"He remembered that they were but flesh, a breath that passes and does not return" (Ps 78, 39): The Theme of Memory and Forgetting in the Third Book of the Psalter

Description

Aimed at identifying the function of the aspects of remembering and forgetting in the Psalter, this opus seeks to offer a lexicographical synthesis of zkr and škḥ in the Psalter and an analysis of their function in Book III (Pss 73-89) and in Ps 78, text in which the notions of remembering and forgetting occupy a relevant role. By doing so, the detailed focus on a particular portion of the Book of Psalms makes it possible to highlight the importance of the theme of memory and that of forgetting in the whole Psalter, both from the point of view of the composition of its global message, and from the point of view of a focused re-reading of the traditions that have to do with the origins of Israel. For its readers the Psalter turns out to be a book about remembrance and for remembrance. Cover Table of Contents Acknowlegements Introduction 1. Area, method and aim of the present research 1.1 Area of research 1.2 Method of research 1.2.1 The Psalter as a book 1.2.2 Synchronic perspective, lectio continua and lectio ripetitiva 1.2.3 Method of the present research 1.3 Structure of the research 1.4 Aim of the research Chapter I: The lexemes זכר and שׁכח in the Psalter 1. זכר in the Psalter 1.1 זכר qal 1.2 זכר hi. 1.3 זכר niphil 2. שׁכח in the Psalter 2.1 שׁכח qal 3. Conclusions 3.1 Overall view 3.2 First glance at זכר and שׁכח in Book III Chapter II: Memory and Forgetting in the Third Book of the Psalter 1. The dramatics of Book III 1.1 Pss 73-83 1.1.1 Ps 73 1.1.2 Ps 74 1.1.3 Ps 75 1.1.4 Ps 76 1.1.5 Ps 77 1.1.6 Ps 78 1.1.7 Ps 79 1.1.8 Ps 80 1.1.9 Ps 81 1.1.10 Ps 82 1.1.11 Ps 83 1.1.12 Summary overview of Pss 73-83 1.2 Pss 84-89 1.2.1 Ps 84 1.2.2 Ps 85 1.2.3 Ps 86 1.2.4 Ps 87 1.2.5 Ps 88 1.2.6 Ps 89 1.2.7 Summary overview of Pss 84-89 1.3 Summary overview of Book III 1.3.1 The three sub-groups 1.3.2 The speakers in Book III 1.3.3 Conclusion 2. Memory in Book III 2.1 The frame: Pss 74; 88; 89 2.2 Ps 87,4 2.3 The core: Pss 77; 78; 79 2.4 Ps 83,5 2.5 Final summary Chapter III: Memory and Forgetting in Ps 78 1. Method and perspective of the analysis 1.1 Intertextuality and «inner-biblical interpretation/exegesis» 1.2 Peculiarity of Ps 78 1.3 Working decisions 2. Translation and critica textus 3. Structure and style 3.1 Syntactic elements 3.2 Significant occurrences of lexemes or syntagms 3.3 Stylistic elements 3.4 Two structural proposals: concentric and/or «parallel» 3.5 Conclusion 4. The role of the lexemes זכר and שׁכח 4.1 Memory in the introductory section (vv. 1-8 and 9-11) 4.2 Memory in the reflection of vv. 32-39 5. A paradigmatic rereading 5.1 The «ritornelli» (vv. 17.18.40.41.56) 5.2 The mystery of election (vv. 32-39.67-72) 6. Conclusion: memory in Ps 78 Conclusion: Memory and forgetting in Book III of the Psalter 1. Summary of the preceding analyses 2. The profile of memory in Book III 3. Memory as unifying factor of the third book 4. Conclusion Appendix A Tables for Chapter I Appendix B Tables for Chapter II Appendix C Lists of significant lexemes in Book III Appendix D Syntactical problems in Ps 78,1-8, and 9-12 1. Problems connected with the construction of the period 2. Referents of the lexemes בן ,אב e דור 3. Referents of some suffixes Appendix E Map of the lexemes of Ps 78 Abbreviations and sigla Bibliography