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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
2:10-12 Advice to the Gentile Kings. The kings must understand that the ruler whom they reject is not just another human ruler but is God's own appointed king for the sake of the whole world. Therefore they serve their best interest by submitting to David's heir.
2:12 Kiss the Son. "Son" (bar) is Aramaic in form, leading some to offer other translations (such as "purely"), or even to suggest large-scale repairs to the Hebrew text (e.g., to make it say "his feet"). But the Aramaic-sounding term is well-suited to a Gentile audience (the kings in revolt). The Son is the heir of David (v. 7). The kiss denotes religious homage, and the Davidic king deserves it (v. 2). It is possible that the he and him of this verse refer to the Lord (from v. 11), though it is more natural to find a reference to the Son, who acts in God's name. He is therefore the one in whom the faithful take refuge.
