Salmos 59
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Salmos 59
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS The MT's superscriptions are not original. They are absent in the DSS. Often, they are incorrect and only later rabbinical speculation. See Introduction to the Psalms, IV, "Authorship." Again the question of who are the "enemies" recurs. In this Psalm it seems to refer to Gentile invaders (cf. Ps. 59:5,6,7,8,11,13,14,15). Psalm 59:8 reminds one of Psalm 2:4. The psalmist states clearly that he is attacked, but not because of anything he has done (cf. Ps. 59:3c, 4a). The attack seems to come because he/they are YHWH's people. The Jewish Study Bible, p. 1346, mentions that both Ibn Ezra and Radak assert that this psalm has expanded over time. personal enemies, vv. 2-4 foreign enemies, v. 6 We must remind ourselves that moderns do not know the when, the how, the who, and the why of the codification of the Hebrew Scriptures. We assume the editors and compilers were as inspired as the original author. SPECIAL TOPIC: INSPIRATION Notice the titles for the Covenant Deity. O my God, Ps. 59:1 – probably Elohim, like verse 8 with final letter in the next word O YHWH, Ps. 59:3,5,8 – BDB 217 God of hosts (Elohim Sabaoth), Ps. 59:5 – BDB 43 and 838; military connotations (see SPECIAL TOPIC: LORD OF HOSTS) God of Israel, Ps. 59:5 – BDB 43 CONSTRUCT BDB 975 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: ISRAEL [the name]) O my strength – BDB 738 God is my fortress/stronghold, Ps. 59:9 – BDB 43 and BDB 960 I God is my lovingkindness, Ps. 59:10,17 – BDB 43 and BDB 338 O Lord, our shield or Adon is our shield, Ps. 59:11 – BDB 10 and BDB 171 God (Elohim), Ps. 59:13 – BDB 43 (Elohim) O my strength, Ps. 59:16 – BDB 738 O God my fortress, Ps. 59:17 – same as #5 SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C. SPECIAL TOPIC: LORD (Adon and Kurios)
Salmos 59:1-8
59:1-2 Notice the Psalm starts with three IMPERATIVES (prayer requests for deliverance from enemies). deliver, Ps. 59:1 – BDB 664, KB 717, Hiphil IMPERATIVE deliver, Ps. 59:2 – same as #1 save – BDB 446, KB 448, Hiphil IMPERATIVE, cf. Ps. 28:9; 31:16; 71:2; 86:2,16 Both are used in Ps. 7:1; 22:20-21; 31:2-3,15-16; 33:16-17; 34:17-18, etc. It is a recurrent prayer for help! See SPECIAL TOPIC: SALVATION (OT) Notice how the enemies are characterized. those who rise up against me (BDB 877, KB 1086, Hithpolel PARTICIPLE) those who do iniquity (BDB 821, KB 950, Qal PARTICIPLE) men of bloodshed The enemies in this Psalm seem to be foreign invaders. punish all the nations, Ps. 59:5 go around the city (i.e., siege), Ps. 59:6 belch forth. . .swords, Ps. 59:7 YHWH scoffs at all the nations, Ps. 59:8 do not slay them lest my people forget, Ps. 59:11 God rules in Jacob, to the ends of the earth, Ps. 59:13 go around the city, Ps. 59:14 (see #2) Ps. 59:15 is imagery of a siege 59:1b "set me securely on high" NKJV, Peshitta "defend me" NRSV, TEV, NET "protect me" "be my strong tower" "be my stronghold" "redeem me" "secure me" The MT has "set on high" (BDB 960, KB 1305, Piel IMPERFECT, possibly a JUSSIVE prayer request. It is imagery for a place of safety in terms of a high, secure place (cf. Ps. 20:1; 69:29; 91:14; 107:41). This high place was viewed as a fortress (cf. Ps. 46:7,11). Notice the same imagery in vv. 16-17! 59:3-4a In these verses the SINGULAR "me" refers to a/the leader of Israel. An attack on him is an attack on the covenant people. One wonders if the foreign invaders had inside help. Notice the author defends his own righteousness by asserting that he is attacked for no reason (cf. Ps. 59:3c, 4a). The enemies attack because of how he is related to the God of Israel (cf. Psalm 2). 