Psalm 78 Participant Analysis
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Psalm 78/Participant Analysis
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Psalm 78
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Participant Analysis
Participant Analysis focuses on the characters in the psalm and asks, “Who are the main participants (or characters) in this psalm, and what are they saying or doing? It is often helpful for understanding literary structure, speaker identification, etc.
For a detailed explanation of our method, see the Participant Analysis Creator Guidelines.
There are 6 participants/characters in Psalm 78:
| Asaph |
| David's flock |
| The latest generation (vv. 4, 6) |
| The latest generation's children (v. 6) |
| Israel/Jacob (vv. 71-72) |
| YHWH |
| "YHWH" (vv. 4, 21) |
| "God" (אֵל) (vv. 7, 8, 18, 19) |
| "God" (אֱלֹהִים) (vv. 7, 10, 19, 22, 31, 35, 59) |
| "the Most High" (עֶלְיוֹן) (v. 17) |
| "God, the Most High" (אֵל עֶלְיוֹן; אֱלֹהִים עֶלְיוֹן) (vv. 35, 56) |
| "their rock" (v. 35) |
| "their redeemer" (v. 35) |
| "the holy one of Israel" (v. 41) |
| "the Lord" (אֲדֹנָי) (v. 65) |
| The ancestors |
| "the ancestors" (vv. 3, 5, 8) |
| "Ephraimites" (v. 9) |
| "Israel" (v. 59) |
| "his [God's] people/inheritance" (v. 62) |
| "tent of Joseph / clan of Ephraim" (v. 67) |
| The ancestors' ancestors |
| "their ancestors" (v. 12, 57) |
| "his [God's] people" (vv. 20, 71) |
| "Jacob/Israel" (vv. 21, 71) |
| Egyptians |
| The Canaanite nations |
| The Philistines |
| David |
| "David" (v. 70) |
| "his [God's] servant" (v. 70) |
| Judah (v. 68) |
- The psalmist is identified as Asaph (which may refer to one of the "sons of Asaph"—see the phrase-level note—though not necessarily) begins reciting the psalm in first person singular, before joining the chorus of the community of the righteous in the latest generation.
- David's flock is identified those who submit to his rule. At the beginning of the psalm this consists of the latest generation, both Asaph('s descendant) and his group as well as the addressee of the psalm (see the notes on accompanying the text table), who are to proclaim the teaching of the psalm, while also receiving it and passing it on to their children. At the end of the psalm, both Jacob, God's people, and Israel, God's inheritance, are marvelously identified with this group as being shepherded by David.
- YHWH is referred to by a multitude of different divine names, as listed in the participant set, while also characterized as Israel's rock and redeemer (v. 35).
- As is characteristic of Psalms 78–80 as a whole, the antagonists of the psalm are the community's ancestors.[1] In contrast to the mention of Judah in v. 68, the ancestors are largely referred to by generic names which encapsulate the entire nation, such as "Jacob" and "Israel," or those associated with Shiloh as a locality, such as "Ephraim" and "Joseph." Despite playing the role of antagonist, to which the latest generation should aspire not to be like, a "stubborn and rebellious generation" (v. 8), they also never cease to be YHWH's people (vv. 20, 58; see also the 3ms suffixes in vv. 28, 62-64).
- The foreign nations play a subservient role of displaying God's miraculous acts for his people throughout their history—primarily in Egypt throughout the Exodus event (vv. 42-53), but also in the conquest of Canaan (v. 54) and the defeat of the Philistines (v. 66). In the latter instance, the vessel of punishment for his people (vv. 60-64) in turn receive their own justice (vv. 65-66).
- Following the rejection of Joseph/Ephraim (v. 67) as the center of covenant administration, and the choice of Judah and Zion (v. 68), David is further chosen as the shepherd who will lead the renewed community (vv. 70-72).
