Table of Contents
Acknowledgements. i
Introduction.. iii
The Intellectual Background of This Commentary.. iii
Premise of this Commentary. vii
Plan of this Commentary. viii
A Note on Translation and Other Conventions. xii
Abbreviations. xii
CHAPTER ONE. 1
Psalms 1–2: Introducing the Message and Identity of the Psalmist. 1
Overview.. 1
Psalm 1: Introducing the Two Paths 2
Psalm 1 and Jeremiah 17:5–10. 3
Psalm 1, Jeremiah 17, and the Garden of Eden. 7
Psalm 2: Introducing the Author. 10
Psalm 2 Summary. 11
Psalm 2 and Jeremiah’s Inaugural Prophecy. 13
A Difference of Timing. 17
Psalm 2 and the Potter’s Vessel Prophecies of Jeremiah 18–19. 19
Additional Textual Links between Psalms 1-2 and Jeremiah. 21
Psalms 1–2: Structure and Synthesis 26
Psalms 3–7: Overview.. 29
Excursus 1: On Number Symbolism in the Tanakh from the Work of Rabbi Solomon D. Sassoon.. 34
Introduction. 34
Examples of Symbolic Use of Eight and Thirteen. 35
Regarding Seven and Twelve. 39
Some Examples of Number Symbolism in Psalms 43
Tetragrammaton Symbolism.. 46
Excursus 2: The Use of אַשְׁרֵי and בָּרוּךְ across the Book of Psalms. 50
Another Instance of אַשְׁרֵי as Literary Anchor in the Bible. 53
Excursus 3: The Meaning of the Word אַשְׁרֵי and More on the Pattern of Its Use in Psalms. 55
Excursus 4: On the Word אַשְׁרֵי and the Covenant of Fire. 63
CHAPTER TWO.. 67
Psalm 8: The Grand Covenantal Vision.. 67
Overview of Psalm 8 and Its Relation to Adjacent Psalms 67
Structural and Literary Aspects of Psalm 8. 69
Centers and Inclusios 69
The Anomalous Third Verse and Linkage to Genesis 15. 70
Psalm 8 Inclusio Paralleled in Genesis 15. 72
Deeper Analysis of the Linkage Between Psalm 8 and Genesis 15. 75
Genesis 15 and Its Preceding Narrative. 75
From the Mouth of Infants and Sucklings: Towards an Explanation of a Problematic Verse. 85
The Continuation of Psalm 8: What Is Man, That You Are Mindful of Him? 86
Psalm 8, the Covenant of the Parts, and Other Covenants 88
Third and Fourth Generations: A Recurring Covenantal Theme. 93
More Covenantal Features in Psalm 8 and Their Inner-Biblical Parallels 98
זכר and פקד. 98
עֹבֵר אָרְחוֹת יַמִּים, the Covenant of the Parts, and the Splitting of the Sea in Psalm 136. 110
Jeremiah and the Context of Psalm 8. 111
Summary of Jeremiah 29–34. 111
Jeremiah, Abraham, and Psalm 8. 118
“You Have Established Strength:” The Role of Children and Words. 121
Psalms 127 and 144: Speak to the Enemies at the Gate. 121
Jeremiah’s Inaugural Prophecy and Mission and Psalm 8. 124
Conclusion. 125
Excursus 1: The Literary Structure of Genesis 15. 127
Excursus 2: Psalm 8 and “Calling Out in the Name of the Lord”. 130
Enosh. 130
Abram and Isaac. 130
CHAPTER THREE. 133
Evil and the Disruption of Order: A Literary and Structural Analysis of the Acrostic of Psalms 9–10. 133
Introduction. 133
An Overview of Psalms’ Acrostics. 134
Psalms 9–10: Evil Disrupts Order. 135
Introduction. 135
Psalms 9–10 Overview and Connections to Preceding Psalms 136
Acrostic Pattern and Disruption. 139
Structure and the Integrity of the Masoretic Text 140
Ending Emendation: Reading the Text as Is 142
Disruptions Explained. 143
Coordinated Word Counts 146
Significant Letters within Words 151
The Numerical Patterns of Psalms 9–10. 151
The Meaning of the Number Symbolism in Psalms 9–10. 153
Summary and Conclusions 154
CHAPTER FOUR.. 155
The Repeated Psalms 14 and 53: On the Failed Search for Righteousness and Morality in the First and Second Books of Psalms. 155
Introduction. 156
Sodom and the Deluge Revisited: Overview of Psalms 11–14. 156
Sodom Imagery in Psalms 11–14. 157
Deluge Imagery in Psalms 11–14. 161
Distribution of Mikhtam Psalms: Understanding the Role of Superscriptions in the Organization of Psalms. 165
Psalm 15 and Psalms 54–55: Moral vs. Immoral. 166
Psalm 15: Precise Structure. 167
Psalm 15: The Moral Individual 170
The Adaptation of the Decalogue in Psalm 15 and Related Texts 174
Psalm 55: The Immoral Society. 188
Overview.. 189
