Psalm 78/Diagrams/6
v. 51
Preferred
(Preferred, but not confirmed); edit diagram
Grammar Notes
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Lexical Notes
Note for V. 51
v. 51 – While the sense of "epitome" (HALOT; Prov 1:7) is suitable for רֵאשִׁ֥ית, in parallel with בְּכ֣וֹר, the chronological "first" is probably in view, in combination with the reproductive concerns of א֝וֹנִ֗ים (see the versions discussed in the grammar notes). We interpret א֝וֹנִ֗ים as a plural of intensification (so GKC §124e; Delitzsch 1871, 372), as found also in Isa 40:29. For discussion of the form and text, see the grammar notes.
Phrase-Level
Note for V. 51
v. 51 – For the construct רֵאשִׁית אוֹנ- see also Gen 49:3, Deut 21:17, and the looser genitival relationship, רֵ֝אשִׁ֗ית לְכָל־אוֹנָֽם, in Ps 105:36. The construct relationship is one of characteristic-specification.
Verbal Notes
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Alternative
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SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 51 alt.] <status="alternative">
Fragment
particle: וַ and
Fragment
Clause
Predicate
verb: יַּךְ he struck down >> he killed
Object
Apposition
Nominal
quantifier: כָּל every
noun: בְּכוֹר firstborn
Adjectival
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְּ in
Object
noun: מִצְרָיִם Egypt
Nominal
ConstructChain
noun: רֵאשִׁית first >> best
ConstructChain <status="emendation">
noun: אוֹנ strength
suffix-pronoun: ָם them
Adjectival
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְּ in
Object
ConstructChain
noun: אָהֳלֵי dwelling-places
noun: חָם Ham
Grammar Notes
Alternative
For the emendation אוֹנָם in place of the MT's plural א֝וֹנִ֗ים, see the "their labors/pains" in the LXX and TgPs, "their strenth" in Symmachus, and "their children" in the Syr.[4] A number of Hebrew manuscripts may also read אונם.[5] The preferred reading (as the MT), however, is found in Jerome's Hebr. "first born"; and "of pains" in Aquila and Quinta/Sexta (<a href="https://septuaginta.uni-goettingen.de/catalogue/Ra_1173/">https://septuaginta.uni-goettingen.de/catalogue/Ra_1173/</a>).[6]
For the suffixed-form, see the NJPS "the firstfruits of their vigor" (cf. ESV, REB).
The plural אוֹנִים is unambiguously attested in Isa 40:26, 29 and Prov 11:7, so does not pose a grammatical problem for the MT here, of which the Hebrew manuscript evidence is otherwise very strong across both the larger Tiberian Codices and the Babylonian manuscripts. The versions may also have been influenced by וַיַּ֣ךְ כָּל־בְּכ֣וֹר בְּאַרְצָ֑ם רֵ֝אשִׁ֗ית לְכָל־אוֹנָֽם׃ in Ps 105:36.
Lexical Notes
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Phrase-Level
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Verbal Notes
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v. 52
Preferred
(Preferred, but not confirmed); edit diagram
SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 52]
Fragment
particle: וַ and
Fragment
ClauseCluster
Clause
Predicate
verb: יַּסַּע he led out
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: כַּ like
Object
Nominal
article: ה <status="elided">
noun: צֹּאן flock
Object
Nominal <gloss="his people">
ConstructChain
noun: עַמּ people
suffix-pronoun: וֹ him
Conjunction
conjunction: וַ and
Clause
Predicate
verb: יְנַהֲג he guided
Object
suffix-pronoun: ֵם them
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: כַּ like
Object
Nominal
article: ה <status="elided">
noun: עֵדֶר herd
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בַּ in
Object
Nominal
article: ה the <status="elided">
noun: מִּדְבָּר wilderness
Grammar Notes
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Lexical Notes
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Phrase-Level
Note for V. 52
v. 52 – Regarding the article on both כַּצֹּ֣אן and כַּ֝עֵ֗דֶר, "It has long been noted that the article seems to be vocalized in the Masoretic Text much more frequently than might be expected in these [בְּ, כְּ, and לְ proclitic] phrases" (Bekins, forthcoming §4.2; cf. Lambert 1898, 208). Similarly, Waltke & O'Connor claim that "the Masoretes tended to regularize articular use where they could, that is, with the monographic prepositions" (IBHS §13.7a). See, e.g., the complete lack of independent article in the Song of the Sea (Exodus 15), yet according to the Tiberian vocalization it appears eight times in one-word prepositional phrases (בַיָּֽם, בָּֽאֵלִם֙, בַּקֹּ֑דֶשׁ, etc.).[7] Indeed, concerning one of our phrases in question, כַּצֹּ֣אן, the term כַּצֹּ֤אן׀ in Ps 49:15 is attested in the Secunda as χασων (https://septuaginta.uni-goettingen.de/hexapla/), lacking the gemination we would expect if read with the definite article. Contrast בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה (Ps 89:44), transcribed as βαμμαλαμα (with gemination) reflecting the definite ἐν τῷ πολέμῳ in the LXX. Thus, the indefinite ὡς πρόβατα (and similar phrases among the Greek revisers) both in Ps 49:15 and 78:52 may lend grammatical support to the anarthrous reading here if reflecting a pronunciation as that of the Secunda. In short, an indefinite rendering is both contextually and grammatically appropriate, despite the Masoretic vocalization.
