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Re: Psalm 8:2-3

From: Cindy Smith <cms AT dragon.com>
To: B-HEBREW AT FRANKLIN.OIT.UNC.EDU
Cc: cms AT dragon.com
Subject: Re: Psalm 8:2-3
Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2001 22:31:05 -0500

>From: MX%"daniel.hirschfield AT st-annes.oxford.ac.uk" "Daniel Hirschfield"
>28-JAN-2001 17:21:21.12
>To: MX%"b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu"
>Subj: Psalm 8.2-3

>From: "Daniel Hirschfield" <daniel.hirschfield AT st-annes.oxford.ac.uk>
>To: Biblical Hebrew <b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
>Subject: Psalm 8.2-3
>Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2001 19:46:01 -0000

>Dear List

>I am looking at the moment at the Psalter. It is widely known that Ps. =
>8.2 is a major crux. Does anyone have any novel solutions to this =
>problem and to the difficulty of the verse division? I'm interested in =
>both emendation and philological approaches.

Psalm 8:2 O LORD, our Lord,
how awesome is your name throughout the earth!
You have set our majesty aboe the heavens!

8:3 Out of the mouths of babes and infants
you have drawn a defense against your foes,
to silence enemy and avenger.

8:4 When I see your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and stars that you set in place --

8:5 What are humans that you are mindful of them,
mere mortals that you care for them?

The NAB notes on this say:

8:3 Babes and infants: the text is obscure. Some join
this line to the last line of 2 (itself obscure) to read:

"(you) whose majesty is exalted above the heavens/ by the
mouths of babes and infants." Drawn a defense: some prefer
the Septuagint's "fashioned praise," which is quoted in
Matthew 21:16. Enemy and avenger: probably cosmic enemies.
The primeval powers of watery chaos are often personified
in poetic texts (Pss 74, 13-14; 89, 11; Jb 9, 13; 26, 12-13;
Is 51:9).

The idea may be that the existence of babes and infants is just as
miraculous as God's battle with and overthrow of the cosmic enemies of
chaos. It was necessary for God to battle and overthrow these beings
before creating the universe. Every human being is a creation far
superior to these chaotic enemies of God.

>Yours

>D. C. Hirschfield

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<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Dear List</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>I am looking at the moment at the Psalter. It is =
widely known=20
that Ps. 8.2 is a major crux. Does anyone have any novel solutions to =
this=20
problem and to the difficulty of the verse division? I'm interested in =
both=20
emendation and philological approaches.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Yours</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>D. C. Hirschfield<BR></FONT></DIV>
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Cindy Smith Spawn of a Jewish Carpenter
GO AGAINST THE FLOW! \\ _\\\_ _///_ // A Real Live Catholic in Georgia
cms AT dragon.com >IXOYE=('> <`)= _<< "Delay not your conversion
cms AT romancatholic.org// /// \\\ \\ to the LORD, Put it not off
cms AT 5sc.net from day to day" Ecclus/Sira 5:8

--=_5mVq2Gnjj6lR+W6QhD//T_,ydNKBV(BGYQ.5R:V+dbH5j5F-(?--

Cindy Smith Spawn of a Jewish Carpenter
GO AGAINST THE FLOW! \\ _\\\_ _///_ // A Real Live Catholic in Georgia
cms AT dragon.com >IXOYE=('> <`)= _<< "Delay not your conversion
cms AT romancatholic.org// /// \\\ \\ to the LORD, Put it not off
cms AT 5sc.net from day to day" Ecclus/Sira 5:8

Re: Psalm 8:2-3, Cindy Smith, 01/28/2001