| Hebrew | Verse | English |
|---|---|---|
| מַשְׂכִּ֗יל לְאָ֫סָ֥ף | 1a | A maskil. By Asaph. |
| הַאֲזִ֣ינָה עַ֭מִּי תּוֹרָתִ֑י | 1b | Listen, my people, to my teaching; |
| הַטּ֥וּ אָ֝זְנְכֶ֗ם לְאִמְרֵי־פִֽי׃ | 1c | turn your ear to the words of my mouth. |
| אֶפְתְּחָ֣ה בְמָשָׁ֣ל פִּ֑י | 2a | Let me open up my mouth with a parable; |
| אַבִּ֥יעָה חִ֝יד֗וֹת מִנִּי־קֶֽדֶם׃ | 2b | let me pour out puzzling problems from long ago. |
| אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁ֭מַעְנוּ וַנֵּדָעֵ֑ם | 3a | The things which we heard, and which we learned |
| וַ֝אֲבוֹתֵ֗ינוּ סִפְּרוּ־לָֽנוּ׃ | 3b | and our ancestors told us, |
| לֹ֤א נְכַחֵ֨ד ׀ מִבְּנֵיהֶ֗ם לְד֥וֹר אַחֲר֗וֹן | 4a | we will not hide from their children in the latest generation, |
| מְֽ֭סַפְּרִים תְּהִלּ֣וֹת יְהוָ֑ה | 4b | proclaiming the praiseworthy deeds of YHWH |
| וֶעֱזוּז֥וֹ וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָֽׂה׃ | 4c | and his power and his wonderful deeds which he has accomplished: |
| וַיָּ֤קֶם עֵד֨וּת ׀ בְּֽיַעֲקֹ֗ב | 5a | how he established a testimony among Jacob |
| וְתוֹרָה֮ שָׂ֤ם בְּיִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל | 5b | and set up a teaching among Israel, |
| אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִ֭וָּה אֶת־אֲבוֹתֵ֑ינוּ | 5c | which he commanded our ancestors |
| לְ֝הוֹדִיעָ֗ם לִבְנֵיהֶֽם׃ | 5d | to teach them to their children, |
| לְמַ֤עַן יֵדְע֨וּ ׀ דּ֣וֹר אַ֭חֲרוֹן | 6a | so that the latest generation might know |
| בָּנִ֣ים יִוָּלֵ֑דוּ | 6b | —children who were yet to be born— |
| יָ֝קֻ֗מוּ וִֽיסַפְּר֥וּ לִבְנֵיהֶֽם׃ | 6c | [that] they might begin to tell their children |
| וְיָשִׂ֥ימוּ בֵֽאלֹהִ֗ים כִּ֫סְלָ֥ם | 7a | and they might put their trust in God, |
| וְלֹ֣א יִ֭שְׁכְּחוּ מַֽעַלְלֵי־אֵ֑ל | 7b | [so that] they might not forget God's deeds |
| וּמִצְוֺתָ֥יו יִנְצֹֽרוּ׃ | 7c | but might obey his commands |
| וְלֹ֤א יִהְי֨וּ ׀ כַּאֲבוֹתָ֗ם | 8a | and might not be like their ancestors, |
| דּוֹר֮ סוֹרֵ֪ר וּמֹ֫רֶ֥ה | 8b | a stubborn and rebellious generation, |
| דּ֭וֹר לֹא־הֵכִ֣ין לִבּ֑וֹ | 8c | a generation who did not keep their heart committed |
| וְלֹא־נֶאֶמְנָ֖ה אֶת־אֵ֣ל רוּחֽוֹ׃ | 8d | and whose mind was not faithful to God. |
| בְּֽנֵי־אֶפְרַ֗יִם נוֹשְׁקֵ֥י רוֹמֵי־קָ֑שֶׁת | 9a | Ephraimites, armed [with a bow], archers, |
| הָ֝פְכ֗וּ בְּי֣וֹם קְרָֽב׃ | 9b | turned back on a day of battle. |
| לֹ֣א שָׁ֭מְרוּ בְּרִ֣ית אֱלֹהִ֑ים | 10a | They did not keep the covenant of God |
| וּ֝בְתוֹרָת֗וֹ מֵאֲנ֥וּ לָלֶֽכֶת׃ | 10b | and they refused to walk in his teaching, |
| וַיִּשְׁכְּח֥וּ עֲלִילוֹתָ֑יו | 11a | in that they forgot his deeds |
| וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶרְאָֽם׃ | 11b | and [they forgot] his wonders which he had shown them. |
| נֶ֣גֶד אֲ֭בוֹתָם עָ֣שָׂה פֶ֑לֶא | 12a | In front of their ancestors he performed miracles |
| בְּאֶ֖רֶץ מִצְרַ֣יִם שְׂדֵה־צֹֽעַן׃ | 12b | in the land of Egypt, the region of Zoan. |
| בָּ֣קַע יָ֭ם וַיַּֽעֲבִירֵ֑ם | 13a | He divided the sea and brought them through; |
| וַֽיַּצֶּב־מַ֥יִם כְּמוֹ־נֵֽד׃ | 13b | he made the waters stand like a heap. |
| וַיַּנְחֵ֣ם בֶּעָנָ֣ן יוֹמָ֑ם | 14a | He led them by cloud during the day |
| וְכָל־הַ֝לַּ֗יְלָה בְּא֣וֹר אֵֽשׁ׃ | 14b | and [he led them] all night by fire light. |
| יְבַקַּ֣ע צֻ֭רִים בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר | 15a | He would split rocks in the wilderness |
| וַ֝יַּ֗שְׁקְ כִּתְהֹמ֥וֹת רַבָּֽה׃ | 15b | and provide drinking water abundantly, as from oceans. |
| וַיּוֹצִ֣א נוֹזְלִ֣ים מִסָּ֑לַע | 16a | He would bring streams out from rock |
| וַיּ֖וֹרֶד כַּנְּהָר֣וֹת מָֽיִם׃ | 16b | and make water flow down like rivers. |
| וַיּוֹסִ֣יפוּ ע֭וֹד לַחֲטֹא־ל֑וֹ | 17a | But again they sinned against him; |
| לַֽמְר֥וֹת עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן בַּצִּיָּֽה׃ | 17b | again they rebelled against the Most High in the desert. |
| וַיְנַסּוּ־אֵ֥ל בִּלְבָבָ֑ם | 18a | They put God to the test in their heart, |
| לִֽשְׁאָל־אֹ֥כֶל לְנַפְשָֽׁם׃ | 18b | by asking for food for their throat. |
| וַֽיְדַבְּר֗וּ בֵּֽאלֹ֫הִ֥ים | 19a | They spoke against God |
| אָ֭מְרוּ הֲי֣וּכַל אֵ֑ל | 19b | saying: "Is God not able |
| לַעֲרֹ֥ךְ שֻׁ֝לְחָ֗ן בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ | 19c | to prepare a table in the wilderness? |
| הֵ֤ן הִכָּה־צ֨וּר ׀ וַיָּז֣וּבוּ מַיִם֮ | 20a | Since he struck a rock so that waters gushed out |
| וּנְחָלִ֪ים יִ֫שְׁטֹ֥פוּ | 20b | and streams began to flow, |
| הֲגַם־לֶ֭חֶם י֣וּכַל תֵּ֑ת | 20c | is he not able to give bread, too? |
| אִם־יָכִ֖ין שְׁאֵ֣ר לְעַמּֽוֹ׃ | 20d | Or can he not provide meat for his people?" |
| לָכֵ֤ן ׀ שָׁמַ֥ע יְהוָ֗ה וַֽיִּתְעַבָּ֥ר | 21a | Therefore, when YHWH heard he became furious; |
| וְ֭אֵשׁ נִשְּׂקָ֣ה בְיַעֲקֹ֑ב | 21b | fire flared up against Jacob |
| וְגַם־אַ֝֗ף עָלָ֥ה בְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ | 21c | and also anger rose against Israel, |
| כִּ֤י לֹ֣א הֶ֭אֱמִינוּ בֵּאלֹהִ֑ים | 22a | because they had not believed in God |
| וְלֹ֥א בָ֝טְח֗וּ בִּֽישׁוּעָתֽוֹ׃ | 22b | and they had not trusted in his provision. |
| וַיְצַ֣ו שְׁחָקִ֣ים מִמָּ֑עַל | 23a | So he ordered clouds from above |
| וְדַלְתֵ֖י שָׁמַ֣יִם פָּתָֽח׃ | 23b | and opened heavenly doors; |
| וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם מָ֣ן לֶאֱכֹ֑ל | 24a | he rained down upon them manna to eat |
| וּדְגַן־שָׁ֝מַ֗יִם נָ֣תַן לָֽמוֹ׃ | 24b | and he gave them grain from heaven. |
| לֶ֣חֶם אַ֭בִּירִים אָ֣כַל אִ֑ישׁ | 25a | People ate bread of angels; |
| צֵידָ֬ה שָׁלַ֖ח לָהֶ֣ם לָשֹֽׂבַע׃ | 25b | he sent them provisions until they were satisfied. |
| יַסַּ֣ע קָ֭דִים בַּשָּׁמָ֑יִם | 26a | He caused an east wind to blow in the sky |
| וַיְנַהֵ֖ג בְּעֻזּ֣וֹ תֵימָֽן׃ | 26b | and he drove a south wind with his might. |
| וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם כֶּעָפָ֣ר שְׁאֵ֑ר | 27a | So he made meat rain upon them like dust |
| וּֽכְח֥וֹל יַ֝מִּ֗ים ע֣וֹף כָּנָֽף׃ | 27b | and [he made] winged birds [rain upon them] like the sand on the seashore, |
| וַ֭יַּפֵּל בְּקֶ֣רֶב מַחֲנֵ֑הוּ | 28a | and he made them fall inside his camp, |
| סָ֝בִ֗יב לְמִשְׁכְּנֹתָֽיו׃ | 28b | all around his tents. |
| וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ וַיִּשְׂבְּע֣וּ מְאֹ֑ד | 29a | So they ate and were completely satisfied |
| וְ֝תַֽאֲוָתָ֗ם יָבִ֥א לָהֶֽם׃ | 29b | when he brought them what they craved. |
| לֹא־זָר֥וּ מִתַּאֲוָתָ֑ם | 30a | They had not turned away from the object of their craving |
| ע֝֗וֹד אָכְלָ֥ם בְּפִיהֶֽם׃ | 30b | —their food was still in their mouth— |
| וְאַ֤ף אֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀ עָ֘לָ֤ה בָהֶ֗ם | 31a | when the anger of God rose against them |
| וַֽ֭יַּהֲרֹג בְּמִשְׁמַנֵּיהֶ֑ם | 31b | and he killed some of their strong men |
| וּבַחוּרֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל הִכְרִֽיעַ׃ | 31c | and he struck down young men of Israel. |
| בְּכָל־זֹ֭את חָֽטְאוּ־ע֑וֹד | 32a | In spite of this, they sinned again |
| וְלֹֽא־הֶ֝אֱמִ֗ינוּ בְּנִפְלְאוֹתָֽיו׃ | 32b | and did not trust in his wonderful deeds, |
| וַיְכַל־בַּהֶ֥בֶל יְמֵיהֶ֑ם | 33a | so he made them spend their days in vain |
| וּ֝שְׁנוֹתָ֗ם בַּבֶּהָלָֽה׃ | 33b | and [he made them spend] their years in anguish. |
| אִם־הֲרָגָ֥ם וּדְרָשׁ֑וּהוּ | 34a | Whenever he killed them, then they would seek him |
| וְ֝שָׁ֗בוּ וְשִֽׁחֲרוּ־אֵֽל׃ | 34b | and again look for God. |
| וַֽ֭יִּזְכְּרוּ כִּֽי־אֱלֹהִ֣ים צוּרָ֑ם | 35a | They would remember that God was their rock |
| וְאֵ֥ל עֶ֝לְיוֹן גֹּאֲלָֽם׃ | 35b | and [that] God, the Most High, was their redeemer. |
| וַיְפַתּ֥וּהוּ בְּפִיהֶ֑ם | 36a | But they were trying to deceive him with their mouth |
| וּ֝בִלְשׁוֹנָ֗ם יְכַזְּבוּ־לֽוֹ׃ | 36b | and with their tongue were lying to him. |
| וְ֭לִבָּם לֹא־נָכ֣וֹן עִמּ֑וֹ | 37a | Their heart was not committed to him |
| וְלֹ֥א נֶ֝אֶמְנ֗וּ בִּבְרִיתֽוֹ׃ | 37b | and they were not faithful to his covenant. |
| וְה֤וּא רַח֨וּם ׀ | 38a | But he is compassionate. |
| יְכַפֵּ֥ר עָוֺן֮ וְֽלֹא־יַ֫שְׁחִ֥ית | 38b | He forgives iniquity and does not destroy. |
| וְ֭הִרְבָּה לְהָשִׁ֣יב אַפּ֑וֹ | 38c | He repeatedly turned back his anger. |
| וְלֹֽא־יָ֝עִיר כָּל־חֲמָתֽוֹ׃ | 38d | And he would not stir up all his wrath. |
| וַ֭יִּזְכֹּר כִּי־בָשָׂ֣ר הֵ֑מָּה | 39a | He remembered that they were flesh, |
| ר֥וּחַ ה֝וֹלֵ֗ךְ וְלֹ֣א יָשֽׁוּב׃ | 39b | a breeze that goes by and will not return. |
| כַּ֭מָּה יַמְר֣וּהוּ בַמִּדְבָּ֑ר | 40a | How often did they rebel against him in the wilderness! |
| יַ֝עֲצִיב֗וּהוּ בִּֽישִׁימֽוֹן׃ | 40b | [How often] did they grieve him in the desert! |
| וַיָּשׁ֣וּבוּ וַיְנַסּ֣וּ אֵ֑ל | 41a | Again they put God to the test |
| וּקְד֖וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל הִתְווּ׃ | 41b | and they provoked the Holy One of Israel. |
| לֹא־זָכְר֥וּ אֶת־יָד֑וֹ | 42a | They did not remember his strength; |
| י֝֗וֹם אֲֽשֶׁר־פָּדָ֥ם מִנִּי־צָֽר׃ | 42b | [they did not remember] the day in which he saved them from an adversary. |
| אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֣ם בְּ֭מִצְרַיִם אֹֽתוֹתָ֑יו | 43a | [They did not remember the day] in which he displayed his signs in Egypt |
| וּ֝מוֹפְתָ֗יו בִּשְׂדֵה־צֹֽעַן׃ | 43b | and [displayed] his miracles in the region of Zoan— |
| וַיַּהֲפֹ֣ךְ לְ֭דָם יְאֹרֵיהֶ֑ם | 44a | how he turned their rivers into blood |
