspire against the Eternal and his anointed: ,We must throw off their yoke and free ourselves from their bonds., Those who are enthroned in heaven laugh, the Lord mocks them. Then he speaks to them in anger, and his wrath astonishes them: ‘I have anointed my king on Tzion, my holy mountain.’ I will declare the decree of the Eternal. He spoke to me: ‘You are my son, today I have begotten you. Ask me and I will give you your possession of the nations, your possession of the ends of the earth. You can break them with a rod of iron, you can break them like an earthen pot,’ Therefore, kings, be wise, be warned, you rulers of the earth. Submit yourselves, show your awe to the Eternal, and trembling give him your obeisance. Give honor to his son with a kiss, lest his wrath be kindled, and your way is a dead end, for at the least he is inflamed with anger. Happy are those who take shelter with him.
Hebrew text of Psalm 2 – תהילים ב
- Why did the Gentiles feel, and the nations will be empty. The kings of the earth will be established and the rulers will be established – Yahweh will reign and on his Messiah. C We cut off his traditions and threw away from him his works. D He who sits in heaven will play, my Lord will mock him. The Oz will speak to him violently with his mouth and in his anger he will be afraid. And I set my king on the holy mountain. 7 I read the law of the Lord, he said to me, my son, you are my child today. 8. Ask of me and I will be a nation, your inheritance and your possession of the earth. 9 Thunder in the tribe of iron as an instrument of creation will shatter. And now the wise kings have been removed, the judges of the land. 11 Serve Jehovah with fear and know him with trembling. 12. We shall kiss the bar before it, and perish by the way, for the happiness of all my lords shall burn in it.
Listen to Psalm 2
Listen to Psalm 2 in Hebrew.
Explanation of Psalm 2 by Rabbi Yitzchok Rubin
salvation
Rabbi Alshich states that the nations are grumbling against HaShem (G-d) and His Chosen People because they fear the eventual coming of the Messiah. They have concluded that rather than rebel against HaShem at that time, it is better to cut off the bond between HaShem and the Jewish People now in anticipation of redemption. The sinful reason is that by destroying our bond with our Heavenly Father, they will never face the final reckoning.
darkness When life takes a turn through a dark tunnel we must remember the light at the end. The darkness is a tactical move by the forces of evil to cut us off from our sacred Source. The darkness does not necessarily come from the forces outside. It can also come from entering the difficult parts of ourselves that we struggle with.
Heavenly Laughter King David tells us that He who sits in Heaven laughs. HaShem mocks them. Then he speaks angrily to them and in his anger he frightens them. If we persevere in our fight against evil and crown our efforts by staying the course, HaShem finds heavenly joy in our growth. This is the Heavenly Laughter. It mocks the naysayers without and within, the voices that foresee our failure.
tunnel Once we get through the tunnel and come out the other side, HaShem will show his anger against these forces. The greatest expression of this anger will be to force our enemies to witness the failure of their plans. People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered. Love them anyway. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish hidden motives. Either way, act right. When you are successful you win false friends and true enemies. Anyway, keep going. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. What you have built over years can be destroyed in a day. Build up anyway. people really need help but may attack you if you help them. Help the people anyway. Give the world the best you’ve got, and you’ll get punched in the face. Nevertheless, give the world the best.
HaShem leads the world HaShem leads the world. It is up to us to do our best while remembering that He loves us more than we love ourselves. He wants what is good for our soul, our eternal portion. It will be dark at times and there will be those who want to keep us from doing His will, but take courage from this Psalm and let its message be part of your being.
Rashi’s commentary on Psalm 2
Per verse the commentary of Rashi, the Jewish Bible commentator who lived from 1040-1105. Rashi is considered the teacher of teachers. All traditional Jews regard Rashi as an authority on the Jewish Bible and Talmud. Hence it is important to record his commentary on the Psalms. Rashi uses new Hebrew supplemented with Old French words. His language is sometimes somewhat oracularly short. For further explanation it is wise to consult an orthodox Jewish rabbi.
Verse 1
Why are nations gathered together, and why do kingdoms think vain things?
