What does it mean that 'they take counsel together' in Psalm 2:2?
It means the Gentile rulers (Rome) and the religious rulers of Israel conspired together to reject the king. Their unified counsel fulfilled prophecy that both Jew and Gentile would work hand in glove, not as separate Jewish or Roman phenomena. This was God's sovereign plan for Christ to be put to death.
Les explains that Psalm 2:1 calls the heathen Gentiles and 'the people' Jews, so the whole human race is involved. In verse 2, the kings of the earth were Rome's Caesars, and the rulers were Israel's religious leaders. 'They take counsel together' is important because it was not merely a Jewish phenomenon or a Roman thing; prophecy had dictated that they would work hand in glove to reject the king. This sovereign plan required both Jew and Gentile to put Christ to death, which is why the Gospel account shows their cooperation.
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
More Questions
Who are 'the kings of the earth' in Psalm 2:2?
'The kings of the earth' in Psalm 2:2 were the Caesars and rulers of Rome at the time of Christ, a fact David did not realize when he wrote the psalm.