| וְ֝נֹזְלֵיהֶ֗ם בַּל־יִשְׁתָּיֽוּן׃ | 44b | and they could not drink [from] their streams. |
| יְשַׁלַּ֬ח בָּהֶ֣ם עָ֭רֹב וַיֹּאכְלֵ֑ם | 45a | He sent a swarm of insects among them and it devoured them; |
| וּ֝צְפַרְדֵּ֗עַ וַתַּשְׁחִיתֵֽם׃ | 45b | [he sent] a plague of frogs [among them] and it destroyed them. |
| וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לֶחָסִ֣יל יְבוּלָ֑ם | 46a | He gave their crops to young locusts |
| וִֽ֝יגִיעָ֗ם לָאַרְבֶּֽה׃ | 46b | and [he gave] the fruit of their labor to locusts. |
| יַהֲרֹ֣ג בַּבָּרָ֣ד גַּפְנָ֑ם | 47a | He killed their vines with hail |
| וְ֝שִׁקְמוֹתָ֗ם בַּֽחֲנָמַֽל׃ | 47b | and [he killed] their sycamore trees with frost. |
| וַיַּסְגֵּ֣ר לַבָּרָ֣ד בְּעִירָ֑ם | 48a | He gave their livestock over to hail |
| וּ֝מִקְנֵיהֶ֗ם לָרְשָׁפִֽים׃ | 48b | and [he gave] their herds [over] to lightning. |
| יְשַׁלַּח־בָּ֨ם ׀ חֲר֬וֹן אַפּ֗וֹ | 49a | He sent among them the wrath of his anger: |
| עֶבְרָ֣ה וָזַ֣עַם וְצָרָ֑ה | 49b | fury and indignation and trouble, |
| מִ֝שְׁלַ֗חַת מַלְאֲכֵ֥י רָעִֽים׃ | 49c | by a deputation of angels bringing disaster. |
| יְפַלֵּ֥ס נָתִ֗יב לְאַ֫פּ֥וֹ | 50a | He cleared a path for his anger; |
| לֹא־חָשַׂ֣ךְ מִמָּ֣וֶת נַפְשָׁ֑ם | 50b | he did not spare their soul from death |
| וְ֝חַיָּתָ֗ם לַדֶּ֥בֶר הִסְגִּֽיר׃ | 50c | but gave their life over to plague. |
| וַיַּ֣ךְ כָּל־בְּכ֣וֹר בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם | 51a | He killed every firstborn in Egypt, |
| רֵאשִׁ֥ית א֝וֹנִ֗ים בְּאָהֳלֵי־חָֽם׃ | 51b | the firstfruits of strength among the tents of Ham, |
| וַיַּסַּ֣ע כַּצֹּ֣אן עַמּ֑וֹ | 52a | but he led out his people like a flock |
| וַֽיְנַהֲגֵ֥ם כַּ֝עֵ֗דֶר בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ | 52b | and guided them in the wilderness like a herd. |
| וַיַּנְחֵ֣ם לָ֭בֶטַח וְלֹ֣א פָחָ֑דוּ | 53a | He led them securely and they were not afraid, |
| וְאֶת־א֝וֹיְבֵיהֶ֗ם כִּסָּ֥ה הַיָּֽם׃ | 53b | but the sea covered their enemies. |
| וַ֭יְבִיאֵם אֶל־גְּב֣וּל קָדְשׁ֑וֹ | 54a | He brought them to his holy territory, |
| הַר־זֶ֝֗ה קָנְתָ֥ה יְמִינֽוֹ׃ | 54b | the hill-country which his right hand had acquired. |
| וַיְגָ֤רֶשׁ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֨ם ׀ גּוֹיִ֗ם | 55a | He drove out nations from their presence |
| וַֽ֭יַּפִּילֵם בְּחֶ֣בֶל נַחֲלָ֑ה | 55b | and allotted them as an inheritance by measurement; |
| וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֥ן בְּ֝אָהֳלֵיהֶ֗ם שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ | 55c | he let the clans of Israel live in their dwelling places. |
| וַיְנַסּ֣וּ וַ֭יַּמְרוּ אֶת־אֱלֹהִ֣ים עֶלְי֑וֹן | 56a | But they rebelliously put God, the Most High, to the test, |
| וְ֝עֵדוֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א שָׁמָֽרוּ׃ | 56b | and they did not observe his testimonies, |
| וַיִּסֹּ֣גוּ וַֽ֭יִּבְגְּדוּ כַּאֲבוֹתָ֑ם | 57a | but they went astray and acted unfaithfully, like their ancestors. |
| נֶ֝הְפְּכ֗וּ כְּקֶ֣שֶׁת רְמִיָּֽה׃ | 57b | They became like a slack bow. |
| וַיַּכְעִיס֥וּהוּ בְּבָמוֹתָ֑ם | 58a | They made him angry with their high places of worship |
