Property: Connections
From Psalms: Layer by Layer
This is a property of type Text.
P
vv.2-3 – vv.12-15 +, "There is a sarcastic wordplay in Ps. 9 between שׁחת in v.16 and שׁאול in v.18. The former term, while usually referring to a pit in which an animal can be trapped, can also be used as a synonym for death of שׁאול (see Pss 16:10; 30:10; 49:10; 55:24 and 103:4). This wordplay is sarcastic because the 'pit' made by the wicked nations for others, into which they themselves fall, foreshadows the 'pit' (Sheol) which they have not made but to which they will be turned."'"`UNIQ--ref-0000102D-QINU`"' +, "Such satirical language also functions to contrast the fates of those who 'forget' God' with those who 'are remembered' by God. At the end of the day, there is a complete and profound 'reversal' of fortunes."'"`UNIQ--ref-0000102E-QINU`"' +
It may be worth noting that the two most anomalous forms in this psalm (תְּנָה / צֹנֶה) bear some phonological resemblance to one another. +, '''v.9a'''//'''v.9b''' +, '''vv.2,10'''–'''vv.5-6.''' The words that share the sounds guttural + dental + liquid are also semantically associated by the notion of royalty. This is one of a number of features that ties the frame of the psalm (vv.2,10) to the center (vv.5-6). See also מה + א and (א + ד (+ מ/ם +, …
'''f//f''': זֹ֑את // בְּכַפָּֽי (v.4), חַרְבּ֣וֹ // קַשְׁתּ֥וֹ (v.13); '''f//m''': לָאָ֣רֶץ // לֶעָפָ֖ר (v.6bc), בְּאַפֶּ֗ךָ // בְּעַבְר֣וֹת (v.7ab), בּ֣וֹר // בְּשַׁ֣חַת (v.16) +
'''p//p''': אֱ֭לֹהַי // רֹ֝דְפַ֗י (v.2), לִ֭בּ֗וֹת וּכְלָי֗וֹת // אֱלֹהִ֥ים (v.10cd), אֱלֹהִ֑ים // יִשְׁרֵי־לֵֽב (v.11), כְּלֵי־מָ֑וֶת // חִ֝צָּ֗יו לְֽדֹלְקִ֥ים (v.14); '''s//p''': נַפְשִׁ֡י // חַיָּ֑י // וּכְבוֹדִ֓י (v.6), בְּאַפֶּ֗ךָ // בְּעַבְר֣וֹת צוֹרְרָ֑י (v.7ab), לְ֭אֻמִּים // לַמָּר֥וֹם (v.8), עַ֫מִּ֥ים // נִי (v.9ab), רְשָׁעִים֮ // צַ֫דִּ֥יק (v.10ab) +
'''v.2'''–'''v.10''' +
'''v.4'''-'''v.7''' אֶצְבְּעֹתֶ֑יךָ (v.4a) and רַגְלָֽיו (v.7b) are morphologically (fem. pl. + sfx) and semantically related (body parts, appendages). '''v.8b.'''-'''v.9b.''' Plural nouns ending in וֹת in the middle of v.8b (בַּהֲמ֥וֹת) and v.9b (אָרְח֥וֹת) form a connection between these lines. +
'''v.4'''-'''v.7''' אֶצְבְּעֹתֶ֑יךָ and יָדֶ֑יךָ are related semantically as well as morphologically. These 2ms suffixed nouns help frame the middle sections of the psalm (vv.4-7) +
repetition of ג strengthens the connection between vv.8b-9a +, '''vv.8a–9a''' (which both begin with צ) end in ם, as do a number of other words within vv.8-9 (וַאֲלָפִ֣ים כֻּלָּ֑ם; וְ֜גַ֗ם; שָׁ֭מַיִם ...הַיָּ֑ם; יַמִּֽים). Note the words with double מ (vv.'''9a'''//'''9b''': שָׁ֭מַיִם//יַמִּים) +, '''v.6a'''–'''v.7a.''' The only two lines to begin with a dental are v.6a (וַתּ) and v.7a (תּ). '''v.6a'''//'''v.6b''' The consonant ט occurs only in 6ab, with each instance of the pair preceded by the guttural ע: v.6a (מְּ֭עַט) // v.6b (תְּעַטְּ) +
This feature may form/reinforce a connection between v.5 and v.12c, both of which are about wrath (אף) and contain clusters of gutturals. It also forms connections between parallel lines (v.5ab, v.7, v.10, and v.11[ה]). +, Alliteration of labials strengthens connection between parallel lines (vv. 5ab, 9ab, 12abcd). +, There may be a connection between נֽוֹסְדוּ־יָחַד (v.2b) and תֹאבְדוּ דֶרֶךְ (v.12b). Both have clusters of dentals (double ד) as well as similar vowels. +, …
Although the title אלהים does not appear again in the psalm, the noun צֶדֶק does occur in v.6a, thus forming a connection between these verses. +
forms connection between v.5b and v.7. Note that several words from v.5b are repeated throughout the rest of the psalm. +, forms connection between v.6 and the final line of the psalm (v.9c). (Note that v.6 is also connected to the first line of the psalm [צדק]). Those who trust (בטח) in Yahweh (v.6b) can lie down in security (בטח, v.9c) +, one of several points of connection between v.2 and v.4. +, …
In v.2ab, the enemies are rising against the Psalmist; in 8cd, Yahweh is rising against the enemies. +
Nouns with the definite article are related semantically; each refers to one of the realms of creation (cf. Gen. 1): land, sky, and sea. '''v.2c.'''-'''v.9a.''' The occurrence of the definite article in these lines (הַשָּׁמָֽיִם and הַיָּ֑ם) strengthens the connection between them. The same is true of the much more obvious connection between '''v.2b.'''-'''v.10b'''. +
Parallelisms (v.2ab; v.11ab) +
The occurrence at v.7a forms a connection with the cluster in vv.2-3. The fear which the Psalmist felt (vv. 2-3) is now dissipated (v. 7). +, The Psalmist calls on Yahweh to rise up (קום) because his enemies are rising up (קום) around him. +, The two occurrences may be connected and implicitly contrasted: the thousands of people surrounding the Psalmist vs. Yahweh's people. +, …
The first person verbs are set in the mouths of three different speakers: the Psalmist-king (v.7a), his enemies (v.3ab) and Yahweh (vv.6-8), whose speeches form the thematic backbone of the psalm. +, Sections 2 (vv.4-6) and 3 (vv.7-9) are closely connected in this way. They focus on singular actors (Yahweh and his king), whereas the outer sections focus on plural actors (the nations). +, forms connection between first and final sections +