“Returning” to the Hospitality of the Lord A Reconsideration of Psalm 23,5-6 How would the ancient Israelites have made sense of the metaphorical language about God as host in Ps 23,5-6? In this article, we demonstrate that Ps 23,5-6 should be read in light of the ancient custom of hospitality. In addition, we argue that English translations of Ps 23,6 should follow the Masoretic Text and read “I shall return to the house of the Lord” as opposed to the more traditional, “I shall dwell in the house of the Lord” (1), which appears to be based upon the Septuagint’s rendering of the text. 1. Ps 23 and the Problems with Ps 23,5-6 Ps 23 has prompted a variety of scholarly conversations. We will mention three. First, scholars have classified Ps 23 as a variety of forms. For instance, Ps 23 has been labeled a psalm of confidence or trust (2), a psalm of thanksgiving (3), and a royal psalm (4). Second, the structure of Ps 23 has been debated repeatedly. One of the primary questions has been: Does the “shepherd” metaphor control only a portion of Ps 23, or does it control the whole of Ps 23? As a result, scholars have argued that the “shepherd” metaphor dominates vv. 1-2 (5), 1-3 (6), 1-4 (7), or all of 1-6 (8). Finally, scholars have expressed diverse opinions about the original setting of Ps 23, which are generally supported using the imagery found in Ps 23,5-6. For instance, it has been argued that Ps 23,5-6 alludes to a liturgical, thanksgiving setting, which included a sacrificial banquet and which provides (1) See e.g., the KJV, NKJ, NAS, NIV, NRSV, and NJB translations of Psalm 23,6. (2) E.g., H. GUNKEL, Introduction to Psalms. The Genres of the Religious Lyric of Israel (Macon, GA 1998) 121, 191; D.N. FREEDMAN, “The Twenty-Third Psalm”, Michigan Oriental Studies in honor of George G. Cameron (ed. L.L. ORLIN) (Ann Arbor 1976) 139; A. DEISSLER, Die Psalmen (Düsseldorf 1984) 96; P.D. MILLER, Jr., Interpreting the Psalms (Philadelphia 1986) 112; and E.S. GERSTENBERGER, Psalms. Part 1 with an Introduction to Cultic Poetry (FOTL 14; Grand Rapids 1988) 113-115. (3) E.g., S. MOWINCKEL, The Psalms in Israel’s Worship (Nashville 1979) I, 125-126; E.A. LESLIE, The Psalms. Translated and Interpreted in the Light of Hebrew Life and Worship (New York 1949) 232; H-J. KRAUS, Psalms 1-59. A Commentary (Minneapolis 1988) 306; and K. SEYBOLD, Die Psalmen (HAT I/15; Tübingen 1996) 101. (4) E.g., J.L. MAYS, Psalms (Int; Louisville 1994) 117. (5) C.A. BRIGGS – E.G. BRIGGS, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Psalms (Edinburgh 1906) 207; and M.E. TATE, “Psalms”, Mercer Commentary on the Bible (ed. W.E. MILLS – R.F. WILSON) (Macon, GA 1995) 454. (6) E. VOGT, “The ‘Place in Life’ of Ps 23”, Bib 34 (1953) 195-196. (7) P.C. CRAIGIE, Psalms 1-50 (WBC 19; Waco 1983) 205; and J.L. CRENSHAW, The Psalms. An Introduction (Grand Rapids, MI 2001) 61. (8) E.g., J. MORGENSTERN, “Psalm 23”, JBL 65 (1946) 15-18; L. KÖHLER, “Psalm 23”, ZAW 68 (1956) 227-234; MAYS, Psalms, 116; and J.C. MCCANN, Jr. “The Book of Psalms: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections”, The New Interpreter’s Bible 4 (Nashville 1996) 767.