Psalm 71:8-11
He shall rule from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. V. And all kings of the earth shall adore Him: all nations shall serve Him.
Haydock
Verse 8. To sea. Solomon ruled from the Mediterranean, Red, and Indian Seas, to the Persian Gulph, and the Euphrates, having al Arabia tributary to him, (H.) and the countries as far as Syria; so that he enjoyed all that had been promised by God. Gen. xv. 18. Num. xxxiv. 3. and 2 Par. ix. 26. and 3 K. iv. 24. — The earth, denotes this kingdom. S. Jer. in Is. xiii. 4. But if we explain it of Christ, his Church has no limits. In spite of the corruption of the world, she still asserts her title of Catholic. C. — She is universal, both as to time and place, and always visible, v. 15. W. — Her divine head began to propagate this kingdom, after he had been baptized in the river Jordan, (Bert.) as the Fathers agree. This unlimited dominion was promised, (Ps. ii. 7. C.) and the prophet Zachary, (ix.) seems to quote this passage, when speaking of the Messias alone; so that it is best to understand it in this sense, as the Sept. have done, by oikoumenhV. Bert. Is. ix. 6.
Verse 9. Ethiopians. So S. Jerom, Aquila, &c. translate Tsiim, (H.) which denotes any nations living at a distance from commerce, (Bert.) or islanders, and those who are accustomed to sail. Is. xiii. 21. People on the continent, as well as those in islands, and ships, shall submit to Solomon, 3 K. x. 11.) as all shall yield to Christ, (C.) at least at the day of judgment. — Ground. Prostrating to adore him. Is. xlix. 23. Bert. — Thus the Persians approach their kings, (Val. Max. vii. 3.) as the Muscovites and Chinese do still. C. — The eunuch of the queen of Ethiopia was the first convert of those who did not live in the holy land. Acts viii. 27. M.
Verse 10. Tharsis. Bordering on “the sea,” (Bert.) or in Cilicia, though we find not that Solomon ever claimed any authority there, or that the Mediterranean was under his control. He sent his fleet indeed to Tharsis; (3 K. x. 22.) but Arabia and Saba brought presents, or tribute to him. Under the name of islands, the Hebrews comprise all places, to which they had to go by water, as Asia Minor, &c. Is. lxvi. 19. C. — The three kings were the first who verified this prediction concerning our Saviour; and afterwards Constantine and other potentates embraced his religion. Among the islands, Britain, which is the greatest in Europe, was partly converted in the days of the apostles, (Theod. in Tim. &c.) and more under Eleutherius; though the English nation received the faith from S. Aug. and others, sent by Pope Gregory the Great, A.D. 596. W. — Saba. Heb. Seba. The preceding Arabia is sheba, (H.) and refers to some of those who people that country. — Gifts, or tribute, 1 Par. xviii. C. — If the former term, presents, (Heb. mincha, “a sacrifice of flour,” &c. H.) be taken in the strict sense, the text cannot be applicable to any but the true God, the Messias. Bert. — The wise men, who came from this country, adored and offered presents to Christ. Matt. ii. M.
Verse 11. Earth, is omitted in Heb. Rom. Sept. &c. so that this cannot regard Solomon, (Bert.) though he was reverenced by all the neighbouring kings. 3 K. x. 23. Christ alone is the universal king, (Apoc. xix. 16. and Phil. ii. 10. C.) to whom every knee shall bend, at least when all shall appear in judgment. Many kings shall submit before. Bert.