Historical Setting of Tehillim 118/2
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
This topic has not yet undergone editorial review
The Historical Setting of Tehillim 118
Exegetical Approaches
Coronation of David
יֹאמַר נָא יִשְׂרָאֵל, בֵית אַהֲרֹן, יִרְאֵי י"י – According to Radak, after David was kinged, he called on all of Israel to thank Hashem for his anointment, singling out individual groups which would have specific cause for gratitude:
- He tells Israel at large that they should be thankful for he will help them defeat their enemies.
- The priests should be grateful that he was replacing Shaul who had killed off the priests of Nov.
- The righteous too have reason to praise Hashem, as his reign was to usher in a period pf peace which would give them time to study.
"מִן הַמֵּצַר קָרָאתִי" – David recalls how he had been forced to flee from Shaul and hide in narrow straits, and thanks Hashem for saving him.
"כׇּל גּוֹיִם סְבָבוּנִי " – In these words David shifts from speaking about internal enemies to external enemies, the Philistine who tried to harm him when he went Achish and the Amalekites who attacked Ziklag. He praises Hashem for helping him from falling before these enemies.
"לֹא אָמוּת כִּי אֶחְיֶה" – David now speaks about all his travalis together, thanking Hashem that none of his enemies were successful in actually killing him, allowinghim to now praise Hashem and share the wonders He did with david.
יַסֹּר יִסְּרַנִּי יָּהּ – David view his suffering as Hashem's means of cleansing him from sin
פתחו לי שערי צדק
Laymen Bringing a Thanksgiving Offering
Sources:Rashbam, Netiv Binah, Daat Mikra
