Psalm 78 Emotional
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Psalm 78
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Emotional Analysis
This layer explores the emotional dimension of the biblical text and seeks to uncover the clues within the text itself that are part of the communicative intent of its author. The goal of this analysis is to chart the basic emotional tone and/or progression of the psalm.
For a detailed explanation of our method, see the Emotional Analysis Creator Guidelines.
Emotional Analysis Chart
If an emendation or revocalization is preferred, that emendation or revocalization will be marked in the Hebrew text of all the visuals.
| Emendations/Revocalizations legend | |
|---|---|
| *Emended text* | Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is indicated by blue asterisks on either side of the emendation. |
| *Revocalized text* | Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is indicated by purple asterisks on either side of the revocalization. |
| Verse | Text (Hebrew) | Text (CBC) | Proposition (Emotional Analysis) | The Psalmist Feels | Emotional Analysis Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | מַשְׂכִּיל לְאָסָף | A maskil. By Asaph. | |||
| הַאֲזִינָה עַמִּי תּוֹרָתִי | Listen, my people, to my teaching; | The people listen to the psalmist's teaching | |||
| הַטּוּ אָזְנְכֶם לְאִמְרֵי־פִי׃ | turn your ear to the words of my mouth. | ||||
| 2 | אֶפְתְּחָה בְמָשָׁל פִּי | Let me open up my mouth with a parable; | The psalmist tells a parable | ||
| אַבִּיעָה חִידוֹת מִנִּי־קֶדֶם׃ | let me pour out puzzling problems from long ago. | The psalmist tells problems | |||
| 3 | אֲשֶׁר שָׁמַעְנוּ | The things which we heard, | The latest generation hears things | ||
| וַנֵּדָעֵם | and which we learned | The latest generation learns things | |||
| וַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ סִפְּרוּ־לָנוּ׃ | and our ancestors told us, | The ancestors tell the latest generation things | |||
| 4 | לֹא נְכַחֵד מִבְּנֵיהֶם לְדוֹר אַחֲרוֹן | we will not hide from their children in the latest generation, | The latest generation hide things | ||
| מְסַפְּרִים תְּהִלּוֹת יְהוָה וֶעֱזוּזוֹ וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו | proclaiming the praiseworthy deeds of YHWH and his power and his wonderful deeds | The latest generation communicate YHWH's praiseworthy deeds | • Awe towards the wonder and power of YHWH's deeds | ||
| אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה׃ | which he has accomplished: | YHWH accomplishes praiseworthy things | |||
| 5 | וַיָּקֶם עֵדוּת בְּיַעֲקֹב | how he established a testimony among Jacob | YHWH establishes a testimony | ||
| וְתוֹרָה שָׂם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל | and set up a teaching among Israel, | YHWH sets up a teaching | |||
| אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה אֶת־אֲבוֹתֵינוּ | which he commanded our ancestors | YHWH commands the ancestors | |||
| לְהוֹדִיעָם לִבְנֵיהֶם׃ | to teach them to their children, | The ancestors teach children | |||
| 6 | לְמַעַן יֵדְעוּ דּוֹר אַחֲרוֹן | so that the latest generation might know | The latest generation know the teaching | ||
| בָּנִים יִוָּלֵדוּ | —children who were yet to be born— | Children are born | • Passion to pass on the teaching | ||