59:4b-5 These two verses are linked by the three IMPERATIVES calling on Deity to see and act in deliverance. arouse Yourself, Ps. 59:4b – BDB 734, KB 802, Qal IMPERATIVE, cf. Ps. 7:6; 35:23; 44:23; 57:8 (thrice); 73:20; 80:2; 108:2 see, Ps. 59:4b – BDB 906, KB1157, Qal IMPERATIVE, cf. Ps. 9:13; 25:18,19; 80:14; 84:9; 119:153,159; 139:24 awake, Ps. 59:5 – BDB 884, KB 1098, Hiphil IMPERATIVE, cf Ps. 35:23; 44:23 ▣ "help me" This is literally "meet me" (BDB 896 II, KB 1131, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT). This personal aspect is a crucial aspect of covenant faith (cf. Psalm 23). ▣ "O Lord, God of hosts" See SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D. and SPECIAL TOPIC: LORD OF HOSTS ▣ "Do not be gracious" This negated VERB (BDB 335, KB 334, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense) is used often in Psalms (cf. Ps. 4:1; 6:2; 9:13; 25:16; 26:11; 27:7; 30:10; 41:4,10; 51:1; 56:1; 57:1, etc.). Here the psalmist asks God not to show mercy to his enemies because they are treacherous in iniquity (cf. Ps. 109:14; Isa. 2:9; Jer. 18:23). 59:6-7 There are several modern English translations that have Ps. 59:6-7 as a strophe and begin a new strophe at 59:8-10. It is hard to know how to divide this Psalm into its logical divisions. Psalm 59:6-7 describes the enemies as howling dogs dogs that go around siege imagery (cf. Ps. 59:14-15) imagery for their constant search for food (Ps. 59:15) belch. . .swords, cf. Ps. 59:7 no fear of God (i.e., they say, "Who hears?" cf. Job 22:13; Ps. 10:4,11,13; 64:5; 73:11; 94:7; Isa. 29:15; Ezek. 8:12). They are either Israelite practical atheists pagans/idolaters 59:7 NASB, NKJV, TEV, REB, NJB, Peshitta, LXX "swords" NRSV, JPSOA "sharp words" The term in the MT is "swords" (BDB 352), but RSV and NRSV suggested an emendation. swords ‒ חרבות taunts ‒ חרפות Both fit the imagery of the context. Modern textual critics use parallelism cognate roots general context ancient translations to guess at some difficult MT texts. This does not deny inspiration but takes into account the process by which the text has come to us. A good book on how oral societies pass on the traditions, see John H. Walton, The Lost World of Scripture. 59:8 Psalm 59:8 reminds me of Psalm 2:4 Psalm 37:13 This verse seems to demand the enemies are Gentile, pagan invaders (cf. Ps. 59:5,6,7,8,11,13,14,15). The VERBS in Ps. 59:8 are both Qal IMPERFECTS that speak of ongoing action (i.e., YHWH laughs. . .scoffs at the nations in their disbelief and arrogant assaults on His people, cf. Ps. 2:4; 37:13).
Salmos 59:9-15
59:9-13 There are several titles of Deity. See Contextual Insights, C. 59:9 "his strength" "his Strength" NRSV, NJB, REB, JPSOA, NET "my strength" "your strength" The UBS Text Project (p. 271) gives "my strength" a "D" rating (highly doubtful). This is probably based on the same words in verse 17. However, I think it is a title for Deity. JPSOA mentions several Hebrew MSS have "His" (cf. Ps. 21:1; 28:7,8; 59:17; 81:1; 118:14). It parallels "God is my stronghold." my strength ‒ עזו his strength ‒ עזי ▣ "I will watch for You" The MT has the VERB (BDB 1036, KB 1581,) Qal COHORTATIVE, cf. Ps. 130:6). The psalmist longed to see God and be with him! The RSV suggests an emendation from "watch" ‒ אשׁמרה to "sing" ‒ אזמרה, cf. vv. 16-17 The UBS Text Project gives "watch" an "A" rating. Both fit the context. 59:10a There are several textual possibilities related to the opening of this line of poetry. "the God of hesed" ‒ אלהי "my God of Hesed" ‒ אלהי "God of Hesed" ‒ אלהים The first two involve only a change of vowels, while the third involves the addition of one Hebrew consonant. The UBS Text Project, p. 273, gives #3 a "C" rating, meaning the committee could not decide which choice is original. I think it is another title for YHWH. There are so many in this Psalm. See Contextual Insights, D. ▣ "in His lovingkindness" The MT has "of his kindness" (supported by UBS Text Project, with a "B" rating), but the Masoretic scholars, who added the vowel points, suggested a change (Qere) to "of my kindness." The difference is only in the vowels. Is this line of poetry asserting the faithfulness of the psalmist (Ketiv, MT). cf. v. 3c, v. 4a asserting the faithfulness of YHWH (Qere, LXX, Peshitta, JPSOA, cf. v. 17) SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS (hesed) ▣ "will let me look triumphantly upon my foes" This is another cultural idiom of victory (cf. Ps. 23:5; 54:7; 91:8; 92:11; 112:8; 118:7). 