Difference between revisions of "Psalm 29: Hashem's Voice/2"
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<p>The psalm reflects the fearsome atmosphere of the events surrounding the Revelation at Sinai.</p> | <p>The psalm reflects the fearsome atmosphere of the events surrounding the Revelation at Sinai.</p> | ||
<mekorot><multilink><a href="MekhiltaDeRashbiShemot19-16" data-aht="source">Mekhilta DeRashbi Shemot</a><a href="MekhiltaDeRashbiShemot19-16" data-aht="source">19:16</a><a href="Mekhilta DeRashbi Shemot" data-aht="parshan">About Mekhilta DeRashbi Shemot</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RashiTehillim29-3-11" data-aht="source">Rashi</a><a href="RashiTehillim29-3-11" data-aht="source">Tehillim 29:3-11</a><a href="R. Shelomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</a></multilink>, opinion in <multilink><a href="RadakTehillim29" data-aht="source">Radak</a><a href="RadakTehillim29" data-aht="source">Tehillim 29</a><a href="R. David Kimchi (Radak)" data-aht="parshan">About R. David Kimchi</a></multilink></mekorot> | <mekorot><multilink><a href="MekhiltaDeRashbiShemot19-16" data-aht="source">Mekhilta DeRashbi Shemot</a><a href="MekhiltaDeRashbiShemot19-16" data-aht="source">19:16</a><a href="Mekhilta DeRashbi Shemot" data-aht="parshan">About Mekhilta DeRashbi Shemot</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RashiTehillim29-3-11" data-aht="source">Rashi</a><a href="RashiTehillim29-3-11" data-aht="source">Tehillim 29:3-11</a><a href="R. Shelomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</a></multilink>, opinion in <multilink><a href="RadakTehillim29" data-aht="source">Radak</a><a href="RadakTehillim29" data-aht="source">Tehillim 29</a><a href="R. David Kimchi (Radak)" data-aht="parshan">About R. David Kimchi</a></multilink></mekorot> | ||
| − | <point><b> | + | <point><b>Parallel descriptions</b></point> |
| − | <point><b>Hashem's voice</b></point> | + | <point><b>"Upon the waters"</b> – According to Rashi the presence of God in the waters refers not to His bringing of a storm but to the supernatural crossing of the Sea of Reeds.</point> |
| + | <point><b>Hashem's voice</b> – The emphasis on Hashem's voice throughout the psalm might reflect the importance of sound (rather than visuals) during revelation. Throughout Devarim 4, Hashem emphasizes how at Sinai, the people heard Hashem's voice but did not see His image.<fn>See Devarim 4:12, 15, 33 and 36.</fn> Thus, here, too in describing the event, the focus is on God's voice.</point> | ||
<point><b>Fear</b></point> | <point><b>Fear</b></point> | ||
| − | <point><b>Hewing fire</b></point> | + | <point><b>Hewing fire</b> – Rashi and the Midrash suggest that this describes the hewing of the Tablets with Divine fire</point> |
<point><b>Midbar Kadesh</b></point> | <point><b>Midbar Kadesh</b></point> | ||
<point><b>Mention of Flood</b></point> | <point><b>Mention of Flood</b></point> | ||
Version as of 03:05, 7 November 2023
Psalm 29: Hashem's Voice
Exegetical Approaches
Fierceness of God in Nature
The psalm highlights God's fierce and awesome power as evidenced by His controlling of natural phenomena.
Historical event?
Revelation at Sinai
The psalm reflects the fearsome atmosphere of the events surrounding the Revelation at Sinai.
Parallel descriptions
"Upon the waters" – According to Rashi the presence of God in the waters refers not to His bringing of a storm but to the supernatural crossing of the Sea of Reeds.
Hashem's voice – The emphasis on Hashem's voice throughout the psalm might reflect the importance of sound (rather than visuals) during revelation. Throughout Devarim 4, Hashem emphasizes how at Sinai, the people heard Hashem's voice but did not see His image.1 Thus, here, too in describing the event, the focus is on God's voice.
Fear
Hewing fire – Rashi and the Midrash suggest that this describes the hewing of the Tablets with Divine fire
Midbar Kadesh
Mention of Flood
Parallel descriptions
Victory Over Enemies
The images of the psalm are metaphors for the defeat of Israel's enemies, or perhaps a literal description of the demise of the nation's adversaries via some natural disaster.
Historical Overview: Punishment and Restoration
The psalm metaphorically describes a historical pattern of deterioration from an ideal state, necessitating punishment and a revised ideal, itself doomed to failure. Only in Messianic times will the original ideal state be restored.
Sources:Sforno