| יָקֻמוּ וִיסַפְּרוּ לִבְנֵיהֶם׃ | [that] they might begin to tell their children | Descendants tell children the teaching | |||
| 7 | וְיָשִׂימוּ בֵֽאלֹהִים כִּסְלָם | and they might put their trust in God, | Children trust God | • Hope that future generations will pass on the teaching | |
| וְלֹא יִשְׁכְּחוּ מַֽעַלְלֵי־אֵל | [so that] they might not forget God's deeds | Children forget God's deeds | |||
| וּמִצְוֺתָיו יִנְצֹֽרוּ׃ | but might obey his commands | Children obey God's commands | |||
| 8 | וְלֹא יִהְיוּ כַּאֲבוֹתָם דּוֹר סוֹרֵר וּמֹרֶה דּוֹר | and might not be like their ancestors, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation | Children resemble ancestors | • Contempt towards the stubbornness and rebellion of the ancestors | • See the phrase-level observation on the collocation סוֹרֵ֪ר וּמֹ֫רֶ֥ה as found also describing rebellious children (Deut 21:18, 20) and the people as a whole (Jer 5:23). |
| לֹא־הֵכִין לִבּוֹ | who did not keep their heart committed | The ancestors stay committed | |||
| וְלֹא־נֶאֶמְנָה אֶת־אֵל רוּחֽוֹ׃ | and whose mind was not faithful to God. | The ancestors stay faithful | |||
| 9 | בְּנֵי־אֶפְרַיִם נוֹשְׁקֵי רוֹמֵי־קָשֶׁת הָפְכוּ בְּיוֹם קְרָב׃ | Ephraimites, armed [with a bow], archers, turned back on a day of battle. | Ephraimites flee | • Contempt towards the supposed military prowess of the Ephraimites | • "The tribe of Ephraim, descended from the younger of Joseph’s two sons who nonetheless received the greater blessing from his grandfather Jacob (Gen 48:13–20), was the strongest and most numerous of the Northern tribes. Its warriors had a reputation for fierceness in battle" (Tate 1998, 289). |
| 10 | לֹא שָׁמְרוּ בְּרִית אֱלֹהִים | They did not keep the covenant of God | Ephraimites keep the covenant of God | ||
| וּבְתוֹרָתוֹ מֵאֲנוּ | and they refused | Ephraimites refuse to walk in the teaching of God | |||
| לָלֶכֶת׃ | to walk in his teaching, | ||||
| 11 | וַיִּשְׁכְּחוּ עֲלִילוֹתָיו | in that they forgot his deeds | Ephraimites forget God's deeds | ||
| וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו | and [they forgot] his wonders | Ephraimites forget God's wonders | |||
| אֲשֶׁר הֶרְאָם׃ | which he had shown them. | God shows the Ephraimites his wonders | |||
| 12 | נֶגֶד אֲבוֹתָם עָשָׂה פֶלֶא בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם שְׂדֵה־צֹֽעַן׃ | In front of their ancestors he performed miracles in the land of Egypt, the region of Zoan. | God performs miracles | • Impressed by YHWH's miracles taking place in Zoan | • "Tanis [ancient Zoan]... was a royal Egyptian city from the eleventh century to 725B.C.E" (Stern 1995, 46) |
| 13 | בָּקַע יָם | He divided the sea | God divides the sea | ||
| וַיַּעֲבִירֵם | and brought them through; | God brings the ancestors through the sea | |||
| וַיַּצֶּב־מַיִם כְּמוֹ־נֵד׃ | he made the waters stand like a heap. | God makes the waters stand | • Awe towards YHWH for making the waters stand as a heap | • See the imagery table: "The simile waters as a heap is used to describe the crossing of the Reed Sea (Exod 15:8), as here, but also the Jordan river (Josh 3:13, 16), and the separation of the waters at creation (Ps 33:7). The significance of the stability caused by the solid state surrounding the Israelites in place of the chaotic liquid harkens back to creation and then enthronement of YHWH as king of the cosmos, as equally regally superior over Pharaoh." | |
| 14 | וַיַּנְחֵם בֶּעָנָן יוֹמָם | He led them by cloud during the day | God leads the ancestors | • Confident in YHWH's constant protection and leading by day and night | |
| וְכָל־הַלַּיְלָה בְּאוֹר אֵֽשׁ׃ | and [he led them] all night by fire light. | God leads the ancestors | |||
| 15 | יְבַקַּע צֻרִים בַּמִּדְבָּר | He would split rocks in the wilderness | God splits rocks | • Astonishment that water as abundant as oceans could be produced in the wilderness | |
| וַיַּשְׁקְ כִּתְהֹמוֹת רַבָּֽה׃ | and provide drinking water abundantly, as from oceans. | God provides drinking water | |||
| 16 | וַיּוֹצִא נוֹזְלִים מִסָּלַע | He would bring streams out from rock | God produces streams | • Astonishment that water as abundant as rivers could be produced from a rock | |
| וַיּוֹרֶד כַּנְּהָרוֹת מָֽיִם׃ | and make water flow down like rivers. | God makes water flow down | |||
| 17 | וַיּוֹסִיפוּ עוֹד | But again | The ancestors sin | • Startled that this this was not their first rebellion, but they sinned again • Indignant at the prospect of sinning against the Most High | |
| לַחֲטֹא־לוֹ | they sinned against him; | ||||
| לַמְרוֹת עֶלְיוֹן בַּצִּיָּה׃ | again they rebelled against the Most High in the desert. | ||||
| 18 | וַיְנַסּוּ־אֵל בִּלְבָבָם | They put God to the test in their heart, | The ancestors put God to the test | • Contempt at the ancestors missplaced intentions and craving | |
| לִשְׁאָל־אֹכֶל לְנַפְשָׁם׃ | by asking for food for their throat. | The ancestors ask for food | |||
| 19 | וַיְדַבְּרוּ בֵּֽאלֹהִים | They spoke against God | The ancestors complain | ||
| אָמְרוּ | saying: | ||||
| הֲיוּכַל אֵל | "Is God not able | God prepares food | • Indignant that YHWH's ability would be questioned • "Frustrated and impatient" | ||
| לַעֲרֹךְ שֻׁלְחָן בַּמִּדְבָּר׃ | to prepare a table in the wilderness? | ||||
| 20 | הֵן הִכָּה־צוּר | Since he struck a rock | God strikes a rock | ||
| וַיָּזוּבוּ מַיִם | so that waters gushed out | Waters gush out | |||
| וּנְחָלִים יִשְׁטֹפוּ | and streams began to flow, | Streams flow | |||
| הֲגַם־לֶחֶם יוּכַל | is he not able to give bread, too? | God gives bread | |||
| תֵּת | |||||
| אִם־יָכִין שְׁאֵר לְעַמּוֹ׃ | Or can he not provide meat for his people?" | God provides meat | |||
| 21 | לָכֵן שָׁמַע יְהוָה | Therefore, when YHWH heard | YHWH hears | ||
| וַיִּתְעַבָּר | he became furious; | YHWH becomes furious | • Fear of the consequences alluded to from Num 11 | • For the probable wordplay in allusion to Num 11:3, cf. תַּבְעֵרָ֑ה there ("So the name of that place was called Taberah," ESV) and וַיִּתְעַבָּר both here and in v. 59 (Leonard 2008, 255). SDBH defines hithpael עבר as a "state in which deities experience deep anger," occurring in this sense three times in this psalm, and only twice outside of this psalm (Deut 3:26; Ps 89:39). | |
| וְאֵשׁ נִשְּׂקָה בְיַעֲקֹב | fire flared up against Jacob | Fire flares up | • SDBH note that אַף (see next clause) is a "state of extreme displeasure; ≈ often associated with fire and smoke," as here. | ||
| וְגַם־אַף עָלָה בְיִשְׂרָאֵל׃ | and also anger rose against Israel, | Anger rises | |||
| 22 | כִּי לֹא הֶאֱמִינוּ בֵּאלֹהִים | because they had not believed in God | Israel believes | ||
| וְלֹא בָטְחוּ בִּישׁוּעָתוֹ׃ | and they had not trusted in his provision. | Israel trusts | |||
| 23 | וַיְצַו שְׁחָקִים מִמָּעַל | So he ordered clouds from above | God orders clouds | • Confident in YHWH's satisfying provision from above | |
| וְדַלְתֵי שָׁמַיִם פָּתָח׃ | and opened heavenly doors; | God opens heavenly doors | |||
| 24 | וַיַּמְטֵר עֲלֵיהֶם מָן לֶאֱכֹל | he rained down upon them manna to eat | God rains down manna | ||
| וּדְגַן־שָׁמַיִם נָתַן לָמוֹ׃ | and he gave them grain from heaven. | God gives Israel grain | |||
| 25 | לֶחֶם אַבִּירִים אָכַל אִישׁ | People ate bread of angels; | People eat bread | ||
| צֵידָה שָׁלַח לָהֶם לָשֹׂבַע׃ | he sent them provisions until they were satisfied. | God sends Israel provisions | |||
| 26 | יַסַּע קָדִים בַּשָּׁמָיִם | He caused an east wind to blow in the sky | God causes wind to blow | • Awe at the quantity of food brought by YHWH's might | |
| וַיְנַהֵג בְּעֻזּוֹ תֵימָן׃ | and he drove a south wind with his might. | God drives wind | |||
| 27 | וַיַּמְטֵר עֲלֵיהֶם כֶּעָפָר שְׁאֵר | So he made meat rain upon them like dust | God makes meat rain | ||
| וּכְחוֹל יַמִּים עוֹף כָּנָף׃ | and [he made] winged birds [rain upon them] like the sand on the seashore, | God makes birds rain | |||
| 28 | וַיַּפֵּל בְּקֶרֶב מַחֲנֵהוּ סָבִיב לְמִשְׁכְּנֹתָיו׃ | and he made them fall inside his camp, all around his tents. | God makes meat fall | ||
| 29 | וַיֹּאכְלוּ | So they ate | Israel eats | ||
| וַיִּשְׂבְּעוּ מְאֹד | and were completely satisfied | Israel is satisfied | |||
| וְתַֽאֲוָתָם יָבִא לָהֶֽם׃ | when he brought them what they craved. | God brings Israel what they craved | |||
| 30 | לֹא־זָרוּ מִתַּאֲוָתָם | They had not turned away from the object of their craving | Israel turns away from the object of their craving | ||
| עוֹד אָכְלָם בְּפִיהֶֽם׃ | —their food was still in their mouth— | Israel's food is in their mouth | |||
| 31 | וְאַף אֱלֹהִים עָלָה בָהֶם | when the anger of God rose against them | God's anger rises | ||
| וַיַּהֲרֹג בְּמִשְׁמַנֵּיהֶם | and he killed some of their strong men | God kills strong men | |||
| וּבַחוּרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הִכְרִיעַ׃ | and he struck down young men of Israel. | God strikes down young men | |||
| 32 | בְּכָל־זֹאת חָטְאוּ־עוֹד | In spite of this, they sinned again | Israel sins | ||
| וְלֹֽא־הֶאֱמִינוּ בְּנִפְלְאוֹתָיו׃ | and did not trust in his wonderful deeds, | Israel trusts in God's wonderful deeds | |||
| 33 | וַיְכַל־בַּהֶבֶל יְמֵיהֶם | so he made them spend their days in vain | God makes Israel live hopelessly | • Sober that the consequences did not only last days, but years | |
| וּשְׁנוֹתָם בַּבֶּהָלָה׃ | and [he made them spend] their years in anguish. | God makes Israel suffer | |||
| 34 | אִם־הֲרָגָם | Whenever he killed them, | God kills people of Israel | • Distrustful at the ancestors' false patterns of repentance. It was all just lies with their mouth and with their tongue, but not with their heart. • v. 35 – confident in YHWH, the Most High, as the people's rock. |
• See the speech act analysis. • "Their repentance lasted only as long as there was danger of punishment... all their professions of repentance were lies, intended to deceive God" (Bratcher & Reyburn 1991, 692-3), and they vacillated, since they were not faithful, i.e., "truthful and committed, with an unwavering disposition, which is reflected in their words and actions" (SDBH)—to his covenant (v. 37b). • See the "rock" imagery table. |
| וּדְרָשׁוּהוּ | then they would seek him | Israel seeks God | |||
| וְשָׁבוּ וְשִׁחֲרוּ־אֵל׃ | and again look for God. | Israel look for God | |||
| 35 | וַיִּזְכְּרוּ | They would remember | Israel remembers | ||
| כִּי־אֱלֹהִים צוּרָם | that God was their rock | God is Israel's protector and provider | |||
| וְאֵל עֶלְיוֹן גֹּאֲלָם׃ | and [that] God, the Most High, was their redeemer. | God is Israel's redeemer | |||
| 36 | וַיְפַתּוּהוּ בְּפִיהֶם | But they were trying to deceive him with their mouth | Israel tries to deceive God | ||
| וּבִלְשׁוֹנָם יְכַזְּבוּ־לוֹ׃ | and with their tongue were lying to him. | Israel lies to God | |||
| 37 | וְלִבָּם לֹא־נָכוֹן עִמּוֹ | Their heart was not committed to him | Israel's heart is committed | ||
| וְלֹא נֶאֶמְנוּ בִּבְרִיתוֹ׃ | and they were not faithful to his covenant. | Israel is faithful | |||
| 38 | וְהוּא רַחוּם | But he is compassionate. | God is compassionate | ||
| יְכַפֵּר עָוֺן | He forgives iniquity | God forgives iniquity | |||
| וְלֹא־יַשְׁחִית | and does not destroy. | God destroys | |||
| וְהִרְבָּה | He repeatedly | God turns back anger | • Hopeful because God repeatedly turned back his anger and did not stir up all his wrath | ||
| לְהָשִׁיב אַפּוֹ | turned back his anger. | ||||
| וְלֹֽא־יָעִיר כָּל־חֲמָתוֹ׃ | And he would not stir up all his wrath. | God stirs up wrath | |||
| 39 | וַיִּזְכֹּר | He remembered | God remembers | ||
| כִּי־בָשָׂר הֵמָּה רוּחַ | that they were flesh, a breeze | Israel is ephemeral | |||
| הוֹלֵךְ | that goes by | Israel passes on | |||
| וְלֹא יָשׁוּב׃ | and will not return. | Israel returns | |||
| 40 | כַּמָּה יַמְרוּהוּ בַמִּדְבָּר | How often did they rebel against him in the wilderness! | Israel rebels | * Startled and disappointed by the frequency (כַּמָּה and וַיָּשׁוּבוּ) of Israel's rebellion • Disgusted that they would put Holy One of Israel to the test | |
| יַעֲצִיבוּהוּ בִּֽישִׁימוֹן׃ | [How often] did they grieve him in the desert! | Israel grieves God | |||
| 41 | וַיָּשׁוּבוּ וַיְנַסּוּ אֵל | Again they put God to the test | Israel puts God to the test | ||
| וּקְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל הִתְווּ׃ | and they provoked the Holy One of Israel. | Israel provokes God | |||
| 42 | לֹא־זָכְרוּ אֶת־יָדוֹ | They did not remember his strength; | Israel remembers God's strength | ||
| יוֹם | [they did not remember] the day | Israel remembers God's actions | |||
| אֲֽשֶׁר־פָּדָם מִנִּי־צָר׃ | in which he saved them from an adversary. | ||||
| 43 | אֲשֶׁר־שָׂם בְּמִצְרַיִם אֹתוֹתָיו | [They did not remember the day] in which he displayed his signs in Egypt | Israel remembers God's signs | • Impressed by YHWH's miracles taking place in Zoan | • "Tanis [ancient Zoan] ... was a royal Egyptian city from the eleventh century to 725B.C.E" (Stern 1995, 46) |
| וּמוֹפְתָיו בִּשְׂדֵה־צֹעַן׃ | and [displayed] his miracles in the region of Zoan— | ||||
| 44 | וַיַּהֲפֹךְ לְדָם יְאֹרֵיהֶם | how he turned their rivers into blood | God turns the Egyptians' rivers | • Solemn but satisfied at the comprehensive nature of YHWH's acts | • See, e.g., it devoured them (v. 45aβ); it destroyed them (v. 45bβ); he killed their vines (v. 47a; see lexical semantics); and he sent not only wrath, but the wrath of his anger: fury and indignation and trouble, by a deputation of angels bringing disaster (v. 49). |
