Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 72:10
The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
10. Let the kings bring presents, or, as R.V. marg., render tribute, the word implying that they are rendering what is due to him. Tarshish was the wealthy Phoenician colony of Tartessus in southern Spain: the isles or rather the coastlands are those of the Mediterranean generally. Sheba was south-eastern Arabia (Arabia Felix), famous for its wealth and commerce; hence P.B.V., following LXX and Vulg., gives Arabia: Seba, mentioned in Gen 10:7 among Cushite peoples and coupled with Egypt and Ethiopia in Isa 43:3; Isa 45:14, is generally supposed to be the kingdom of Meroe in Ethiopia, but may denote a Cushite state on the Arabian Gulf. The most remote and the most wealthy nations unite in honouring the righteous king.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The kings of Tarshish – On the situation of Tarshish, see the notes at Isa 2:16. Compare Psa 48:7. The word seems to be used here to denote any distant region abounding with riches.
And of the isles … – Representing also distant lands; or lands beyond the seas. The word islands among the Hebrews commonly denoted distant seacoasts, particularly those of the Mediterranean. See the notes at Isa 41:1.
The kings of Sheba and Seba – places in Arabia. On the word Sheba, see the notes at Isa 60:6. On the word Seba, see the notes at Isa 43:3.
Shall offer gifts – See the notes at Psa 45:12. Compare Isa 60:5-7, Isa 60:13-17.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 10. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shalt bring presents] Though Solomon did not reign over Cilicia, of which Tarsus was the capital, yet he might receive gifts, not in the sense of tribute; for minchah, the word here used, signifies a gratitude or friendly offering.
The kings of Sheba and Seba] Both countries of Arabia. From the former came the queen of Sheba, to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And she brought exceeding great presents or gifts, but not in the way of tribute, for Solomon had no jurisdiction in her country. And certainly many sovereigns, to obtain his friendship, sent him various presents of the choicest produce of their respective countries; and no doubt he did with them as with the queen of Sheba, gave them gifts in return. Hence the word eshcar is used, which signifies “a compensative present, made on account of benefits received.”
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Of Tarshish and of the isles; or, of the sea (as Tarshish is understood, 1Ki 22:48; Psa 48:7) and (or, that is; for that conjunction is oft used exegetically) of the isles, i.e. of remote countries, to which they used to go from Canaan by sea; all which are frequently called isles in Scripture, as hath been noted before. The kings that rule by sea (where Solomon had no great power) or by land.
Sheba and Seba; two Arabian countries; unless the one be Arabia, and the other Ethiopia beyond Egypt.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents,…. Tarshish either signifies the sea, as it is sometimes rendered in the Targum; and then the sense is, the kings of the sea, that is, of the islands of the sea, as it follows, shall be subject to the kingdom of Christ; and, as a token of it, bring presents to him, as the Moabites and Syrians did to David, and as several nations and kings did to Solomon, 2Sa 8:2; or it designs a large country inhabited by the Celtae b, and so is distinct from the islands; and then the sense is, that kings, both of the continent, and of the islands of the sea, shall do homage to the Messiah;
and the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts; the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Ethiopic, and Arabic versions, render it, “the kings of the Arabians and Saba”; and so Apollinarius, the Arabians, and Sabeans, these being places in Arabia Felix and Petraea c: this will be fulfilled when the kings of the earth shall bring their honour and glory into the New Jerusalem, Re 21:24. This, and the preceding verse, are interpreted of the Messiah by the ancient Jews d; who say e, that all the gifts that Jacob their father gave to Esau, the nations of the world shall return them to the King Messiah in time to come, according to the sense of these words; where it is not written “they shall bring”; but f, “they shall return [presents]”.
b Hiller. Onomast. p. 944. c Hiller. ibid. p. 165, 920. d Zohar in Gen. fol. 71. 1. e Bereshit Rabba, s. 78. fol. 69. 1. Bemidbar Rabba, s. 13. fol. 210. f “Redire facient, vel reddant”, Muis.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
10. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents. The Psalmist still continues, as in the preceding verse, to speak of the extent of the kingdom. The Hebrews apply the appellation of Tarshish to the whole coast, which looks towards Cilicia. By the isles, therefore, is denoted the whole coast of the Mediterranean Sea, from Cilicia to Greece. As the Jews, contenting themselves with the commodities of their own country, did not undertake voyages to distant countries, like other nations; God having expressly required them to confine themselves within the limits of their own country, that they might not be corrupted by the manners of strangers; they were accustomed, in consequence of this, to apply the appellation of isles to those countries which were on the other side of the sea. I indeed admit that Cyprus, Crete, and other islands, are comprehended under this name; but I also maintain that it applies to all the territories which were situated beyond the Mediterranean Sea. By the words מנחה, minchah, a present, and אשכר, eshcar, a gift, must be understood any tribute or custom, and not voluntary offerings; for it is vanquished enemies, and the mark or token of their subjection, which are spoken of. These terms appear to be used intentionally in this place, in order to mitigate the odium attached to such a mark of subjugation; (137) as if the inspired writer indirectly reproved subjects, if they defrauded their kings of their revenues. By שבא, Sheba, some think Arabia is intended, and by שבא, Seba, Ethiopia. Some, however, by the first word understand all that part of the Gulf of Arabia which lies towards Africa; and by the second, which is written with the letter ס, samech, the country of Sabea, (138) the more pleasant and fruitful country. This opinion is probably the more correct of the two. It is unnecessary here to remark how foolishly this passage has been wrested in the Church of Rome. They chant this verse as referring to the philosophers or wise men who came to worship Christ; as if, indeed, it were in their power of philosophers to make kings all upon a sudden; and in addition to this, to change the quarters of the world, to make of the east the south or the west.
(137) מנחה, minchah, properly signifies a friendly offering; and אשכר, eshcar, a compensative present made on account of benefits received, — a gift which a person presents as a token of gratitude. — See Appendix.
(138) Supposed to be in Arabia Felix. “The Septuagint reads, ‘The kings of the Arabs, and Sabaeans, shall bring gifts.’ So that anciently, perhaps, Sheba was the general name of Arabia; and Seba, or Sabaea, was that particular province of it called Arabia Felix, lying to the South, between the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea.” — Hewlett.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(10) Tarshish.The question of the identity of this place (or district) with the Tartessus of the Greeks is too long for a note. (See Jon. 1:3.) But plainly the mention here of the isles, i.e., islands and coasts of the Mediterranean (comp. Dan. 11:18; Isa. 11:11), is in favour of the identity.
Bring presents.Literally, return presents, but not in the sense of an interchange of royal gifts (as 1Ki. 10:13) but of payment of tribute. The expression is illustrated by the words revenue, custom-house returns, &c. (Comp. the Latin, reditus.)
Sheba.The Joktanic kingdom, embracing the greater part of Yemen or Arabia Felix, and so here representing Arabia, (the LXX. and Vulg. have kings of Arabians) while Seba (or Saba), which was Cushite, and was by Josephus (A. J., 2:10, s. 2), identified with Mero, represents Africa. (See Gen. 10:7; Gen. 10:28, and Smiths Bible Dictionary, articles Sheba and Seba.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
10. Tarshish Its location is not known, but is supposed to be the same as Tartessus, a colony and trading point of the Phoenicians, situated in the south of Spain, the most distant point west of Palestine known to the ancients.
The isles The countries lying beyond the sea with regard to Palestine, particularly the countries bordering the Mediterranean on the north.
Sheba Same as Arabia Felix, or Yemen, on the southern coast of Arabia. The Septuagint reads, “The kings of the Arabians.”
Seba Ethiopia, strictly the old and rich kingdom of Meroe. If the description of Psa 72:8, “From the river to the ends of the earth,” is to be understood of all the world lying east of the Euphrates, then “Tartessus” and “the isles” may represent all nations west of Palestine and the “wilderness,” (Arabia,)
(Psa 72:9,) as “Sheba” and “Seba” may those lying south and south-west, the whole constituting a description as comprehensive of the whole world as the Hebrew knowledge of geography could poetically give.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 72:10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
Ver. 10. The kings of Tarshish, and of the isles ] i.e. All the kings of the earth, which being encompassed with the ocean, is therefore by the old geographers called a great island. Judaea, though part of the continent, is called an isle, Isa 20:6 , because separated from other countries; with whom God would have his people to have as little to do as might be, that they might not be corrupted with foreign fashions. This was accomplished partly in Solomon; see 1Ki 4:21 ; 1Ki 4:34 ; 1Ki 10:25 ; perfectly it is, and shall be in Christ: De Solomone certum est, de Christo certius, saith Kimchi; all the kingdoms of the earth shall one day be his kingdoms; he shall be the universal Monarch, and he alone.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Tarshish. On the west. See note on 1Ki 10:22.
isles = coastlands, or maritime countries.
Sheba, &c. On the east and south.
offer gifts = bring near their presents. App-43.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psa 45:12, Psa 68:29, 1Ki 10:1, 1Ki 10:10, 1Ki 10:25, 2Ch 9:21, Isa 43:6, Isa 49:7, Isa 60:3, Isa 60:6, Isa 60:9, Mat 2:11
Reciprocal: Gen 10:5 – isles Gen 10:7 – Seba Gen 25:3 – Sheba Gen 43:11 – carry down Num 24:19 – Of Jacob 1Sa 10:27 – brought him 2Sa 8:2 – brought gifts 1Ki 4:21 – brought 1Ki 8:43 – General 1Ki 10:15 – all the kings 1Ki 10:22 – Tharshish 1Ch 1:7 – Tarshish 1Ch 1:32 – Sheba 1Ch 16:29 – bring 2Ch 9:1 – camels 2Ch 9:9 – she gave 2Ch 9:13 – the weight 2Ch 17:5 – presents 2Ch 32:23 – gifts Ezr 6:4 – the expenses Ezr 7:15 – the silver Est 10:1 – the isles Job 1:15 – Sabeans Job 6:19 – Sheba Psa 2:10 – O Psa 22:29 – shall Psa 45:9 – Kings’ Psa 148:11 – Kings Isa 23:18 – her merchandise Isa 45:14 – The labour Isa 49:12 – these shall Isa 49:23 – kings Isa 62:2 – all kings Isa 66:19 – the isles Jer 31:10 – declare Eze 26:3 – Behold Eze 27:12 – General Eze 27:22 – Sheba Eze 39:6 – in the isles Mic 4:13 – I will consecrate Rev 21:24 – the kings
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 72:10-11. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles That is, of remote countries, to which they used to go from Canaan by sea, all which are frequently called isles in Scripture. The kings that ruled by sea or by land. The kings of Sheba and Seba Two countries of Arabia; unless the one be a part of Arabia and the other of Ethiopia, beyond Egypt. Yea, all nations shall serve him This cannot be affirmed, with any shadow of truth, of Solomon, but was, or will be, unquestionably verified in Christ, who is, and will show himself to be, King of kings, and Lord of lords, and will be universally acknowledged, obeyed, and worshipped by all the kings and nations of the earth.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
72:10 The kings of {i} Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings {k} of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
(i) Of Cilicia, and of all other countries beyond the sea, which he means by the isles.
(k) That is, of Arabia that rich country, of which Sheba was a part bordering on Ethiopia.