Verbal Notes
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vv. 53-55
Preferred
(Preferred, but not confirmed); edit diagram
SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [vv. 53-55]
Fragment
particle: וַ and
Fragment
ClauseCluster
Clause
Predicate
verb: יַּנְח he led them
Object
suffix-pronoun: ֵם them
Adverbial <gloss="securely">
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: לָ in
Object
noun: בֶטַח safety
Conjunction
conjunction: וְ and
Clause
Predicate
verb: פָחָדוּ they were afraid
adverb: לֹא not
Conjunction
conjunction: וְ and
Clause
Subject
Nominal
article: הַ the
noun: יָּם sea
Predicate
verb: כִּסָּה covered
Object
particle: אֶת d.o.m
Nominal <gloss="their enemies">
ConstructChain
noun: אוֹיְבֵי enemies
suffix-pronoun: הֶם them
Conjunction
conjunction: וַ and
Clause
Predicate
verb: יְבִיא he brought
Object
suffix-pronoun: ֵם them
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: אֶל to
Object
Apposition
Nominal <gloss="his holy territory">
ConstructChain
noun: גְּבוּל territory
ConstructChain
noun: קָדְשׁ holiness
suffix-pronoun: וֹ him
Nominal
noun: הַר hill-country
adjective: זֶה this <status="alternative">
RelativeClause
RelativeParticle
particle: זֶה which
Clause
Subject
ConstructChain <gloss="his right hand">
noun: יְמִינ right hand
suffix-pronoun: וֹ him
Predicate
verb: קָנְתָה acquired
Object <located="relative clause head">
Conjunction
conjunction: וַ and
Clause
Predicate
verb: יְגָרֶשׁ he drove out
Object
noun: גּוֹיִם nations
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: מִ from
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="their presence">
noun: פְּנֵי presence
suffix-pronoun: הֶם them
Conjunction
conjunction: וַ and
Clause
Predicate
verb: יַּפִּיל he allotted
Object
suffix-pronoun: ֵם them
SecondObject
noun: נַחֲלָה inheritance
Adjectival <status="alternative">
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְּ i.e.,
Object
noun: חֶבֶל portion
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְּ by
Object
noun: חֶבֶל portion
Adverbial <status="alternative">
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְּ in
Object
ConstructChain
noun: חֶבֶל portion
noun: נַחֲלָה inheritance
Conjunction
conjunction: וַ and
Clause
Predicate
verb: יַּשְׁכֵּן let live
Object
ConstructChain
noun: שִׁבְטֵי clans
noun: יִשְׂרָאֵל Israel
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְּ in
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="their dwelling places">
noun: אָהֳלֵי dwelling places
suffix-pronoun: הֶם them
Grammar Notes
Note for v. 54
v. 54 – For the intepretation of זֶה as a relative conjunction, see GKC §138 (who cites Ps 104:8 for support) and Fassberg 2019 §365 (who cites Ps 74:2 for support).[8] See the exegetical issue for further discussion.
Lexical Notes
Note for v. 54
v. 54 – Though Rahlfs' LXX reads ὅριον, he notes in the apparatus some manuscripts reading ὄρος "mountain" (which, notably, include Codices Vaticanus and Sinaiticus). This reading is also followed by Gall. (in montem). Nevertheless, the other ancient versions (including Aquila, Quinta and Sexta) and the Hebrew manuscript evidence strongly favor ὅριον as "border, territory."
Note for v. 55
v. 55 – For the individual analysis of מִן and פָּנִים, i.e., lacking grammaticalized union, see Hardy (2022, 184).