| וּ֝בִפְסִילֵיהֶ֗ם יַקְנִיאֽוּהוּ׃ | 58b | and with their carved images made him jealous. |
| שָׁמַ֣ע אֱ֭לֹהִים וַֽיִּתְעַבָּ֑ר | 59a | God heard and he became furious, |
| וַיִּמְאַ֥ס מְ֝אֹ֗ד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ | 59b | so that he completely rejected Israel |
| וַ֭יִּטֹּשׁ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן שִׁל֑וֹ | 60a | and he abandoned the tabernacle at Shiloh, |
| אֹ֝֗הֶל שִׁכֵּ֥ן בָּאָדָֽם׃ | 60b | the tent which he had set up among mankind. |
| וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לַשְּׁבִ֣י עֻזּ֑וֹ | 61a | He gave his strength into captivity |
| וְֽתִפְאַרְתּ֥וֹ בְיַד־צָֽר׃ | 61b | and [he gave] his glory into the possession of an adversary. |
| וַיַּסְגֵּ֣ר לַחֶ֣רֶב עַמּ֑וֹ | 62a | He gave his people over to the sword |
| וּ֝בְנַחֲלָת֗וֹ הִתְעַבָּֽר׃ | 62b | and against his inheritance he raged. |
| בַּחוּרָ֥יו אָֽכְלָה־אֵ֑שׁ | 63a | Fire consumed his young men |
| וּ֝בְתוּלֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א הוּלָּֽלוּ׃ | 63b | and his young women were not sung to. |
| כֹּ֭הֲנָיו בַּחֶ֣רֶב נָפָ֑לוּ | 64a | His priests fell by the sword |
| וְ֝אַלְמְנֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א תִבְכֶּֽינָה׃ | 64b | and his widows could not mourn. |
| וַיִּקַ֖ץ כְּיָשֵׁ֥ן ׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י | 65a | Now the Lord arose like one who had been asleep, |
| כְּ֝גִבּ֗וֹר מִתְרוֹנֵ֥ן מִיָּֽיִן׃ | 65b | like a warrior shouting from [the effects of] wine, |
| וַיַּךְ־צָרָ֥יו אָח֑וֹר | 66a | and he struck back his adversaries. |
| חֶרְפַּ֥ת ע֝וֹלָ֗ם נָ֣תַן לָֽמוֹ׃ | 66b | He gave them eternal shame. |
| וַ֭יִּמְאַס בְּאֹ֣הֶל יוֹסֵ֑ף | 67a | But he rejected the tent of Joseph |
| וּֽבְשֵׁ֥בֶט אֶ֝פְרַ֗יִם לֹ֣א בָחָֽר׃ | 67b | and did not choose the clan of Ephraim, |
| וַ֭יִּבְחַר אֶת־שֵׁ֣בֶט יְהוּדָ֑ה | 68a | but he chose the clan of Judah, |
| אֶֽת־הַ֥ר צִ֝יּ֗וֹן אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָהֵֽב׃ | 68b | Mount Zion which he loves, |
| וַיִּ֣בֶן כְּמוֹ־רָ֭מִים מִקְדָּשׁ֑וֹ | 69a | and he built his holy place like heaven, |
| כְּ֝אֶ֗רֶץ יְסָדָ֥הּ לְעוֹלָֽם׃ | 69b | like the earth which he has established forever. |
| וַ֭יִּבְחַר בְּדָוִ֣ד עַבְדּ֑וֹ | 70a | He chose David, his servant, |
| וַ֝יִּקָּחֵ֗הוּ מִֽמִּכְלְאֹ֥ת צֹֽאן׃ | 70b | and took him from a sheep pen. |
| מֵאַחַ֥ר עָל֗וֹת הֱ֫בִיא֥וֹ | 71a | From [looking] after nursing animals he brought him |
| לִ֭רְעוֹת בְּיַעֲקֹ֣ב עַמּ֑וֹ | 71b | to shepherd Jacob, his people, |
| וּ֝בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל נַחֲלָתֽוֹ׃ | 71c | and [to shepherd] Israel, his inheritance. |
| וַ֭יִּרְעֵם בְתֹ֣ם לְבָב֑וֹ | 72a | He shepherded them with the integrity of his heart |
| וּבִתְבוּנ֖וֹת כַּפָּ֣יו יַנְחֵֽם׃ | 72b | and with his wise actions he led them. |
- vv. 1-72: The identity of the addressee (except vv. 19b–20)
- The identity of the addressee is explicit in the first verse: "my people" (עַמִּי). It becomes specified as the "latest generation" in v. 4 (and v. 6), to which the speaker and his group form a part of from the shift to first person plural in vv. 3-4.
