Psalm 16/Notes/Lexical.v. 3.255446

• The “holy ones” are described specifically as being in the earth" (בָּאָרֶץ). This description could mean that the "holy ones" are "those who are honoured in the land, in local sanctuaries," in contrast to those who are in heaven, surrounding YHWH's throne (Peels 2000, 247). Alternatively, the phrase "in the earth" could denote "the netherworld" (Spronk 1986, 336; cf. HALOT on אֶרֶץ as "underworld;" see esp. 1 Sam 28:13). According to this interpretation, the "holy ones" (קְדֹשִׁים) would refer to the "deified dead" (Spronk 1986, 336; cf. Isa 14:9–20; 1 Sam 28). Three considerations support seeing "the earth" in v. 3 as a reference to the underworld. First, it sufficiently explains why the (otherwise unnecessary) phrase "in the earth" would be used here. Second, there is a poetic connection between v. 3 and v. 10 (see Poetic Structure), and v. 10 explicitly mentions the underworld: "Sheol... the pit." Third, a reference to underworld deities in v. 3 is consistent with the reference to blood libations in v. 4b. In some ancient pagan religions, blood libations were associated with underworld deities (cf. McCarthy 1969; Verburg 2020). For example, in the Babylonian legend of Etana, we read: "Daily Etana beseeches Shamash: 'Thou hast eaten, O Shamash, the fat of my sheep, the netherworld has drunk the blood of my lambs; the gods I have honored, the ghosts I have revered'" (Marsh Tablet, lines 34–36, cited in McCarthy 1969, 171–172). Similarly, on the other side of the Mediterranean world, a passage in the Odyssey says, "I took the sheep and cut their throats over the pit, and the dark blood flowed. Then there gathered from out of Erebus the ghosts of those that are dead" (Odyssey 11.37–37; Murray and Dimock 1919, 403). Furthermore, various passages in the Old Testament suggest that "cults of the dead existed and flourished in ancient Palestine" (Lewis 1999, 230; see e.g., Deut 18:9–11; 26:14; 1 Sam 28; 2 Kgs 21:6; 23:24; Ps 106:28). One passage that bears striking resemblance to Psalm 16 and might allude to the cult of the dead is Isaiah 57:4b–6: “Are you not children of transgression… who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks? Among the smooth stones of (בְּחַלְּקֵי) the valley is your portion (חֶלְקֵךְ, cf. Ps 16:5); they, they, are your lot (גּוֹרָלֵךְ, cf. Ps 16:5); to them you have poured out a drink offering (נֶסֶךְ, cf. Ps 16:4)” (ESV). This passage appears to describe the worship of Molech (Motyer 1993, 472), “a netherworld deity to whom children were offered by fire for some divinatory purpose” (Heider 1999, 585; cf. Lev 20:2–6). It is also plausible, as some have argued, that the word translated “smooth stones” (חַלְּקֵי) in Isaiah 57:6 actually means “the dead” (so Irwin 1967, on the basis of the well-attested Ugaritic root חלק, “to perish;” cf. Olmo Lete and Sanmartín 2003, 388–389). Hence: “Among the dead of the valley is your portion; they, they, are your lot; to them you have poured out a drink offering.” The similarities with Psalm 16:3–4 are striking and suggest that the "holy ones who are in the earth" (v. 3) are underworld deities.