Gert T.M. Prinsloo, «The Role of Space in the twl(mh yry#$ (Psalms 120–134)», Vol. 86 (2005) 457-477
This study reads the Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120–134) from the perspective of the
concept of "space" and argues that they form as a single, interrelated unit that tells a
meaningful "story". By applying the principles of "critical spatiality" the spatial
orientation of each poem is analysed. The conclusion is reached that the poems can
be grouped together in five triads of three poems each. By mapping "space" and
relating it to the content of the poems in the context of Book V of the Psalter, the
"story" of these poems can be discerned. It is a meaningful story with a sad beginning
but a happy end. The happy end resides especially in the expectation that YHWH
"ascends" with his people towards the eschathological and Messianic future.
The Role of Space in the twl[mh 475
yryv
member of the “tribes of Yah†(122,4). His eyes are expectantly upon
YHWH as the “eyes of servants†and the “eyes of a maid†upon their
owners (123,2). He identifies with those who “trust in YHWHâ€
(125,1). He is one of the “righteous†(125,3), one of those “who are
good†and “upright in their heart†(125,4). He “fears YHWH†(128,4).
His “heart is not proud†nor his “eyes haughty†(131,1). He is one of
the “poor†who expects “food†from YHWH (132,15), one of the
“saints†of Jerusalem who will “ever sing for joy†(132,16). In short,
he is one of the “servants of YHWH†(134,1).
A second hint is the preoccupation of the poet (s) with two kinds
of space (66). On the one hand the focus is upon Jerusalem/Zion/the
house of Yahweh (cf. 122,1.2.3.9; 125,1.2; 126,1; 128,5; 129,5;
132,5.7.8.13.14; 133,3; 134,1-3) (67). Linked to that is the focus on Israel
as the people that belong to Yahweh and in Jerusalem in a very special
sense (121,4; 122,4; 124,4; 125,5; 128,6; 129,1; 130,7.8; 131,3). A third
characteristic is the explicit mentioning of David, either in the
superscript to the psalms (122,1; 124,1; 127,1; 131,1; 133,1) or in the
case of Psalms 122 and 132 in the poem itself (122,5; 132,1.10.11.17)(68).
Thus the poems are concerned with Israel as a political and religious
entity whose true destination is to be found in Jerusalem, the centre of
political and religious authority, the centre of the universe.
On the other hand the poems describe private space (69). It ranges
from extremely negative, an experience of being in exile (120), to
extremely positive, an experience of being safe in the arms of YHWH
(131). Noteworthy is the focus on private space in the heart of the
collection (126–128). There, surrounded by the protective arms of
YHWH, the “little people†find pleasure in going about their daily
business of sowing and reaping (126), building houses and raising
families (127) and enjoying the fruit of their labour (128), expecting
deliverance and the coming of the new David and the Messianic
kingdom (132).
None of these terms are innocent. Scholars working in the field
of the redaction of the Psalter have shown that Book V is “concerned
with the restoration of Israel after the exile and has a distinctly
(66) ZENGER, “Zion als Ortâ€, 110-111.
(67) GOULDER, Psalms of the return, 112; HUNTER, Psalms, 229.
(68) DE LIAGRE BÖHL – GEMSER, Psalmen, 172.
(69) HUNTER, Psalms, 230 remarks that the focus on the “domestic realm of
family and farm†is “scarcely paralleled elsewhere in the Psalterâ€.