- vv. 1-2: Identity of speaker: Asaph (or other priest) or YHWH?
- It is not determinative, but telling that elsewhere in the Asaphite psalms, the mention of עמי "my people" is used by YHWH;[2] similarly, see Origen's arguments regarding the singular "my teaching."[3] Nevertheless, the shift to the first person plural in v. 3 indicates strong continuity, so it has been suggested that the speaker is either the king or a court prophet or sage,[4] or simply Asaph with a group of Levites.[5] Thus, we consider Asaph as the speaker throughout the psalm to be a preferable interpretation.
- vv. 3-8: The riddles of the generations
- We understand the first person singular in vv. 1-2 to join in with the latest generation of the righteous in vv. 3-4 (hence the shift to first person plural).
- "Our ancestors" (v. 3) provide the antecedent to "their children" (v. 4), such that those from whom the message of the psalm will not be hidden is the ancestors' sons, i.e., the present generation, then referred to as the "latest generation" (v. 4; in other words—כל הדור החי אתנו כיום "all the generation alive with us as today").[6]
- "Our ancestors" is picked up again in v. 5c, such that "their children" in v. 5d again refers to the present generation, which explicitly becomes the subject in v. 6a. The latest generation, in turn, will then tell their children (v. 6c). There is a blur between the latest generation and their children through vv. 7-8, though if it includes the future children, it does not exclude the latest generation, who have thus been determined as the active participant all the way to "their ancestors" again in v. 8a.
- In sum, strange though it appears, the intended speakers and addressee merge into one generation (chronologically), such that "the 'we' can be identified as a combination of speaker and audience,"[7] though the message is to be spread horizontally from within that generation, such that they would not be like "their ancestors" (v. 8a). Since the latest generation are those who are "being told" without anything hidden from them (vv. 4a, 6b), they are also deemed the recipients of the riddles (v. 2) and the addressee of the entire psalm. On the other hand, the ancestors are "in the first instance ... the Ephraimites, but this rebellious generation will then merge with that of the Israelites in the wilderness."[8]
- v. 4: The identity of the generation
- Modern translations rendering דוֹר אַחֲרוֹן as "coming/next/future generation" conflate the present generation (i.e., the children of the ancestors) with another, posterior generation. The result of the ancestors telling their sons (vv. 5c-d) has the explicit result of the דוֹר אַחֲרוֹן understanding (v. 6a), so it must be the present generation, as indicated by the preferred gloss "latest" for אַחֲרוֹן.
- vv. 19-20: The addressee of the ancestors' complaints
- The ancestors (last mentioned explicitly in v. 12) complained and grumbled among themselves against God, not to him, so the addressee is identified as the same group as the speakers, labelled "Israel" for simplicity, as the next explicit appellation, in v. 21.
- Identity of the inheritance in v. 55
- Depending on how we interpret the grammar of וַֽ֭יַּפִּילֵם בְּחֶ֣בֶל נַחֲלָ֑ה, the suffix on וַֽ֭יַּפִּילֵם could be understood as the ancestors ➞ "he allotted for them an inheritance" (so, e.g., Symmachus's dative ὑπέβαλεν αὐτοῖς) or the nations ➞ "he allotted them as an inheritance" (so, e.g., the LXX's accusative ἐκληροδότησεν αὐτοὺς).
