"I turned back my feet to your decrees" (Psalm 119, 59): Torah in the Fifth Book of the Psalter

Description

Scholars have described Psalm 119 as the «crux criticorum» of the Fifth Book of the Psalter (Pss 107-150). While the length of the psalm and its insistence on the question of YHWH’s Torah are basic indices pointing to its importance in the Book, the question of its message, that is, the logical development of its theme has remained an exegetical problem. The author proposes a solution, namely, that Psalm 119 is structurally arranged to show the Psalmist’s own experience of straying and returning to YHWH’s Torah. The resolution of the problem has implications for understanding the organisation of the Fifth Book and for the place of psalms such as 111 and 147, which also reflect on the theme of Torah in the final Book of the Psalter. Cover Table of Contents Preface Chapter I: The Torah Question at the End of the Psalter General Introduction 1. The Problem, Method, Organisation and Limitations of the Study 1.1 The Problem of Torah in the Fifth Book of the Psalter 1.1.1 Review of Relevant Literature 1.2 Methodology 1.2.1 Torah in the Individual Psalm 1.2.2 Torah, Psalms and the Context of the MT Psalter 1.3 The Organisation of the Study 1.4 Limitations to the Study Chapter II: Psalms 111 and 147 and the Theme of Torah Introduction 1. Part I: The Torah Theme in Ps 111 and in the Sequence Pss 111–112 1.1 Psalm 111: A Torah Psalm? 1.2 A Translation 1.3 The Structure of Ps 111 1.3.1 Stanza I (vv. 1–3) 1.3.2 Stanza II (vv. 4–6) 1.3.3 Stanza III (vv. 7–9) 1.3.4 Stanza IV (v. 10) 1.4 The Theme of Torah in Ps 111 1.4.1 Stanza II (vv. 4–6): Torah and the Remembrance of YHWH’s Gifts in History 1.4.2 Stanza III (vv. 7–9): YHWH’s commands (רּוקפ) 1.4.3 Summary of Thematic Movement in Strophes IIa – IIIb (vv. 4–9) 1.4.4 The Sapiential Dimension to Torah in Ps 111 1.5 Psalm 111 in its Context in the Fifth Book of the Psalter 1.5.1 The “Twin-Psalms” 111–112 1.5.2 The Torah Theme in Pss 111–112 2. Part II: The Torah Theme in Ps 147 and in the Sequence Pss 146–150 2.1 Structure, Thematic Questions and Torah in Ps 147 2.2 A Translation 2.3 The Structure of Psalm 147 2.3.1 Stanza I (vv. 1–6) 2.3.2 Stanza II (vv. 7–11) 2.3.3 Stanza III (vv. 12–20) 2.4 The Torah Theme in Ps 147 2.4.1 The Sending of the Word into the Cosmos (vv. 15–18) 2.4.2 The Revelation of the Word to Israel (vv. 19–20) 2.5 Ps 147 in the Context of Pss 146–150 2.5.1 Torah in the Context of the Final Hallel (Pss 146–150) Conclusion Chapter III: Psalm 119 and the Theme of Torah Introduction 1. Part I: The Thematic Coherence of Ps 119 1.1 A Translation 1.2 Previous Studies on the Structure of Ps 119 1.2.1 Acrostic Based Structure 1.2.2 Structure Based on Other Considerations 1.3 The Eight Torah Terms and the Question of Structural Unity in Ps 119 1.4 The Thematic Structure of Ps 119 1.4.1 Stanza I (vv. 1–8): The Two Ways 1.4.2 Stanza II (vv. 9–16): The Dilemma of the Young Man’s Way 1.4.3 Summary: Stanzas I–II (vv. 1–16) as the Introduction to Psalm 119 1.4.4 Stanza III (vv. 17–24): YHWH’s Servant and his Adversaries 1.4.5 Stanza IV (vv. 25–32): The Choice of the Way of Torah 1.4.6 Stanza V (vv. 33–40): YHWH’s Instruction and the Psalmist’s Decision 1.4.7 Stanza VI (vv. 41–48): Covenant Faithfulness Despite Adversaries 1.4.8 Summary: The Coherence of Canto 2 (Stanzas III–VI) 1.4.9 Stanza VII (vv. 49–56): Remembrance of YHWH’s Faithfulness 1.4.10 Stanza VIII (vv. 57–64): The Return to YHWH’s Torah 1.4.11 Stanza IX (vv. 65–72): Confession of Error and Chastisement 1.4.12 Stanza X (vv. 73–80): YHWH’s Mercy and Justice 1.4.13 Stanza XI (vv. 81–88): Suffering and YHWH’s Faithfulness 1.4.14 Summary: The Coherence of Canto 3 (Stanzas VII–XI) 1.4.15 Stanza XII (vv. 89–96): The Stability of YHWH’s Torah 1.4.16 Stanza XIII (vv. 97–104): Primacy and Desirability of Torah 1.4.17 Stanza XIV (vv. 105–112): The Oath and the Verbal Sacrifice 1.4.18 Stanza XV (vv. 113–120): Rejection of Evil and Evildoers 1.4.19 Stanza XVI (vv. 121–128): Re-establishing Faithfulness to YHWH’s Covenant 1.4.20 Summary: The Coherence of Canto 4 (Stanzas XII–XVI) 1.4.21 The Relationship between Stanzas IX (vv. 65–72) and XIV (vv. 105–112) 1.4.22 Stanza XVII (vv. 129–136): Torah and YHWH’s Covenant Wonders 1.4.23 Stanza XVIII (vv. 137–144): YHWH’s Righteousness and his Just Torah 1.4.24 Stanza XIX (vv. 145–152): Cry to YHWH for Deliverance 1.4.25 Stanza XX (vv. 153–160): The Quintessence of Torah 1.4.26 Summary: The Coherence of Canto 5 (Stanzas XVII–XX) 1.4.27 Thematic Correspondences between Cantos 2 and 5 1.4.28 Stanza XXI (vv. 161–168): Peace and Praise for Torah Lovers 1.4.29 Stanza XXII (vv. 169–176): Praise of YHWH and the Straying of his Servant 1.4.30 Summary: The Coherence of Canto 6 (Stanzas XXI–XXII) 1.4.31 Thematic Correspondences between Cantos 1 and 6 1.4.32 A Résumé of the Thematic Movement in Ps 119 1.5 General Conclusory Observations on Ps 119 1.5.1 Wisdom in Psalm 119? 1.5.2 The Identity of the “Praying I” in Ps 119 1.5.3 The Psalmist as יתפ in Ps 119 1.5.4 The Adversaries in Ps 119 1.5.5 The Absence of the Term תירב in Ps 119 2. Part II: Ps 119 in the Context of the Fifth Book of the Psalter 2.1 Ps 119 and the Structure of the Fifth Book 2.1.1 Ps 119 and the Frame of the Fifth Book 2.1.2 Ps 119 and the Davidic Frame (Pss 108–110; 138–145) 2.1.3 Ps 119 and the two “Psalm pairs” (Pss 111–112; 135–136) 2.1.4 The Collocation of Ps 137 2.1.5 Ps 119 and the “Liturgical Psalms” (Pss 113–118; 120–134) Conclusion Chapter IV: Returning to Yhwh’s Torah General Conclusion General Conclusion 1. Synthesis of Findings 1.1 Pss 111 and 147 in the Context of the Fifth Book 1.2 The Thematic Coherence of Ps 119 and its Place in the Fifth Book 1.2.1 The Thematic Coherence of Ps 119 1.2.2 Ps 119 in the Fifth Book 1.3 “Converti pedes meos ad testimonia tua” (Ps 119,59) Symbols and Abbreviations Bibliography Index of Authors Subject Index Index of Selected Biblical References