Psalm 15 and Psalm 55 in Light of One Another. 192
The Ninth Quality. 195
Leviticus 27: ערכין (Evaluations) 198
Job Chapter 28: אֱנוֹשׁ עֶרְכָּהּ. 202
Jeremiah Context and the Repeated Psalms Explained. 205
Psalms 14 and 53: Differences Explained. 213
Jonah and Jeremiah, Nineveh and Jerusalem: Intertextuality in Psalm 55. 219
Psalms 14 and 53: Summary and Conclusion. 224
Excursus: The Decalogue and the Essence of Holiness 226
Parashat Qedoshim: Linkage with the Decalogue. 228
CHAPTER FIVE. 236
Psalm 19 as Inner-Biblical Commentary on Genesis 1–3: A Lesson on Creation, Torah, and the Consequences of Sin.. 236
Introduction. 236
Psalm 19: Structure and Content. 241
Section One: Verses 2–7. 243
Section Two: Verses 8–10. 252
Section Three: Verses 11–15. 264
Psalm 19 and Genesis 1–3 Recapitulated. 268
Days of Creation Hinted to by Wordplay. 270
Concluding Remarks on Psalm 19 and Genesis 271
Conclusion: Returning to Psalm Sequence. 275
Psalm 19’s Relation to Psalm 18 and the Prophetic Message of Jeremiah. 275
Excursus: On the Function of “Psalm Centers”. 282
CHAPTER SIX.. 286
Psalm 22: From the Depths of Divine Abandonment to the Heights of Hopeful Vision.. 286
Psalm 22: Overview.. 287
Unique Superscription: לַמְנַצֵּחַ עַל אַיֶּלֶת הַשַּׁחַר מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד. 289
Suggested Explanations 289
A Different Approach. 290
Animal Imagery. 292
Jeremiah Context. 295
Central Words, Repeated Words, and Refrains 300
Summary: The Function of the Superscription in Psalm 22. 302
Conclusion: Returning to Psalm Sequence. 303
Psalm 22’s Relation to Adjacent Psalms 303
Sequence Going Forward. 304
CHAPTER SEVEN.. 306
Returning to the Book 1 Acrostics: Psalms 25 and 34. 306
Introduction. 306
Overview of Psalm 25. 307
Psalm 25 in Its Sequential Context. 307
Considering Psalms 22–24. 307
The Connecting סֶלָה and Other Links between Psalms 24 and 25. 309
Biblical Allusions in Psalm 25. 310
Psalm 25 and Exodus 32–34. 310
Psalm 25 and Jeremiah 14. 314
How Psalm 23 Builds upon Psalm 22. 314
Biblical Allusions in Psalm 25: Interim Summary. 317
Psalm 25’s Missing Letters 317
Contrasts and Parallels between the First Two Acrostics: Words and Ideas 318
Parallels and Contrasts: Missing and Present Letters. 320
Structure and Number Symbolism in Psalm 25. 320
Concluding Remarks on Psalm 25. 322
Psalm 34: A Response to Psalm 25. 323
Introduction. 324
The מ-Verse Question in Psalms 25 and 34. 324
טוֹב and עָנִי in Psalms 25 and 34. 325
Psalm 34: A Response to Psalm 25’s Prayers 326
Psalms 25 and 34: ק Restored, ו Still Missing. 326
Sensory Words. 328
Alphabetic Features of Psalm 34. 330
I Will Teach You the Fear of God. 331
Conclusion: The Central Message of Psalm 34 and Its Connection to Psalm 25. 331
The Evolving Message of Book 1’s Acrostics 333
CHAPTER EIGHT. 334
Psalm 37: The Final Book 1 Acrostic: 334
Justice Will Prevail. 334
Introduction. 336
The Missing ע Verse and Other Anomalies 336
ע Intentionally Omitted. 337
Psalm 37: Structure Informing Content. 338
Acrostic Letters and Verses 338
Word Counts 339
Structure Based on 7 or 70. 341
Word Counts in Primary Verses 341
Word Counts in Attached Verses 341
Surrounding this Unit 342
Interim Summary: Dual Converging Structure and Its Significance. 343
What Does It Mean? 344
Evil Has Disappeared. 345
Profile of Righteous and Humble Rulership. 346
Parallels and Progressions Across the Four Acrostics of Book 1. 347
Language Parallels 347
Word Counts. 348
Progression Through the Book 1 Acrostics 349
Volume 1 Conclusion and Segue to Volume 2. 352
The “Story” of Book 1 of Psalms. 352
Turning to the “Story” of Books 2 and 3 of Psalms. 354
Excursus 1: Evil and the Disruption of Order: A Structural Analysis of the Acrostics in Lamentations. 356
Introduction. 356
Ekha Overview.. 357
The ע and פ Reversals 360
Chapter 5 and the Conclusion of Ekha. 363
Excursus 2: Book One and Book Five Acrostics: 366
Compared and Contrasted.. 366
Structure and Content. 366
Language. 367
Conclusion. 369