The commentaries differ in their analysis of the number of cola
present in vs. 2. Are there three or two cola? In any event the verse may be
divided into two poetic lines. Line 2a consists of מטה־עזךָ ישׁלח יהוה מציון and line 2b consists of רדה בקרב איביךָ. This is indicated by the absence of
direct parallelism between 2a and 2b. The two lines are indirectly joined by
the imagery of ruling, but this can also be attributed to the external
connection between the two lines. Separation of the two lines is argued for by
the fact that 2a speaks of an action of the Lord, while in 2b the party
addressed is summoned to rule. The imperative at the beginning of 2b may also
indicate the beginning of a new line. This makes it clear that 2b is a
unicolon. It is more difficult to decide in 2a. Those who divide the verse into
three cola see this poetic line as a bicolon. The first section consists of מטה־עזךָ and the second colon is ישׁלח יהוה מציון. Although direct parallelism is absent
between these cola, there are a number of indicators which suggest division
into two cola. A more semantic parallel is present through mention in 2aA of
the might of the one addressed, while 2aB speaks of Zion as the center of
might. Furthermore, מטה
and מציון form a phonological wordplay via the מ. And finally, the emphatic placement of מטה־עזךָ at the beginning of the line argues for a
separate colon. On the basis of these considerations it appears that vs. 2
consists of 2 poetic lines, the bicolon 2a and the unicolon 2b. (Willem dan
der Meer, “Psalm 110: A Psalm of Rehabilitation?,” in The Structural
Analysis of Biblical and Canaanite Poetry, ed. Willem van der Meer and
Johannes C. de Moor Johannes [Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement
Series 74; Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1988], 212-13)