- The ancestors: The recipient reading of the pronominal suffix on וַֽ֭יַּפִּילֵם is complicated by other examples where the recipient is explicitly flagged by a לְ prepositional phrase.[9]
- The nations (preferred): As strange as the sense of allotting the nations themselves as an inheritance might seem (see, e.g., the NASB: And apportioned them as an inheritance by measurement)—though see Ps 2:8 and especially 111:6 (לָתֵ֥ת לָ֝הֶ֗ם נַחֲלַ֥ת גּוֹיִֽם)—it simplifies the participant tracking, as otherwise v. 55b would read "allot them," i.e., Israel, and 55c "settle in their dwelling-places," i.e., the nations. It is for this reason the NJPS inverts the order of v. 55b-c, without any manuscript evidence for such a move. Further, though the strict referent of inheritance is the nations, in light of the parallel in Ps 105:11 (לְךָ֗ אֶתֵּ֥ן אֶת־אֶֽרֶץ־כְּנָ֑עַן חֶ֝֗בֶל נַחֲלַתְכֶֽם) it most likely denotes their land—explicitly so in Pss 135:12; 136:21. The use of "nations" to refer to their land as an inheritance is unambiguous in Josh 23:4: רְאוּ֩ הִפַּ֨לְתִּי לָכֶ֜ם אֶֽת־הַ֠גּוֹיִם הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֛לֶּה בְּנַחֲלָ֖ה לְשִׁבְטֵיכֶ֑ם "See, I have allotted for you these remaining nations as an inheritance for your clans," so the metonymy of nations standing for the nations' territory has been preferred here.
- Antecedent of 3ms suffixes throughout vv. 63-64: his people or YHWH?
- His people: The antecedent of the 3ms suffixes throughout vv. 63–64 could be found in "his people" (עַמּ֑וֹ) in v. 62a (so notes the NET). Such a semantic result is reflected in the LXX's plural suffixes ("their") through vv. 63-64. The same plural is found in both the LXX and Symmachus of v. 28's "his camp" and "his tents," (though read as "its camp," i.e., Israel's by Delitzsch [1871, 368]) and also Symmachus of v. 66 ("their adversaries"). The likelihood of this grammatical dependency is weakened, however, with the intervening (feminine) נַחֲלָת֗וֹ in v. 62b.
- YHWH (preferred): The singular use is intentional throughout both this passage and in v. 28's "camp" and "tents." That they belong to YHWH's people and inheritance (cf. vv. 20, 52, 62, 71b) is a key rhetorical point of the psalm. Despite his lengthy patience, they continuously rebelled against him. Even after the shift to dealing with his instruments of wrath (vv. 65-66), "Joseph" and "Ephraim" are still rejected (v. 67).
- Identity of צָרָ֥יו in v. 66a: his people, the Philistines, or Israel's enemies from Samuel to David's time?
- For arguments both for and against our preferred interpretation of the "adversaries" as Israel's enemies from Samuel to David's time, see the issue.
- Identity of the 3ms suffix in v. 71b: David's or YHWH's people/inheritance?
- Although there may be an intentional ambiguity between David and YHWH here, in continuity with the other instances of "his people" and "his inheritance" throughout the Psalm (see vv. 20, 62), YHWH is the most likely antecedent (though see the unambiguous instance of David in 2 Sam 8:15: וַיְהִ֣י דָוִ֗ד עֹשֶׂ֛ה מִשְׁפָּ֥ט וּצְדָקָ֖ה לְכָל־עַמּֽוֹ).
Participant Relations Diagram
The relationships among the participants may be abstracted and summarized as follows:
Participant Analysis Summary Distribution
- ↑ See Ray 2023.
- ↑ E.g., שִׁמְעָ֤ה עַמִּ֨י in Ps 50:7; see Cook 2024, 4.
- ↑ תּוֹרָתִ֑י; Homily 1, 292-293.
- ↑ Campbell 1979, 63.
- ↑ Ḥakham 1979, 41.
- ↑ Ḥakham 1979, 41.
- ↑ Talstra 2019, 252; cf. Tammuz 2017, 218.
- ↑ Alter 2019, 189.
- ↑ See, e.g., Josh 13:6: רַ֠ק הַפִּלֶ֤הָ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בְּֽנַחֲלָ֔ה; Josh 23:4: רְאוּ֩ הִפַּ֨לְתִּי לָכֶ֜ם אֶֽת־הַ֠גּוֹיִם הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֛לֶּה בְּנַחֲלָ֖ה לְשִׁבְטֵיכֶ֑ם; Ezek 47:22: תַּפִּ֣לוּ אוֹתָהּ֮ בְּנַחֲלָה֒ לָכֶ֗ם; Ezek 48:29: זֹ֥את הָאָ֛רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־תַּפִּ֥ילוּ מִֽנַּחֲלָ֖ה לְשִׁבְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל.