Smith DTh Thesis (final).pdf - South African Theological Seminary

Chapter 4: Analysis of Psalms 3-8perfect of ‏,שָ‏ בַ‏ ש 147:21:1, v. 8c) their teeth. 32 The verb נָ‏ כָ‏ ה “is often used for‘hitting’ or ‘smiting’ an object with one, non-fatal blow” (Wilson 1999:578; cf.Van Dam 1996:§5782; admittedly, in many instances, it does depict a fatalstrike, see HALOT 1999:697). Thus, striking an enemy on the jaw speaks ofhumiliating him. Breaking someone’s teeth is an idiom meaning “to rob him ofhis power” (Austel 1999:943). According to Wilson (2002:134), the plea forGod “to break the teeth” of the wicked is a plea for him to end the inhumanetreatment of the righteous by the wicked. It portrays the wicked as violentpredators (cf. Job 29:17, Ps 58:3-9, Prov 17:10-12 and 30:14) and God as theone who disarms them to protect the innocent from becoming their prey. Theimage of verse 8 does not portray God as a warrior wildly slaying enemies inhand-to-hand combat, but as an all-powerful military Judge-General whoeasily disarms and humiliates violent, wicked enemies (cf. Sarna 1992).Although some render the perfect tense verbs הִ‏ כִ‏ יתָ‏ and ָ שִ‏ בַ‏ שְ‏ as imperatives(e.g., NIV) or hortatory subjunctives (e.g., Craigie 1998:70), the force of theperfects seems to be that the Lord has done this previously, which serves asthe basis for the psalmist’s pleas in verse 8 (i.e., “Arise, O Lord; save me, O32 The violent language of verse 8 has been the focus of much debate. Sarna (1992) sees itas a legal incantation—the king is pleading with God to inflict a humiliating defeat on theenemy.102