Biblical Hebrew Forum

["B. M. Rocine" <brocine AT twcny.rr.com>]

B-Haveray,

Why is it that Dahood's work on Psalms (Anchor, 1965!) is not impacting
recent translations, commentaries, lexicons?

For instance, he suggests the following for 1:1--

"...has not entered the council (`ecah) of the wicked,/ Nor in the assembly
(derek) of sinners stood,/ nor in the session (mow$ab) of scoffers sat."

He says `ecah can mean council as well as counsel.  That's easy enough to
take, right?

For derek, he points out a Ug. cognate drkt, meaning throne, and says that
Hb. derek can mean throne (or seat of power) in the Tanakh in passages such
as Ps 110:7 (and I might add Hos. 10:13, Pro 31:3, Ps 138:5, Jer 3:13, Ps
119:37).   The idea has barely snuck into HALOT.

He says mow$ab may have a political nuance as in Ps 107:32 (and I add Gen
36:43, 1 Ki 10:5, Job 29:7, Ps 132:13).

His suggestions totally change my perception of the psalm from the
traditional analysis as an exposition on *behavior* to an exposition on
*being in the correct place* (or study).   I think Dahood's analysis
presents a much more cohesive poem than we find in other English
translations.

I have not seen a hint of Dahood's ideas on 1:1 in one translation of or
commentary on Psalms since he went to press.  Once again, why?

Shalom,

Bryan


B. M. Rocine
Living Word Church
6101 Court St. Rd.
Syracuse, NY 13206

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