Psalm 88/Overview/Background

Background Orientation for Psalm 88

Following are the common-ground assumptionsCommon-ground assumptions include information shared by the speaker and hearers. In our analysis, we mainly use this category for Biblical/Ancient Near Eastern background. which are the most helpful for making sense of the psalm.

• Sheol is the Biblical denomination for the underworld, the realm of the dead, located under the Earth. (Am 9:2, Ezek 31: 17, Pro 5:5). People who are about to die consider themselves to be in or at the gates of Sheol (Ps 30:4, 2Sam 22:6, Jonah 2:3), but YHWH can always redeem them from there (Hos 13:14, Jonah 2:3, Ps 30:4, 49:16).
• The "outcasts" (חָפְשִׁי) were a low social class, despised and excommunicated. Cf. Exegetical Issue on v. 6a.
• The "slain" (חֲלָלִים) are those who die in a violent way, particularly in battle (1Sam 17:52, 31:8, 2Sam 1:19, 1Kings 11:15, Jer 51:4). They were a despised class in the Netherworld, since they were buried in mass graves (שׁׁכְבֵי קֶבֶר), if at all (cf. Ezek 32:20-23).
• Some common images for death and Sheol are: the Pit (בּוֹר), namely the tomb, entry point to Sheol (Ezek 26:20, Prov 1:12, Ps 30:4, Isa 38:18); darkness (Job 17:13; 3:5, Ps 107:10); deep waters (Lam 3:54-55, Ps 18:5-6 69:2-3, Jonah 2:4,6). Additionally, there are several psalms which share the motif of a judgment by water (Pss 18 [2 Sam 22]; 66; 69; 88; 124; 144 plus the psalm in Jonah 2).
• YHWH’s policies do not include interfering in Sheol. It is the "land of oblivion", the inhabitants of which are forgotten by YHWH (cf. v. 6b, Ps 31:13, Eccl 9:5), and therefore no voice is raised to praise the wonders of YHWH (see Ps 6:6; 30:10; 115:17; Isa 38:18-19). cf. also Exegetical Issue #1.

Background Situation for Psalm 88

The background situation is the series of events leading up to the time in which the psalm is spoken. These are taken from the story triangle – whatever lies to the left of the star icon.