Psalms 72:9 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

In the wilderness— ציים ziim, is derived from a root, which signifies to be dry or thirsty, and is applied to barren grounds or desarts, parched up for want of springs and rains; and it means here, and in the next verse, where it is rendered isles, the inhabitants of those desert countries, and particularly the people and kings of Arabia Deserta. The kings of Arabia are expressly said to bring gifts, or pay tribute to Solomon, 1 Kings 10:15. Sheba and Seba are also countries of Arabia. The queen of Sheba brought him the most valuable presents. To lick the dust, signifies to prostrate themselves before the king, and kiss the ground, in token of reverence towards him; as was, and still is the custom of the eastern nations. D'Herbelot informs us, that kissing the feet, and lying prostrate in the dust before a person, were very ancient customs in the east; and it appears that they were not mere expressions of reverence, but (which is not well known) of vassalage; and kissing the earth, of the most abject vassalage, sometimes arising from the low rank of those who paid their homage, and sometimes from dejectedness and adulation. When, therefore, the Psalmist says, He shall have dominion, &c. he marks out extent of empire: When he adds, they that dwell in the wilderness shall bow, &c. it would be extremely wrong to suppose that he is only specifying one particular part of that extensive authority, which he had before expressed in general terms; for he greatly enlarges the thought. It is equivalent to saying, that those wild Arabs, whom the greatest conquerors could never tame, shall bow before him, or become his vassals; nay, his enemies, and consequently these Arabs, among the rest, shall lick the dust, or court him with the most abject subjection. See Observations, p. 254 and Isaiah 49:23. It is added in the 11th verse, that all kings shall fall down before him; which, in the highest sense, can relate only to Christ, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. See Matthew 1:11; Matthew 12:42.