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

Chapter 4: Analysis of Psalms 3-8confirmed by the Septuagint’s ἐθαυμάστωσεν and the Vulgate’s mirificavit.Craigie offers the following discussion and evaluation of the problem:Numerous Heb. MSS, including C, and the principal versions,suggest that הץלה “set aside” should be read as הץלא “bewonderful”; if this reading were accepted, together with changing“his love to me” (following Ps נסדו לי “the godly to him” to חסיד לו31:22), the clause could be translated: “the Lord has shown tome his wondrous love.” But MT makes good sense as it stands,and it is unnecessary to follow these possible textual changes.Due to the difficulty this variant poses, the study will consider both readings aspossibilities when seeking possible links between psalms. I shall retain thereading of the Masoretic Text, ץְ‏ לָ‏ ה ‏,הִ‏ as the primary reading, but consider theimplications if the editors had a text that read הִ‏ ץְ‏ לָ‏ א instead.There is Greek, Syriac and some Hebrew manuscript evidence suggestingthat the copula וְ‏ in verse 5b belongs on ףַ‏ ל instead of on ‏.דֹמּו Craigie (1998:79)argues, justifiably it seems, that the poetic balance of the verse leans towardsthe variant reading being original.אִ‏ מְ‏ שּו בִִ֭‏ לְ‏ בַ‏ בְ‏ כֶ‏ ם ףַ‏ ל־מִ‏ שְ‏ כַ‏ בְ‏ כֶ‏ ם Textוְ‏ דֹמּוmeditate in your heart upon your bed,and be still106