Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Steve Miller" <smille10 AT sbcglobal.net>]

Is the title of Psalm 30: A psalm, a Song at Dedication of the house of
David, 

Or: A Psalm of David, a Song at the Dedication of the Temple.

מִזְמֹור שִׁיר־חֲנֻכַּת הַבַּיִת לְדָוִֽד׃

 

Some things to consider:

 

1.      In the psalm title, the word house has the definite article, and the
name “David” is prefixed by the preposition lamed. There are many instances
of “house of <name>” in the OT, but there is only one such instance where
house has the definite article. 2 Kings 5:9. This is also the only case I
found of “house of <name>” where <name> is prefixed by lamed. (Not counting
“built house for <name>” where the prefix lamed on <name> relates the verb
“built” to <name>, not “house” to <name>. 2 Sam 5:11)
2 Kings 5:9 וַיָּבֹא נַעֲמָן [בְּסוּסֹו כ] (בְּסוּסָיו ק) וּבְרִכְבֹּו
וַיַּעֲמֹד פֶּֽתַח־הַבַּיִת לֶאֱלִישָֽׁע׃

 

2.      “Of David” is separated from “A Psalm”. In all the psalms the author
is never separated from the various words for psalm: mizmor, shigaion,
tefilah, michtam. However if the word “Song” is used for the psalm without
one of the other psalm words, the author is separated from “song” (Ps. 46,
122, 124, 127, 131, 133)


3.      Which understanding does the content of Psalm 30 support? The temple
was not yet built, but it could refer to dedicating the site of Ornan’s
threshing floor.

 

I will try to tabulate and summarize all answers. Thanks in advance,

-Steve Miller

Detroit