Phrase-Level
Note for v. 53
v. 53 – The prepositional phrase לָ֭בֶטַח is one of a qualitative relationship (BHRG §39.11.6.b; cf. Jenni 2000, 280), i.e., in security >> securely (cf. the phrase with ישׁב in 1 Kgs 5:5, היה in Ezek 34:27 and הלך in Prov 3:23, among others).
Note for v. 54
v. 54 גְּב֣וּל קָדְשׁ֑וֹ – For construction in which "a pronominal suffix can be attached to the nomen rectum where such a pronoun relates to the entire construct phrase" see Joüon-Muraoka (§129kb). Thus, the territory of his holiness >> his holy territory.
Note for v. 54
v. 54 – For the function of זֶה in הַר־זֶ֝֗ה, see the exegetical issue.
Note for v. 55
v. 55 – We prefer to read the suffix on וַֽ֭יַּפִּילֵם as the nations of the previous clause, creating consistency also with בְּ֝אָהֳלֵיהֶ֗ם in the following clause (see the participant analysis note). Therefore, the valency of hiphil נפל with the pronominal suffix leaves room for the object complement "allot X as Y." That leaves only the constituent בְּחֶ֣בֶל "by portion," of which we read בְּ as instrumental (cf. "by the measuring line" HALOT; ). Alternatively, a number of commentators have understood the בְּ as bet essentiae (see the grammar notes), which would be most appropriate if חֶבֶל נַחֲלָה was read as a construct chain (cf. Deut 32:9; Ps 105:11 and 1 Chr 16:18).
Verbal Notes
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vv. 56-57
Preferred
(Preferred, but not confirmed); edit diagram
SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [vv. 56-57]
Fragment
particle: וַ and
Fragment
ClauseCluster
Clause
Predicate <gloss="they rebelliously put God, the Most High, to the test">
Predicate
verb: יְנַסּוּ they put to the test
Conjunction
conjunction: וַ and
Predicate
verb: יַּמְרוּ they rebelled against
Object
Apposition
Nominal
particle: אֶת d.o.m
noun: אֱלֹהִים God
noun: עֶלְיוֹן Most High
Conjunction
conjunction: וְ and
Clause
Predicate
verb: שָׁמָרוּ they observed
adverb: לֹא not
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="his testimonies">
noun: עֵדוֹתָי testimonies
suffix-pronoun: ו him
Conjunction
conjunction: וַ and
Clause
Predicate
verb: יִּסֹּגוּ they went astray
Conjunction
conjunction: וַ and
Clause
Predicate
verb: יִּבְגְּדוּ they acted unfaithfully
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: כַּ like
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="their ancestors">
noun: אֲבוֹת ancestors
suffix-pronoun: ָם them
Fragment
ClauseCluster
Clause
Predicate
verb: נֶהְפְּכוּ they changed >> became
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: כְּ like
Object
noun: קֶשֶׁת bow
adjective: רְמִיָּה slack
Grammar Notes
Note for v. 56
v. 56 – The compound predicate reading of וַיְנַסּ֣וּ וַ֭יַּמְרוּ אֶת־אֱלֹהִ֣ים עֶלְי֑וֹן is suggested by the lack of arguments accompanying וַיְנַסּ֣וּ, such that they most likely constitute a symmetrical serial verb construction. (That is, they share the same gender, number, tense-aspect-modality and polarity values, and also clausal complements ➞ אֶת־אֱלֹהִ֣ים עֶלְי֑וֹן). Though the ancient versions, as usual, follow the form, rather than making the function explicit, notice that one manuscript documented by Kennicott attempts to repeat the habitual/repetitive reading of וישׁובו וינסו from v. 41. For our preferred reading, compare the mono-eventive interpretation of the CSB ("But they rebelliously tested the Most High God") and the NJPS ("Yet they defiantly tested God Most High"). An adverbial clause is provided by the ISV ("But they tested the Most High God by rebelling against him") and DHH ("Pero ellos pusieron a prueba al Dios altísimo rebelándose contra él"), while the TOB reads the first verb as a predicative adjunct, [being] rebels ("Rebelles, ils mirent à l'épreuve le Dieu Très-Haut").
The (significantly less parsimonious) alternative would involve object gapping in an independent וַיְנַסּ֣וּ clause (as, e.g., ESV: "Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God"; cf. the KJV, NABRE, NASB). The NIV avoids the lack of object argument by providing a structure of alternation (Chavel 2022) throughout וַיְנַסּ֣וּ וַ֭יַּמְרוּ אֶת־אֱלֹהִ֣ים עֶלְי֑וֹן, with its "But they put God to the test and rebelled against the Most High". The SG21 does the same, but in reverse: "Mais ils ont provoqué le Dieu très-haut et se sont révoltés contre lui."