Why have nations gathered : Our sages (Ber. 7b) describe the passage as referring to the King Messiah, but according to its apparent meaning it is well to interpret him as David himself, as stated in (II Sam 5:17): “When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, they came out with all their forces to overpower him, etc.” And they fell into his hands. Concerning them he says, ‘Why have nations gathered together,’ and they all gathered together.
And the kingdoms think in vain of vain things in their hearts.
And kingdoms : Hebrew (kingdoms) ולאמים. Menachem interprets kingdoms) לאמים, (dying) אמות and (peoples) גוים as related.
Verse 2
The kings of the earth rebel, the powers of the world conspire against the Eternal and His anointed:
The kings of the earth rebel, the powers of the world conspire : Hebrew רוזנים, senors (seigneurs) in Old French, gentlemen.
Conspire together : Hebrew (established) נוסדו, an expression of secret (סוד), furt konsilez in Old French (furent conseilles), they were together (see Psalm 55:15). And what is the secret?
Verse 3
We must throw off their yoke and free ourselves from their bonds.
We must throw off their yoke : Deronproms lor koyongles in Old French (as in Jeremiah 27:2). These are the ties that bind the yoke.
their fetters : Hebrew עבתימו, lor kordes (leur cordes) in Old French.
Verse 4
Those who sit enthroned in heaven laugh, the Lord mocks them.
laughs…mockery : meant as in the present tense
Verse 5
Then he speaks to them in anger, and His anger astonishes them:
Then he speaks to them : Hebrew (in his anger) אלימו, as אליהם. And what is the speech? …
Verse 6
,I have anointed my king on Tzion, my holy mountain.,
I Myself have anointed My king : Why have you gathered together? I have appointed these for Me to rule and reign in Zion, My holy mountain.
Verse 7
I want to make known the decree of the Eternal. He said to me, “You are My son, today I have begotten you.
I will declare the decree of the Lord : David said, “This is a decree, and I have been given to declare it and to make it known. ,
He spoke to me : through Nathan, Gad, and Samuel.
You are My son : The head over Israel, who is called ,My firstborn son., And they will endure through you, as it was said about Abner (II Sam. 3 :18): “For God said, etc., “By the hand of My ally David will I deliver…Israel.” And for their sake, you are to me as a son, because they are all dependent on you.
I have you today : For I have increased you over
them . are to him, and he will be my son., We find further about David (Ps. 89:27). ,He will call to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.’ ,
Verse 8
Ask Me and I will give you the nations for your possession, the ends of the earth for your possession.
Ask Me : Pray to Me when you encounter your enemies.
Verse 9 You can break them with a
rod
of iron,
you can break
them in pieces like an earthen pot . break, and that is the expression (common) נפוץ by the Scriptures, a potsherd cut into fine pieces.
Verse 10
Therefore, kings, be wise, be warned, you rulers of the earth.
Therefore, kings, be wise : The Jewish Prophets are merciful people. They reject the heathen, turning away their wickedness, for the Holy One, blessed is He, stretches out His hand to the wicked and to the righteous.
Verse 11
Submit yourselves, show your awe to the Lord, and make Him tremble pay your respects
to Him trembling : Like the shaking of which it is written (Isaiah 33:14), “Sinners tremble,” come, you will rejoice and be happy, having served the Lord.
Verse 12
Give honor to His son with a kiss, otherwise his anger will be kindled, and your path will be a dead end, for at the slightest thing he will be inflamed with anger. Blessed are those who take refuge in Him.
Pay homage to His son with a kiss : Protect yourselves with purity of heart. Some explain נשקו as garnimont in Old French, equipment. (This comes from the verb, to yarn. Garnimont means to provide, as in Genesis 41:40). Menachem (p. 179) interprets it as an expression of desire, as (in Genesis 3:16): ,Your desire (תשוקתך) will be for your husband.,
otherwise His wrath is kindled : Hebrew יאנף, lest He be angry.
and Thy way is a dead end : As is the thing stated (Psalm 1:6), ,but the way of the wicked shall perish.,
for at the least thing He is kindled with anger : For in a little moment His wrath will be kindled against them, and in that time the praises of all who take refuge in Him will be distinguished, the praises of all who take refuge in Him .
Psalm 1 to 92
Would you like to read more Psalms with a Jewish interpretation? Go to: Psalms 1 through 92.