59:11 This verse is surprising to me. It reminds me of how YHWH dwelt with the Hebrew tribes after the conquest of the walled cities by Joshua. Each tribe had to militarily conquer its own territory from the Canaanite tribes. God did not do it for them. They had to act in faith. He left some opposition so that they could grow in faith, in Him, and in themselves. The VERB forms are do not slay, Ps. 59:11 – BDB 246, KB 255, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense scatter them, Ps. 59:11 – BDB 631, KB 681, Hiphil IMPERATIVE bring them down, Ps. 59:11 – BDB 432, KB 434, Hiphil IMPERATIVE destroy them, Ps. 59:13 – BDB 477, KB 476, Piel IMPERATIVE (twice) Same as #4 that they may be no more – BDB 34 II (no VERB) It is possible that there is confusion between "no" (אל — BDB 39) and "El" (אל, general name for Deity in the ANE – BDB 42 II). The consonants are the same, but different vowels. This is the suggestion of AB (p. 71). This takes away the strange negative of v. 11a, but it does not easily explain the next phrase. ▣ "or my people will forget" The VERB (BDB 1013, KB 1489, Qal IMPERFECT) also occurs in Deut. 8:11-20, where YHWH admonishes His people not to think that their prosperity or victory is because of themselves! ▣ "our shield" This imagery goes back to YHWH's initial encounters with Abraham and the promises He made him and his descendants (cf. Gen. 15:1; Deut. 33:29). It is recurrent in the Psalms (cf. Ps. 3:3; 5:12; 28:7; 115:9-11). It is one of several figurative descriptions denoting YHWH as protector! 59:12 "Let them even be caught in their pride" BDB 539, KB 530, Niphal IMPERFECY used in a JUSSIVE sense. Human pride and arrogance are the essence of the Fall (see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FALL OF MANKIND) abhorrent to YHWH He will not tolerate it (cf. Isa. 2:11-12; 5:15; 10:33; Zeph. 3:11). As a biblical example of human pride, note the SPECIAL TOPIC: BOASTING. 59:13 "That men may know that God rules in Jacob, To the ends of the earth" This universal element is crucial in understanding what God is doing in His world (cf. Ps. 2:8; 58:11; 67:7; 72:8,17; 96:13; 98:9; Isa. 45:22; 49:6; 52:10; Jer. 16:19; Micah 5:4; Matt. 25:32). This hints at monotheism. SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM ▣ "Selah" See note at Ps. 3:2 and Intro. to Psalms, VII. 59:14-15 These link back to Ps. 59:6-7. Psalm 59:6 and 14 are duplicate refrains. Psalm 59:7 and 15 are both descriptive phrases about the enemies. They are vicious predators! 59:14 NASB, NRSV, JPSOA "howl like a dog" "growl like a dog" "make noise like a dog" "famished like a dog" "snarling like a dog" This root (BDB 534 II) can mean spend the night – BDB 533 I (this is the MT pointing, cf. Ps. 55:7; this is the suggestion of the UBS Text Project, p. 275) growl – BDB 534 II (cf. Ps. 22:16) Both connotations fit the context.
Salmos 59:16-17
59:16-17 The psalmist contrasts (i.e., "but as for me") his lifestyle and motives with them. I shall sing of Your strength, Ps. 59:16 I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness, Ps. 59:16 I will sing praises to You, Ps. 59:17 The reason for these songs of praise is YHWH has been his stronghold (BDB 960 I) is his refuge (BDB 631) in the day of distress, cf. Jer. 16:19 is his stronghold (BDB 960 I), cf. Ps. 9:9; 59:9; 62:2,6 has shown him lovingkindness (BDB 338) Several of the key theological terms describing YHWH are repeated in this close. SPECIAL TOPIC: REFUGE