Lexical Notes
Note for v. 57
v. 57 – For the niphal of הפך, SDBH offers "become, change, turn into," DCH (581) "turn, i.e. change (oneself), be turned, i.e. changed, be reversed," BDB (245) "turn aside."[10] Much of the sense depends on the following רְמִיָּה, however, which does not license such appeal to "turning," but rather an inchoative change of state (see the following note).
Note for v. 57
v. 57 – For רְמִיָּה as a description of a "bow," see also Hos 7:16.[11] There are perhaps three homophonous roots √רמה, though the sense "slack/useless" (cf. Akkadian ramû "slack, loose, limp"; CAD vol 14, 127-133) may very well be an extension from √רמה "deceive, deceitful." Aside from these two, there is an obvious wordplay with √רמה of נוֹשְׁקֵ֥י רוֹמֵי־קָ֑שֶׁת in v. 9 ("throw, hurl"). The point seems to be that the bow is slack and therefore useless in battle, as helpfully rendered by Jerome (Hebr.) incurvati sunt quasi arcus inutilis "they are made crooked like a useless bow."
Phrase-Level
Note for v. 56
v. 56 – For the serial verb construction וַיְנַסּ֣וּ וַ֭יַּמְרוּ, see the grammar notes.
Verbal Notes
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v. 58
Preferred
(Preferred, but not confirmed); edit diagram
SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 58]
Fragment
particle: וַ and
Fragment
ClauseCluster
Clause
Predicate
verb: יַּכְעִיסוּ they made angry
Object
suffix-pronoun: הוּ him
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְּ with
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="their high places of worship">
noun: בָמוֹת high places of worship
suffix-pronoun: ָם them
Conjunction
conjunction: וּ and
Clause
Predicate
verb: יַקְנִיאוּ they made jealous
Object
suffix-pronoun: הוּ him
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בִ with
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="their divine images">
noun: פְסִילֵי divine images
suffix-pronoun: הֶם them
Grammar Notes
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Lexical Notes
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Phrase-Level
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Verbal Notes
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vv. 59-60
Preferred
(Preferred, but not confirmed); edit diagram
SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [vv. 59-60]
Fragment
ClauseCluster
Clause
Subject
noun: אֱלֹהִים God
Predicate
verb: שָׁמַע heard
Conjunction
conjunction: וַ and
Clause
Predicate
verb: יִּתְעַבָּר he became furious
Conjunction
conjunction: וַ and
Clause
Predicate
verb: יִּמְאַס he rejected
adverb: מְאֹד completely
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְּ
Object
noun: יִשְׂרָאֵל Israel
Conjunction
conjunction: וַ and
Clause
Predicate
verb: יִּטֹּשׁ he abandoned
Object
Apposition
Nominal <gloss="tabernacle at Shiloh">
ConstructChain
noun: מִשְׁכַּן tabernacle
noun: שִׁלוֹ Shiloh
Nominal
noun: אֹהֶל tent
RelativeClause
RelativeParticle
particle: which
Clause
Predicate
verb: שִׁכֵּן he set up
verb: שָׁכַן he dwelt <status="alternative revocalization">
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בָּ among
Object
Nominal
article: ה <status="elided">
noun: אָדָם mankind
Grammar Notes
Note for v. 60
v. 60 – For the revocalization of שָׁכַן (qal) for the MT's שִׁכֵּ֥ן (piel), see the LXX, TgPs and the Syr.[12] For the preferred piel reading, following the MT, see Jerome's Hebr. and Symmachus.[13] The qal revocalization has not been preferred, as the major codices and Babylonian evidence all read piel (with the exceptions of JTS 611 and JTS 631). Reading an unpointed text, the LXX and Targum translators (the Syr. may well have been influenced by either one of these two text traditions) would more naturally have read the qal as a more common use of the root שׁכן. For the preferred reading, cf. the NJPS: "the tent He had set among men" (cf. EÜ, ISV, KJV, NABRE, NASB, NIV, ZÜR); for the qal reading, see the ESV: "the tent where he dwelt among mankind" (cf. CEB, CJB, CSB, ELB, GNT, LUT, NET, REB, SG21).
