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

Chapter 4: Analysis of Psalms 3-8power of their words, “but more forcefully (in a hot climate) an abominablestench; in the pure air of morality, then-words [sic] created an unbearablesmell” (Craigie 1998:88). (d) “They flatter with their tongue” (v. 10d). The‏,חָ‏ לַ‏ ר picture of their deceitfulness is completed with the word “flatter” (Hiphil of65:7:1), which pictures them seducing unsuspecting victims with smooth 52words.The psalmist concludes his descriptions of the wicked in verse 11 with threemore terms depicting them as schemers ‏,מוףֵ‏ קָ‏ ה)‏ 7:2:1, v. 11b), transgressorsפֶ‏ שַ‏ ע 44:10:1, v. 11d). The terms ‏,מָ‏ שָ‏ ה)‏ 93:14:1, v. 11c) and rebels ‏,פֶ‏ שַ‏ ע (fromand מָ‏ שָ‏ ה focus on disobedience to God’s commands and rebellion against hisauthority (see Swanson 1997:§5286 and §7322).Terminology indicating God’s attitude towards the wicked and his treatment ofthem is also a feature of the psalm. The second strophe (vv. 5-7) contains sixterms representing Yahweh’s relationship to the wicked, grouped in threebicola. (a) Since Yahweh does not “delight” ‏,חֵ‏ ץֶ‏ צ)‏ 13:7:1; v. 5a) in wickedness,the wicked man cannot “dwell” ‏,ּגּוש)‏ 82:6:1; v. 5b) with him. The verb ‏ּגּוש refersto temporarily dwelling with someone as a visitor or foreigner, in contrast to52 In the Qal stem, חָ‏ לַ‏ ר means “smooth”, and is sometimes used with reference to smooth,deceitful words. The Hifil seems to intensify this meaning.130