| וְנֹזְלֵיהֶם בַּל־יִשְׁתָּיוּן׃ | and they could not drink [from] their streams. | The Egyptians cannot drink from their streams | |||
| 45 | יְשַׁלַּח בָּהֶם עָרֹב | He sent a swarm of insects among them | God sends a swarm of insects | ||
| וַיֹּאכְלֵם | and it devoured them; | The swarm of insects devours the Egyptians | |||
| וּצְפַרְדֵּעַ | [he sent] a plague of frogs [among them] | God sends a plague of frogs | |||
| וַתַּשְׁחִיתֵם׃ | and it destroyed them. | The plague of frogs destroys the Egyptians | |||
| 46 | וַיִּתֵּן לֶחָסִיל יְבוּלָם | He gave their crops to young locusts | God gives the Egyptians' crops to young locusts | ||
| וִיגִיעָם לָאַרְבֶּה׃ | and [he gave] the fruit of their labor to locusts. | God gives the fruit of the Egyptians' labor to locusts | |||
| 47 | יַהֲרֹג בַּבָּרָד גַּפְנָם | He killed their vines with hail | God kills the Egyptians' vines with hail | ||
| וְשִׁקְמוֹתָם בַּֽחֲנָמַל׃ | and [he killed] their sycamore trees with frost. | God kills the Egyptians' sycamore trees with frost | |||
| 48 | וַיַּסְגֵּר לַבָּרָד בְּעִירָם | He gave their livestock over to hail | God gives the Egyptians' livestock over to hail | ||
| וּמִקְנֵיהֶם לָרְשָׁפִים׃ | and [he gave] their herds [over] to lightning. | God gives the Egyptians' herds over to lightning | |||
| 49 | יְשַׁלַּח־בָּם חֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ עֶבְרָה וָזַעַם וְצָרָה מִשְׁלַחַת מַלְאֲכֵי רָעִים׃ | He sent among them the wrath of his anger: fury and indignation and trouble, by a deputation of angels bringing disaster. | God sends his wrath | ||
| 50 | יְפַלֵּס נָתִיב לְאַפּוֹ | He cleared a path for his anger; | God sends his anger | ||
| לֹא־חָשַׂךְ מִמָּוֶת נַפְשָׁם | he did not spare their soul from death | God spares the Egyptians from death | |||
| וְחַיָּתָם לַדֶּבֶר הִסְגִּיר׃ | but gave their life over to plague. | God gives the Egyptians over to plague | |||
| 51 | וַיַּךְ כָּל־בְּכוֹר בְּמִצְרָיִם רֵאשִׁית אוֹנִים בְּאָהֳלֵי־חָם׃ | He killed every firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of strength among the tents of Ham, | God kills a firstborn | • Solemn but hopeful in the fact that YHWH killed every firstborn in Egypt to grant his covenant people freedom | |
| 52 | וַיַּסַּע כַּצֹּאן עַמּוֹ | but he led out his people like a flock | God leads his people out of Egypt | • Confident in YHWH's characteristic leading of his people like a flock, like a herd, and securely • Hopeful in YHWH's continued covenant leadership yet solemnly aware of the risks |
• See the assumptions table: "Israel, as YHWH's possession, were very numerous, yet at risk of disobeying their shepherd and being scattered." • SDBH defines בֶּטַח as a "state in which humans live with confidence and without fear." |
| וַיְנַהֲגֵם כַּעֵדֶר בַּמִּדְבָּר׃ | and guided them in the wilderness like a herd. | God guides his people | |||
| 53 | וַיַּנְחֵם לָבֶטַח | He led them securely | God leads his people | ||
| וְלֹא פָחָדוּ | and they were not afraid, | God's people are afraid | |||
| וְאֶת־אוֹיְבֵיהֶם כִּסָּה הַיָּם׃ | but the sea covered their enemies. | The sea covers Israel's enemies | |||
| 54 | וַיְבִיאֵם אֶל־גְּבוּל קָדְשׁוֹ הַר־ | He brought them to his holy territory, the hill-country | God brings Israel to Canaan | • Confident that the land is YHWH's holy territory which he acquired | |