Lexical Notes
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Phrase-Level
Note for v. 59
v. 59 – For the בְּ–flagging of the stimulus argument with מאס, see also Lev 26:15, 43; Num 14:31; Judg 9:38; Isa 7:15-16; 30:12; 33:15; Jer 2:37; 4:30; Ps 106:24; Job 19:18, among others. See the discussion of figurative contact in BHRG (§39.6.1.b.ii) and social contact in Jenni (1992, 256; cf. v. 67; see also Num 14:31; Judg 9:38; 2 Kgs 17:20; Isa 7:15, 16; 30:12; 33:15; Jer 4:30; 6:19, 30; 31:37; Ps 106:24; Job 19:18). Both מאס and בחר can be considered verbs belonging to "interaction events," which are prime candidates for בְּ–flagging (Sjörs forthcoming, Prepositional Complements).
Verbal Notes
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Appendix
References
- ↑ These read τῶν πόνων αὐτῶν, צעריהון, δυνάμεως αὐτῶν, and ܝܠܕܗܘܢ, respectively.
- ↑ See de-Rossi, Variae Lectiones, vol. 4, 54.
- ↑ Read principium partus, λυπῶν and ὀδύνων, respectively.
- ↑ These read τῶν πόνων αὐτῶν, צעריהון, δυνάμεως αὐτῶν, and ܝܠܕܗܘܢ, respectively.
- ↑ See de-Rossi, Variae Lectiones, vol. 4, 54.
- ↑ Read principium partus, λυπῶν and ὀδύνων, respectively.
- ↑ It should be noted, however, that the definite reading of the one-word prepositional phrases throughout the Song of the Sea are also attested in the Samaritan Pentateuch (see Ben-Ḥayyim 1977, 418).
- ↑ All the ancient versions, however, provide the proximal demonstrative, "this." Symmachus' ὄρος ὅ ἐκτλησατο ἡ δεξιὰ αὐτοῦ "the mountain which his right hand acquired" is an exception.
- ↑ So Taylor 2020, 323. The text reads ܘܐܪܡܝ ܐܢܘܢ ܒܚ̈ܒܠܐ ܕܝܪܬܘܬܗ.
- ↑ The LXX has μετεστράφησαν, Aquila ἐστράφησαν, Symmachus ἀπεστρέφοντο, Jerome incurvati sunt.
- ↑ The ancient versions of our clause read as follows: καὶ μετεστράφησαν εἰς τόξον στρεβλὸν "they were twisted into a crooked bow" (NETS); conversi sunt in arcum pravum "they were turned aside as a crooked bow" (D-R); ܘܐܬܗܦܟܘ ܐܝܟ ܩܫܬܐ ܢܟܝܠܬܐ "they turned away like a deceitful/crooked bow" (Taylor 2020, 323); אתהפיכו היך קשתא דרמיא גיררין "they were turned back like a bow that shoots arrows" (Stec 2004, 154) ➞ apparently derived from √רמה, as in v. 9. Compare these to those attested in Hosea 7:16 (יָשׁ֣וּבוּ׀ לֹ֣א עָ֗ל הָיוּ֙ כְּקֶ֣שֶׁת רְמִיָּ֔ה): ἐγένοντο ὡς τόξον ἐντεταμένον "they became like a tightly stretched bow" (NETS); facti sunt quasi arcus dolosus "they became like a deceitful bow" (D-R) ܘܗܘܘ ܐܝܟ ܩܫܬܐ ܢܟܝܠܬܐ "they were like a faulty/deceitful bow" (Walter & Greenberg 2012, 29) דָמַן אִנוּן כְקַשַת נְכִילָא "they are like a deceitful bow" (Cathcart & Gordon 1989, 45).
- ↑ These read οὗ κατεσκήνωσεν ἐν ἀνθρώποις ("where he encamped among human beings," NETS); משכן די שרת תמן שכינתיה בגו בני נשא ("the tabernacle where his Shekinah dwelt among the sons of men," Stec 2004, 154); and ܡܫܟܢܐ ܕܫܪܐ ܒܝܬ ܒܢܝܢܫ̈ܐ ("the tabernacle where he dwelt among human beings," Taylor 2020, 323), respectively.
- ↑ Which read tentorium quod conlocavit inter homines ("the tent which he set up among people") and τὴν σκήνωσιν τὴν ἱδρυθεῖσαν ἐν ἀνθρώποις ("the tent which was set up among people"). Though Symmachus may be reading the causative שִׁכֵּן as impersonal and thus employs a passive strategy to communicate such, the derived morphology would remain the same.