Salmos 114
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Salmos 114:1-2
114:1-2 This Psalm is about the exodus from Egypt (cf. Exodus 1-12). The exodus is a direct fulfillment of YHWH's revelation and promise to Abraham in Gen. 15:12-21. The exodus was the beginning of the People of God as a nation (cf. Exodus 19-20). Notice the different designations for the people of God. Israel house of Jacob Judah 114:1 "Israel" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ISRAEL (the name). ▣ "from a people of strange language" This phrase occurs only here in the OT. The AB (p. 134) takes the same consonants and revocalizes them to fit the imagery of Isa. 25:3, where it denotes a "cruel people" (BDB 470, i.e., the Israelites' taskmasters, cf. Exod. 3:7). The same root is used with an emphatic lamedh (i.e., Hebrew letter L) in Lam. 4:3. The historical reality of Israel's having to deal with foreign domination is recurrent (cf. Isa. 28:22; 33:19; Jer. 5:15). The question of interpretation is how and why God's people were dominated by pagans (cf. Habakkuk). As God took the Canaanite tribes out of the land because of their sin, so too, the Israelites because of their sin (i.e., the exiles by Assyria and Babylon). 114:2 Because both Judah and Israel are mentioned, one wonders when this Psalm was written. the United Monarchy lasted from Saul ‒ Solomon in 922 B.C. the Kingdom split between Rehoboam in Judah Jeroboam I in Israel after the return from Persian exile under Cyrus II, the Israelites took their collective name again, although they possessed only a small part of the tribal allocation of Judah (i.e., small area around Jerusalem) ▣ NASB, NKJV, NRSV, REB, NJB, Peshitta "His sanctuary" "the Lord's holy people" "his holy precinct" "His holy one" This refers to the temple in Jerusalem on Mt. Moriah the whole land of Canaan as YHWH's special possession the people of YHWH (cf. Exod. 19:5-6) ▣ "His dominion" This term (BDB 606) has two connotations. YHWH's universal reign/realm, Ps. 103:22; 145:13 (cf. Joshua 3; 11; 13; see SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN) Canaan as YHWH's unique possession (i.e., the Promised Land, cf. Exod. 15:17)
Salmos 114:3-6
114:3-6 This is figurative language (cf. Ps. 18:7-15; 29:3-9; 68:7-8; 77:16-19). The two books that have helped me most in the area of OT hyperbole and imagery are D. Brent Sandy, Plowshares and Pruning Hooks: Rethinking the Language of Biblical Prophecy and Apocalyptic G. B. Caird, The Language and Imagery of the Bible It is significant that "water" is mentioned in several senses. Water is the only thing not specifically said to be created in Genesis 1. Water in ANE mythology was divine (i.e., salt water, fresh water). There was conflict between water and the gods. The Bible often uses this imagery to describe YHWH (cf. Job 41:1; Ps. 74:12-17; Isa. 27:1). YHWH controls Leviathan in Job 3:8; Ps. 104:26. But also notice the "sea" is personified in Ps. 114:3,5 (along with other aspects of nature). However, in Ps. 114:8 the life-giving aspect of water is stated. YHWH, not Ba'al, is the source of fertility (i.e., rain). In a sense the imagery of separating water and dry land is an ANE allusion to initial creation. The goal of physical creation was the creation of a people to fellowship with God (cf. Gen. 1:26-27; 3:8). SPECIAL TOPIC: WATERS SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN SPECIAL TOPIC: LEVIATHAN 114:3 "The sea looked and fled" This could refer to the crossing of the "Red Sea" (lit. "sea of reeds," see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE RED SEA), which is described in Exodus 14 and in Moses' poem in Exodus 15; God did it by using Moses' staff a strong east wind the crossing of the Jordan River at flood stage (cf. Joshua 3); see full exegetical notes on Joshua 3 online; God did it by a landslide upriver, which began at just the right moment and ended at just the right moment 114:4,6 The topological features of Canaan rejoice at the coming of YHWH and His people (cf. Ps. 96:9). This is expressed in the Qal IMPERATIVE, "tremble" (BDB 296, KB 297), which denotes both trembling in fear (cf. 1 Chr. 16:30) dancing in joy (cf. Ps. 87:7; 96:9) 114:4 "The mountains" This could refer to Mt. Sinai, but probably to the "mountains" (i.e., hills) of Canaan. 114:6 Notice this verse repeats the VERB of Ps. 114:4. skip, Ps. 114:4 ‒ Qal PERFECT skip, Ps. 114:6 ‒ Qal IMPERFECT Psalm 114:5-6 asks the question as to "why" nature acted so strangely. It was because of the presence of the Creator. What happened at the inception of the people of God is meant to continue!
Salmos 114:7-8
114:7 The earth physically convulses at the approach of the Creator. Notice He is called "Lord" (Adon) here, not "Lord" (YHWH), as in Ps. 114:7a and Eloah in 114:7b. SPECIAL TOPIC: LORD (Adon and Kurios) SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C., D. 114:8 The verse alludes to two specific occasions during the wilderness wandering period where YHWH supernaturally provided life-giving water (cf. Ps. 78:15; 105:41). Exodus 17:6 Numbers 20:11 It is used to describe the eschatological period in Isa. 48:21 (i.e., a second exodus).