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

Chapter 4: Analysis of Psalms 3-8meaning to make a “low sound”; so Wolf 1999a:§468) 47 refers to deep innergroaning or murmuring, while שֶ‏ וַ‏ ע denotes “pleading, imploring, i.e., the act ofrequesting or asking for help as an urgent, intense request” (Swanson1997:§8776). 48Although several of the psalms in my corpus imply the kingship of Yahweh,only in 5:3 is he addressed as “my King” לְ‏ כִ‏ י)‏ ‏.(מַ‏ Elsewhere in the Psalter, he isaddressed as “my King” in 44:5, 68:25, 74:12 and 84:4. In each case, the‏.אֱ‏ ‏ֹלהִ‏ ים address is combined withHow the verb אֶ‏ ףֱ‏ שָ‏ ‏ְך (v. 4b) is understood is crucial to how the psalm isinterpreted. The ESV translates it “I prepare a sacrifice”, the NIV “I lay myrequests” and the NET “I will present my case”. ףָ‏ שַ‏ ‏ְך (75:7:1) primarily means“to put” or “to prepare”. The confusion in Psalm 5:4 arises because there is nostated direct object, leaving scope for interpreters to speculate about whetherthe implied object is a sacrifice or a defence. Craigie (1998:86) explains:47 Thompson (1996:§2052) indicates that there is still considerable doubt about the meaning‏.הָ‏ גִ‏ יג of48 Although שֶ‏ וַ‏ ע is a hapax, its cognate verb, וַ‏ ע ‏,שָ‏ occurs 21 times in the Masoretic Text (9 inthe Psalter), always with a connotation of intense, urgent pleas for help.126