It is You who know my reproach, and my shame and disgrace before all my foes. Psalm 69:20 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Reproach – “In a White House eager to distance itself from allegations of nepotism, corruption and grifting, Hunter Biden is the problem that simply won’t go away.”[1] We’re not so familiar with the word “reproach,”…
Come near me, redeem me. Because of my enemies, ransom me. Psalm 69:19 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Ransom – Let’s examine the implicit paradigm in this verse. Remember that the true role of the exegete is to interpret the text according to the thought patterns of the original audience and author. That means making crystal…
And hide not Your face from Your servant, for I am in straits. Hurry, answer me. Psalm 69:18 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Hurry – First we need to clear up an English rendering of צָרַר tsarar. Alter’s choice doesn’t fit the topography of Israel. The English “strait” is usually associated with a narrow body of…
Answer me, LORD, for Your kindness is good, in Your great compassion turn to me. Psalm 69:17 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Great compassion – God cares. If we learn nothing else from Scripture, this is enough. We might not know how He demonstrates that care. We may think He has forgotten all about us. We…
Let the waters’ current not sweep me away and let not the deep swallow me and let the Pit not close its mouth on me. Psalm 69:16 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter The Pit – Think of Beersheba. The well of seven. bĕʾēr, the Hebrew word for well or pit, is used in Genesis 16:14 in…
Save me from the mire, that I not drown. Let me be saved from my foes and from the watery depths. Let the waters’ current not sweep me away and let not the deep swallow me. Psalm 69:15-16a [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Save me – Back to the beginning. The metaphor of drowning is still…
But I—may my prayer to You, O LORD, come in a favorable hour. God, as befits Your great kindness, answer me with Your steadfast rescue. Psalm 69:14 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter But I – Most English Bibles gloss this Hebrew word, rendering it as “but as for me.” However, Alter correctly catches the hesitation, the…
And in fasting I wept for my being—it became a reproach for me. I made sackcloth my garment and became for them a byword. I was the talk of those who sit in the gate, the drunkards’ taunting song. Psalm 69:11-13 [Hebrew] Robert Alter Wept for my being – You will remember Alter’s comment that…
For the zeal of Your house has consumed me, the reproach of Your reproachers has fallen on me. Psalm 69:10 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Consumed – Do you know what necrotizing fasciitis is? It’s flesh-eating disease. I am reminded of this terrible condition when I read the Hebrew term used here, ʾakal. This Hebrew word…
Because for You I have borne reproach, disgrace has covered my face. Psalm 69:8 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Because for You – David makes an astounding claim, a claim that hardly seems accurate. He says that the damage to his reputation is due to his upholding God’s name. Has he forgotten his sins? How can…