| זֶה קָנְתָה יְמִינוֹ׃ | which his right hand had acquired. | God' acquires hill-country | |||
| 55 | וַיְגָרֶשׁ מִפְּנֵיהֶם גּוֹיִם | He drove out nations from their presence | God drives out nations | • Confident and content in YHWH's ongoing promises to his people, since he drove out nations from before them and systematically conquered them by portion | |
| וַיַּפִּילֵם בְּחֶבֶל נַחֲלָה | and allotted them as an inheritance by measurement; | God allots the nations as an inheritance | |||
| וַיַּשְׁכֵּן בְּאָהֳלֵיהֶם שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃ | he let the clans of Israel live in their dwelling places. | God lets the clans of Israel live in the dwelling places of the nations | |||
| 56 | וַיְנַסּוּ וַיַּמְרוּ אֶת־אֱלֹהִים עֶלְיוֹן | But they rebelliously put God, the Most High, to the test, | Israel puts God to the test | • Disgusted by the Israelites' continued rebellion • Indignant at the prospect of rebelling against the Most High |
• Cf. v. 17 |
| וְעֵדוֹתָיו לֹא שָׁמָרוּ׃ | and they did not observe his testimonies, | Israel observes God's testimonies | |||
| 57 | וַיִּסֹּגוּ | but they went astray | Israel goes astray | • Disgusted and impatient at the continued pattern of rebelling like their ancestors | |
| וַיִּבְגְּדוּ כַּאֲבוֹתָם | and acted unfaithfully, like their ancestors. | Israel acts unfaithfully | |||
| נֶהְפְּכוּ כְּקֶשֶׁת רְמִיָּה׃ | They became like a slack bow. | Israel becomes covenantally dysfunctional | • Alarmed by the seemingly hopeless situation | • See the assumptions table. | |
| 58 | וַיַּכְעִיסוּהוּ בְּבָמוֹתָם | They made him angry with their high places of worship | Israel makes God angry | • Enraged by the ancestors' high places of worship and divine images | • YHWH was similarly enraged, since they both וַיַּכְעִיסוּהוּ ("causative action by which humans or deities cause other humans or deities to experience displeasure ◄ by their words or behavior," SDBH) and יַקְנִיאוּהוּ ("process by which humans and deities provoke in someone else a sentiment of anger ◄ by lavishing one's attention on someone else rather than on that person," SDBH). |
| וּבִפְסִילֵיהֶם יַקְנִיאוּהוּ׃ | and with their carved images made him jealous. | Israel makes God jealous | |||
| 59 | שָׁמַע אֱלֹהִים | God heard | God hears | ||
| וַיִּתְעַבָּר | and he became furious, | God becomes furious | |||
| וַיִּמְאַס מְאֹד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל׃ | so that he completely rejected Israel | God rejects Israel | • Alarmed by the seemingly hopeless situation of being completely rejected | ||
| 60 | וַיִּטֹּשׁ מִשְׁכַּן שִׁלוֹ אֹהֶל | and he abandoned the tabernacle at Shiloh, the tent | God abandons the tabernacle | • Impatient to know where YHWH would, then, dwell among mankind | |
| שִׁכֵּן בָּאָדָם׃ | which he had set up among mankind. | God sets up the tent | |||
| 61 | וַיִּתֵּן לַשְּׁבִי עֻזּוֹ | He gave his strength into captivity | God gives his Ark into captivity | • Alarmed by the seemingly hopeless situation of being completely rejected • Distressed by the extremity of YHWH's actions: handing over the Ark of the Covenant to an adversary and giving up on his people, his inheritance, his young men, his young women, his priests, and his widows. | |
| וְתִפְאַרְתּוֹ בְיַד־צָר׃ | and [he gave] his glory into the possession of an adversary. | God gives his Ark to an adversary | |||
