Though some say that Psalm 2 is not considered messianic by
the rabbis or Jewish sages, the Jewish messianic understanding
of Psalm 2 has a long history. Some of the rabbinic sources which
take a messianic interpretation of Psalm 2 are as follows:
Babylonian Talmud, Sukkah 52a
Our Rabbis taught, The Holy One, blessed be He, will say to
the Messiah, the son of David (May he reveal himself speedily
in our days!), 'Ask of me anything, and I will give it to thee',
as it is said, I will tell of the decree etc. this
day have I begotten thee, ask of me and I will give the nations
for thy inheritance [Psalms 2:7-8].
Soncino Talmud edition.
Genesis Rabbah 44:8
R. Jonathan said: Three persons were bidden 'ask', viz.: Solomon,
Ahaz, and the King Messiah. Solomon: Ask what I shall give
thee (1 Kings III, 5). Ahaz: Ask thee a sign (Isa.
VII, 11). The King Messiah: Ask of Me, etc. (Ps. II, 8).
Soncino Midrash Rabbah (vol. 1, pp. 365-366).
Pirke de-Rav Eliezer (9th c.), Section 28, on verse 1
All the nations will be gathered together to fight with the
Son of David, as it is said: The kings of the earth set themselves,
etc.
Cited in A. Lukyn Williams, A Manual of
Christian Evidences for Jewish People (London: Society for Promoting
Christian Knowledge, 1919), vol. 2, p. 123. The Hebrew is from
the Lemberg edition of 1874. Williams adds: "It should,
however, be stated that the MS. translated by Mr. G. Friedlander
(1916) reads 'the house of David' instead of 'the Son of David.'
Yet even that MS. is referring to events still future."
Rashi (11th c.)
Our teachers interpreted the subject of this Psalm with reference
to King Messiah, but according to its plain meaning it will be
right to expound it of David himself...
Cited in A. Lukyn Williams, A Manual of
Christian Evidences for Jewish People (London: Society for Promoting
Christian Knowledge, 1919), vol. 2, pp. 122-123.
Midrash on Psalms (11th c.)
This day have I begotten thee [Psalm 2:7]. R. Huna
said: Suffering is divided into three portions: one, the Patriarchs
and all the generations of men took; one, the generation that
lived in the time of [Hadrian's] persecution took; and one, the
generation of the lord Messiah will take. When the time comes,
the Holy One, blessed be He, will say: "I must create the
Messiah -- a new creation." As Scripture says, This day
have I begotten thee -- that is, on the very day of redemption,
God will create the Messiah.
Ask of Me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance,
and the ends of the earth for thy possession (Ps. 2:8). God,
speaking to the Messiah, says: If thou dost ask for dominion
over the nations, already they are thine inheritance; if for
the ends of the earth, already they are thy possession.
R. Johanan taught: To three men -- Solomon, Ahaz, and the
lord Messiah -- the Holy One, blessed be He, said, "Ask
of me." To Solomon, as is written In Gibeon the Lord
appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said: "Ask
what I shall give thee" (1 Kings 3:5). To Ahaz, as is
written "Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God: ask it
either in the depth, or in the height above" (Isa. 7:11)....To
the lord Messiah, as is written Ask of Me, and I will give
thee the nations for thine inheritance, and the ends of the earth
for thy possession.
Williams G. Braude, translator, The Midrash
on Psalms (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1987, © 1959;
Yale Judaica Series), vol. 1, pp. 41-44.
Maimonides (11th c.), introduction to Sanhedrin, chapter 10
The prophets and the saints have longed for the days of the
Messiah, and great has been their desire towards him, for there
will be with him the gathering together of the righteous and
the administration of good, and wisdom, and royal righteousness,
with the abundance of his uprightness and the spread of his wisdom,
and his approach to God, as it is said: The Lord said unto me,
Thou art my son, to-day have I begotten thee.
Cited in A. Lukyn Williams, A Manual of
Christian Evidences for Jewish People (London: Society for Promoting
Christian Knowledge, 1919), vol. 2, p. 122.
David Kimchi (13th c.), comment on verse 12
There are those who interpret this psalm of Gog and Magog,
and the "anointed" as the King Messiah; and thus did
our rabbis of blessed memory interpret it (b. Berachot 7b).
Hebrew cited in A. Lukyn Williams, A Manual
of Christian Evidences for Jewish People (London: Society for
Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1919), vol. 2, p. 121. The Hebrew
is from the edition of Schiller-Szinessy. English translation
by Rich Robinson. Kimchi himself interpreted psalm as referring
to King David, but his comment shows that the traditional interpretation
was messianic.
Yalkut (13th c.), Section 621, similar to the Midrash on Psalms quoted above:
On verse 7:
R. Huna said in the name of R. Idi, In three parts were the
punishments divided: one for King Messiah, and when His hour
cometh the Holy One, blessed be He, saith, I must make a new
covenant with Him, and so He saith, To-day have I begotten thee.
On verse 9:
"Thou wilt bruise them with a rod of iron"; this
is Messiah ben Joseph.
Cited in A. Lukyn Williams, A Manual of
Christian Evidences for Jewish People (London: Society for Promoting
Christian Knowledge, 1919), vol. 2, pp. 121-122.