Today’s Word
Punitive Damages
Add guilt upon their guilt, and let them have no part in Your bounty. Psalm 69:28 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Guilt – In order to understand the ramifications of this Hebrew word—ʿāwōn—we need to read the explanation provided by Schultz: We note in the first place that the noun is a collective. Thus God says…
In Remembrance
For You—whom You struck they pursued, and they recounted the pain of Your victims. Psalm 69:27 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Recounted – Think about the implications here. First, the “victims” are God’s victims. God is the One who caused the initial pain. And God is the One with whom you must deal. The enemies are…
Down and Out
For You—whom You struck they pursued, and they recounted the pain of Your victims. Psalm 69:27 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Whom You struck – When did God strike you? The verb is nākâ, used some 500 times in the Tanakh, often for physical injury or even death. But that’s not the way it’s used here. …
Walk Among the Tombstones
May their encampment be laid waste, and in their tents may no one dwell. Psalm 69:26 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter No one dwell – Enough already! David’s already cursed them. He’s already wished them trapped, blind, and feeble. He’s elicited the storm God to scorch them with hot lava. Why keep the curses going? Ah,…
The Storm God
May their table before them become a trap, and their allies a snare. May their eyes grow too dark to see, make their loins perpetually shake. Pour out upon them Your wrath, and Your blazing fury overtake them. Psalm 69:23-25 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Wrath – Here are your choices: wrath, fury, indignation, anger, judgment,…
What Is That?
They gave for my nourishment wormwood, and for my thirst they made me drink vinegar. Psalm 69:22 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Wormwood – I’m guessing that you have no idea what “wormwood” is. And I’ll bet you’re no better informed about “gall,” the other English translation. But I’m pretty sure you’ve heard the verse before…
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