| 62 | וַיַּסְגֵּר לַחֶרֶב עַמּוֹ | He gave his people over to the sword | God gives people over to war | ||
| וּבְנַחֲלָתוֹ הִתְעַבָּר׃ | and against his inheritance he raged. | God rages against an inheritance | |||
| 63 | בַּחוּרָיו אָכְלָה־אֵשׁ | Fire consumed his young men | Fire consumes young men | ||
| וּבְתוּלֹתָיו לֹא הוּלָּלוּ׃ | and his young women were not sung to. | Young women are not sung to | |||
| 64 | כֹּהֲנָיו בַּחֶרֶב נָפָלוּ | His priests fell by the sword | Priests fall by the sword | ||
| וְאַלְמְנֹתָיו לֹא תִבְכֶּינָה׃ | and his widows could not mourn. | Widows mourn | |||
| 65 | וַיִּקַץ כְּיָשֵׁן אֲדֹנָי כְּגִבּוֹר מִתְרוֹנֵן מִיָּיִן׃ | Now the Lord arose like one who had been asleep, like a warrior shouting from [the effects of] wine, | The Lord arises | • Fear before YHWH as a warrior shouting because of wine • Relief at YHWH moving to action |
• See the assumptions table for YHWH "awakening." |
| 66 | וַיַּךְ־צָרָיו אָחוֹר | and he struck back his adversaries. | The Lord strikes adversaries | • Hopeful and triumphant when the warrior turns on his adversaries | |
| חֶרְפַּת עוֹלָם נָתַן לָמוֹ׃ | He gave them eternal shame. | The Lord gives adversaries eternal shame | |||
| 67 | וַיִּמְאַס בְּאֹהֶל יוֹסֵף | But he rejected the tent of Joseph | The Lord rejects Joseph | • Startled but expectant as YHWH reveals his plan | |
| וּֽבְשֵׁבֶט אֶפְרַיִם לֹא בָחָר׃ | and did not choose the clan of Ephraim, | The Lord chooses Ephraim | |||
| 68 | וַיִּבְחַר אֶת־שֵׁבֶט יְהוּדָה אֶת־הַר צִיּוֹן | but he chose the clan of Judah, Mount Zion | The Lord chooses Judah | ||
| אֲשֶׁר אָהֵב׃ | which he loves, | The Lord loves mount Zion | • Confident in YHWH love and promises towards Zion | ||
| 69 | וַיִּבֶן כְּמוֹ־רָמִים מִקְדָּשׁוֹ כְּאֶרֶץ | and he built his holy place like heaven, like the earth | The Lord builds his holy place | ||
| יְסָדָהּ לְעוֹלָם׃ | which he has established forever. | The Lord establishes the earth | |||
| 70 | וַיִּבְחַר בְּדָוִד עַבְדּוֹ | He chose David, his servant, | The Lord chooses David | • Satisfied in the election of Zion as it implies the election of David | • See 1 Kgs 8:16, as discussed in the assumptions table. |
| וַיִּקָּחֵהוּ מִמִּכְלְאֹת צֹאן׃ | and took him from a sheep pen. | The Lord takes David | • Confident in YHWH's choice and hopeful for the covenantal future for YHWH's people based on the integrity of David's heart and his wise actions | ||
| 71 | מֵאַחַר עָלוֹת הֱבִיאוֹ | From [looking] after nursing animals he brought him | The Lord brings David | ||
| לִרְעוֹת בְּיַעֲקֹב עַמּוֹ | to shepherd Jacob, his people, | David shepherds Jacob | |||
| וּבְיִשְׂרָאֵל נַחֲלָתוֹ׃ | and [to shepherd] Israel, his inheritance. | David shepherds Israel | |||
| 72 | וַיִּרְעֵם *בְּ*תֹם לְבָבוֹ | He shepherded them with the integrity of his heart | David shepherds Israel | ||
| וּבִתְבוּנוֹת כַּפָּיו יַנְחֵם׃ | and with his wise actions he led them. | David leads Israel |
Summary Visual
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Affective Circumplex
The affective circumplex locates emotions on two axes: (1) positive vs. negative valence; and (2) active vs. passive activation. Since emotional terminology often carries unintended cultural connotations, the purpose of the circumplex is to ease translation of emotions across different languages and cultures.
