Biblical Hebrew Forum

[ben.crick AT argonet.co.uk (Ben and Jo Crick)]

On Sun 16 Feb 2003 (15:54:54), yigal-levin AT utc.edu wrote:
> There was no reference to the origin of this midrash, and I don't think
> it historically possible, but it's a nice idea - COULD that have been
> the intention of the composer? What think y'all?
>
 IMHO the /Sitz im Leben/ of Psalm 110 is a Coronation Ode for Solomon by
 his father David (1 Kings 1). IOW, it is an Enthronement Psalm. See H 
Bentzen,
 /King and Messiah/, p22f. The Psalm provides a liturgical text for the
 Enthronement of Solomon, at which the principal ministers were Zadok the
 Priest and Nathan the Prophet, assisted by the aged David himself.

 Verse 1: The Enthronement
 Verse 2: The Investiture with the Sceptre
 Verse 3: The Acclamation by the People
 Verse 4: The Ordination of the king as a Royal Priest (of Melchizedek)
 Verses 5-6: The Promise of Victory over Enemies
 Verse 7: The sacramental Cup from the Holy Spring of Gihon by the Water Gate

 Nathan provided the Prophetic input N:'uM YHWH, Ni$:Ba` YHWH, vv 1 and 4.
 The Oracle was for Solomon to "sit on the throne"; and the Oath of YHWH was
 that of 2 Samuel 7:4-17, 1 Chronicles 22:8-10 and Psalm 89:3-4.

 Zadok provided the Priestly input. He was son of Ahitub the grandson of Eli
 of Shiloh; his very name emphasized the need for Solomon to be MaL:KiY-CeDeK.

 David provided the Royal Priestly input. Jebus was the seat of the kingdom
 of Melchizedek, priest of the Most High God (Genesis 14:15ff). Later (Joshua
 10:1ff) there was a king of Jebus called Adonizedek, virtually the same name.
 Later still David conquered the stronghold of Jebus (2 Samuel 5:7), and took
 over the Royal Priesthood of the king of Jebus, making two of his own sons
 KoH:NiYM, "priests" (2 Samuel 8:18). This is a valid non-Levitical priesthood
 (Hebrews 6:20ff). It doesn't say if Solomon was one of the two sons of David
 thus designated Priests; but Psalm 110 would indicate that he is. Was
 Adonijah, or was Absalom, the other?

 David also wrote the Coronation Anthem (compare Handel's /Zadok the Priest/)
 namely Psalm 110 - with a little help from HaM:NaCCe`aX, the Choirmaster.

 Jesus of Nazareth asked the same question about Psalm 110 in Matthew 22:41-46
 and parallels. The Pharisees to whom he put this question had to admit that
 they did not know; or they would not say. Jesus is implying in the Christian
 "midrash" that He is the son of David, and also David's Lord: thus solving 
the
 riddle for those who will accept it.

 No other solution seems to be on offer.

 Shalom
 Ben
-- 
 Revd Ben Crick BA CF, and Mrs Joanna (Goodwin) Crick
 <ben.crick AT argonet.co.uk>
 232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
 http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm