Psalm 67: Blessing, Harvest and History: Talstra and Bosma

                               Calvin Theological Journal 36 (2001): 290-313

                 Copyright © 2001 by Calvin Theological Seminary, cited with permission;

                                   digitally prepared for use at Gordon College]  

 

 

        Psalm 67: Blessing, Harvest and History1

         A Proposal for Exegetical Methodology

 

 

                                    Eep Talstra and Carl J. Bosma

 

 

            In the Old Testament documents there are a number of references or allu-

sions to the Aaronic blessing in Numbers 6:24-26. One can therefore conclude

that the priestly blessing plays a significant role in Old Testament literature

generally. However, echoes of this blessing are especially frequent in the book

of Psalms.2

            The obvious cross-references to Numbers 6:24-26 in the Psalter confirm the

cultic setting of the words of the blessing as is clear from the formulation of the

priestly task in Numbers 6. However, one should note an important difference

between psalms that allude to Numbers 6:24-26 and the text of Numbers 6:24-26

itself. Numbers 6:22-27 clearly distinguishes between the words to be spoken by

the priests (Num. 6:24-26) and the act of blessing itself, which is to be performed

by Yahweh. Shortly after the blessing formula is given, the text adds in verse 273:

            “Thus they [i.e. the priests] will put my

            Name on the sons of Israel,             LxerAWyi yneB;-lfa ymiw;-tx, UmWAv;

            but I am the one who will bless them."                                     :MkerEbAxE  ynixEv;

 

But the same clear distinction of responsibilities cannot be found in echoing

the language of the Psalms. That fact may make the reader cautious. With every

psalmic text that refers to Numbers 6:24-26, one faces the question of how the

echoes of the priestly benediction are to be understood. Are they to be taken

as a wish, a confident statement of fact (either past or present), a prayer, an

intention, an obligation--which?

 

            1 The authors thank Professor Emeritus John H. Stek for reading the manuscript and

for helping with matters of English style.

            2 For the request for and promise of a divine blessing see: Pss 3:8[9]; 5:12[13]; 28:9;

29:11; 109:28; 115:12-13, 15; 128:5 (hvAhya j~k;r,bAy;); 129:8; 134:3 (hvAhy; j~k;r,bAy;); etc. For the

request for and promise of divine protection see: Pss 12:7[8]; 16:1; 17:8; 25:20; 34:22; 37:28;

41:3; 86:2; 97:10; 116:6; 121:3,5, 7 (j~r;mAw;yi) and 8; 141:5; 145:20 and 146:9. For the

manifestation of the Lord's radiant countenance see: Pss 4:6[7]; 31:16[17]; 67:1[2]; 80:3[4],

7[8], 19[20]; 119:135; etc. For the request for grace and favor see: Pss 4:1[2]; 6:2[3]; 25:16;

31:9[10]10; 41:4[5],10[11]; 51:1[3].; 56:1[2]; 57:1[2]; 86:3; 119:58. For peace (MOlWA) see:

Pss 125:5 and 128:6.

            3 Cf. P.A H. De Boer, "Numbers VI 27," Vetus Testamentum 32 (1982): 3-13.

                                                            290

                        PSALM 67: BLESSING, HARVEST, AND HISTORY      291

 

            All these options are reflected in the treatment of Psalm 67 in commentaries

and translations. This psalm contains the strongest parallels to the sacerdotal

benediction in the Psalter. Verse 2 uses three (out of six) key verbs from

Numbers 6:24-26, but, as the following synoptic comparison shows, presents

them in a slightly different order:

 

            Psalm 67:2                                                     Numbers 6:24-25

                        Unn.HAy Myfilox< a              

                                    Unker;bAyvi b              hvAhy; j~k;r,bAy;  24a

                                                                                                . . .

                        UnTAxi vynAPA rxeyA c                             j~l,xe vynAPA hvAhy; rxeyA 25a

                                                                                                        j~n.,Huyvi b

God, may he be gracious to us                     May Yahweh bless you. . .

and bless us;                                                   May Yahweh cause his face to shine

may he make his face shine towards                        to you

us.                                                                   and may he be gracious to you.

 

Moreover, verses 7b-8a also repeat the key verb Unker;bAy; from verse 2b, but, as

will be demonstrated, interpreters and translators do not agree about the trans-

lation of this yiqtol (=imperfect) verb.4

The setting reflected in Psalm 67 may indeed be the temple cult, but, unlike

the blessing proper in Numbers 6:24-26, the words of blessing in verses 2, 7b-8a

are not on the lips of the priest(s) pronouncing blessing on the people.

Instead, the speaker is identified with the recipients of the blessing and prays

on their behalf: "May God bless us." Moreover, the context refers to "all the

nations" (v. 3b) and "all the peoples" (vv. 4b, 6b) and speaks of the land and its

harvest (v. 7a).

From the exegetical literature on Psalm 67, one can readily discern two

interrelated basic questions that a translator and exegete face here: First, in

what mood are the pertinent clauses of this psalm speaking?5 Second, how does

one combine the different expressions: Is it a prayer for a blessing for Israel,6

 

4 Frank Crusemann, Studien zur Formgeschichte von Hymnus und Danklied in

Israel, WMANT, 32 (Neukirchen: Neukirchener Verlag, 1969), 200; Hans-Joachim Kraus,

Psalms 60-150: A Continental Commentary, trans. Hilton C. Oswald (Minneapolis:

Fortress, 1993), 40.

5 Cf., Marvin E. Tate, Psalms 51-100, WBC 20 (Dallas: Word, 1990), 154-55;

Beat Weber, "Psalm LXVII: Anmerkungen zum Text selbst und zur Smilie von W.

Beyerlin," Vetus Testamentum 43 (1993): 561.

6 Kraus, Psalms 60-150, 40. Cf.J. Ridderbos, De Psalmen: Vertaald en Verklaard,

14 Psalm 42-106, COT (Kampen: Kok, 1958), 177-78; A A Anderson, The Book of

Psalms, I, Psalms 1-72, NCeB (London: Oliphants, 1972),479,480; Tate, Psalms 51-100,

155; Craig C. Broyles, Psalms, New International Biblical Commentary (Peabody:

Hendrickson, 1999), 277; etc.

 

292                 CALVIN THEOLOGICAL JOURNAL

 

an open invitation to the nations to join the songs of praise,7 or a communal

hymn of thanksgiving for the blessing of a good harvest?8 A survey of modern

translations shows great variation in the answers given.

To address these basic issues, we will first present the Hebrew text of the

psalm with a translation and grammatical observations. Then we will review

representative translations of vv. 2, 7, and 8. These translations will be the start-

ing point for further linguistic and exegetical analysis, undertaken to find inter-

pretive controls in the text itself. Thereafter, related exegetical and theological

matters will come under consideration.

 

1. Hebrew Text and Translations

1.1. Hebrew Text of Psalm 67, Translation, and Grammatical

Observations

Clause Type9

and “Actors"                         Translation                                       Text

nonverbal                  To the choir leader. With strings.  tnoygin;Bi Hcenam;la   Ps 67:1a

A Psalm. A hymn.                              :rywi rOmz;mi    Ps 67:1b

3 sg. masc. + 1 pl. suf.

X-yiqtol                      God, may he show mercy to us,       Unn.eHAy; Myhilox<       Ps 67:2a

we-yiqtol                    and may he bless us.              Unker;bAyvi            Ps 67:2b

O-yiqtol                     May he make his face shine upon us UnTAxi vynApA rxeyA Ps 67:2c

("Sela")                                                                  :hlAs,  Ps 67:2d

 

7 N. A. van Uchelen, Psalmen, deel II; POT (Nijkerk: Callen bach, 1977), 184. Cf.

Generale Synode der Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk, Klare Wijn. Reklenschap over

geschiedenis, geheim en gezag van de Bijbel's (Gravenhage: Boekencentrum, 1967),

93 (English translation: The Bible Speaks Again: A Guide from Holland, Commissioned

by the Netherlands Reformed Church, trans. Annebeth Mackie [Minneapolis: Augsburg,

1969], 78).

8 Hermann Gunkel, Die Psalmen,4 HKAT (GOttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht,

1926), 280. Cf., Rudolf Kittel, Die Psalmen: Ubersetzt und erklart (Leipzig: A Deichertsche

Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1914), 247 (Erntedanklied); Elmer A Leslie, Psalms: Translated and

 Interpreted in the Light of Hebrew Life and Worship (Nashville: Abingdon-Cokesbury

Press, 1949), 111; William R Taylor, 'The Book of Psalms," in Interpreter's Bible (Nashville:

Abingdon Press, 1955),4:349; Petrus Johannes Nicolaas Smal, Die Universalisme in die

Psalms (Kampen: Kok, 1956), 107; Artur Weiser, The Psalms: A Commentary, OTL,

trans. Herbert Hartwell (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1962), 472; Sigmund Mowinckel, The

Psalms in Israel's Worship, trans. D. R. Ap-Thomas (Nashville: Abingdon, 1962), 1:185;

2:20 ("with a prayer for the future" [67.2]); Leopold Sabourin, The Psalms: Their Origin

and Meaning (Staten Island: Alba House, 1969), 2:195; Franz Marius Theodore de Liagre

Bohl and B. Gemser, De Psalmen:

Teksten Uitleg (Nijkerk: Uitgeverij G. F. Callenbach, 1969), 112; J. P. M. van der Ploeg,

Psalmen: uit de grondtekst vertaald en uitgelegd (Roermond: J. J. Romen &

Zonen, 1971), 1:385; etc.

9 For the abbreviations of the various clause types consult the following key:

X-yiqtol: Subject-yiqtol               W-X-yiqtol: v-subject-yiqtol

O-yiqtol: yiqtol on front position Cj.-yiqtol: any conjunction -yiqtol

X-Qatal: Subject -qatal

 

                        PSALM 67: BLESSING, HARVEST, AND HISTORY      293

 

3 plur. + 2 sg. masc. suf.

   l +inf cstr | so that your way is known

on earth,                                          j~K,r;r.a Cr,xABA tfadalA  Ps 67:3a

   elliptic         | (your salvation among all

the nations.                                       :j~t,fAUwy; MyiOG-lkAB;  Ps 67:3b

3 plur. + 2 sg. masc. suI.

   O-yiqtol Let the peoples praise you, God!           Myhilox< Mym>ifa j~UdOy Ps 67:4a

   O-yiqtol Let all the peoples praise you!     :Ml.AKu Mym.ifa j~UdOy Ps 67:4b

 

3 plur. + 2 sg. masc. suf.

   O-yiqtol      Let them rejoice                                                       UHm;w;yi  Ps 67:5a

   we-yiqtol     and shout (for joy), the nations                     Mym.ioxul; Unn.;rayvi Ps 67:5b

   Cj.-yiqtol    | for you judge the peoples

with equity                                      rOwymi Mym.ifa Fpow;ti-yKi Ps 67:5c

W-X-yiqtol     | and lead the nations on

the earth.                                              MHen;Ta Cr,xABA Mymi.xul;U Ps 67:5d

("Sela ")                                                                             :hlAs,  Ps 67:5e

 

3 plur. + 2 sg. masc. suf.

   O-yiqtol      Let the peoples praise you, God!          Myhilox< Mym.ifa j~UdOy Ps 67:6a

   O-yiqtol      Let all the peoples praise you!               :Ml.AKu Mymi.fa j~UdOy  Ps 67:6b

 

3 sg. fem + 3 sg. masc + 1 plur. suf.

   X-Qatal       The land having yielded its harvest,         h.lAUby; hnAt;nA Cr,x, Ps 67:7a

   O-yiqtol      may God, our God, bless us.          :Unynielox< Myhilox< UnkEr;bAy; Ps 67:7b

 

3 sg. masc. + 1 plur. + 3 plor. suf.

    O-yiqtol     May God bless us                                             Myhilox< Unker;bAy; Ps 67:8a

    we-yiqtol    so that all the ends of the

earth                                          :Cl,xA-ysep;xa-lKA Otxo Uxr;yyiv; Ps 67:8b

may revere him.

Our main reason for undertaking a close analysis of Psalm 67 springs from

the interrelatedness of the linguistic and theological questions that bear on the

translation of its last two verses. As will be demonstrated, the existing transla-

tions of Psalm 67:2, 7, and 8 show that remarkably different choices have been

made in the rendering of the verbal forms of the Hebrew text. Three different

verbal forms are at issue: the qatal (perfect) verb hnAt;nA ("it has given ") in verse

7 a; the clause initial yiqtol (imperfect; modal) verbs rxeyA ("may he make shine ")

in verse 2c and Unker;bAy; ("may he bless us") in verses 7b and 8a; and the weyiqtol

(modal) verbs Unker;bAyvi ("and may he bless us") in verse 2a and Uxr;yyiv; ("and

may they fear") in verse 8b.

294                 CALVIN THEOLOGICAL JOURNAL

 

 

1.2. Survey of Representative Translations of Psalm 67:2, 7, and 8

Both newer and older translations exhibit great variation in which they ren-

der these forms. Except for Hermann Gunkel,10 Diethelm Michel,11 Walter

Beyerlin,12 Bernardus Dirk Eerdmans13 and Elmer A Leslie,14 all translations

presented below render the verbs of verse 2 with some kind of modality.

However, their treatment of the yiqtol verbs in verses 7b and 8 differ greatly.

Apparently, most translators feel no need to translate the clause initial yiqtol

verb Unker;bAy; in verses 7b and 8a in the same manner as the clause initial short-

ened yiqtol verb rxeyA in verse 2c.

 

Some translations of verses 2 (yiqtol), 7 (X-qatal; yiqtol) and 8 (yiqtol):

Commentaries:

[1] Wilhelm Martin Leberecht de Wette15

2:         Gott sei uns gnadig, und segn' uns,

Er lasse sein Angesicht gegen uns leuchten.

. . .

7:         Die Erde gibt ihren Ertrag; Uns segnet Gott,

unser Gott.                                                                             present - present

8:         Uns segnet Gott. Und ihn furchten alle Enden

der Erde.                                                                                 present - present

[2] Franz Delitzsch16

2:         Elohim sei uns hold und segne uns,

Er lasse leuchten sein Antlitz bei uns--. . .

7:         Der Erde hat gegeben ihre Frucht--Segnen wird uns

Elohim user Gott17                                                                perfect - future

8:         Segnen wild uns Elohim, und furchten werden ihn

alle Enden der Erde.                                                  future - future

 

10 Gunkel, Die Psalmen, 280.

11 Diethelm Michel, Tempora und Satzstellung in den Psalmen, Abhandlungen

zur Evangelischen Theologie,1 (Bonn: H. Bouvier u. CO Verlag, 1960), 115-16.

12 Walter Beyerlin, Im Licht der Traditionen: Psalm LXVII und CXV: ein

Entwicklungszusammenhang, Supplements to Vetus Testamentum, 45 (Leiden: Brill,

1992), 40.

13 Bernardus Dirk Eerdmans, The Hebrew Book of Psalms, Oudtestamentische

 Studien, 4 (Leiden: Brill, 1947),21.

14 Leslie, The Psalms, 111-12.

15 Wilhelm Martin Leberecht de Wette, Commentar uber die Psalmen nebst

beigefuhrter Ubersetzung; ed. G. Baur (18111; reprint, Heidelberg: Mohr, 1856), 355.

16 Franz Delitzsch, Biblischer Commentar uber die Psalmen. Erste Halfte:

Psalm I-.LXXII3 (Leipzig: Dorffling und Franke, 1873), 459-60.

17 Francis Bolten (Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms

[Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1955],2:239) translates Delitzsch's German

translation of v. 7b as a present: "Elohim our God doth bless us.”

 

                        PSALM 67: BLESSING, HARVEST, AND HISTORY      295

 

 [3] Hermann Gunkel18

2:         Jahve war uns gnadig und segnete uns,19

lieB leuchten sein Antlitz bei uins. . .

7:         das Land gab seinen Ertrag, uns segnete 'Jahve,'

unser Gott.                                                                             past - past

8:         'Jahve' segnete uns; so sollen ihn ehren alle Enden

der Erde!20                                                                 past -modal (obligation)

[4] Bernard us Dirk Eerdmans21

2:         Elohim is merciful unto us and blesseth us

and causeth his face to shine with us. . .

7:         The earth has yielded her increase, Elohim our God

blesseth us.                                                                            past - present

8:         Elohim blesseth us, so all the ends of the earth

fear him.                                                                     present -modal (result)

[5] Elmer A. Leslie22

2:         God has been gracious to us and blessed us,

and caused His face to shine upon us . . .

7:         The earth has yielded its produce: God, our God,

has blessed us;                                                                       past - past

8:         God blesses us, and all the ends of the earth shall

fear Him.                                                                    present -modal (obligation)

[6] Artur Weiser23

2:         May God be gracious and bless us

and make his face to shine upon us . . .

7:         The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God,

blesses us.                                                                              perfect -present

8:         May God bless us! Let all the ends of the earth

fear him!                                                                     modal- modal (wish)

 

18 Gunkel, Die Psalmen, 280.

19 Gunkel, Die Psalmen, 281, emends the yiqtol verb Unn.eHAy; to a qatol Unn.AHa,

and the following weyiqtol verb Unker;bAyvi to a wayyiqtol Unker;bAy;va. For a similar

position see: Taylor, “The Books of Psalms," 4:352.

20 Gunkel, Die Psalmen, 281, argues that the meaning of the yiqtol verbs

 Unker;bAy; in vv. 7b-8a is determined by the qatol verb hnAt;nA in v. 7a. In his judgment,

these yiqtol verbs may be read as poetic aorists or emended to read UnkAr;Be (cf. KeBler).

21 Eerdmans, The Hebrew Book of Psalms, 21.

22 Leslie, The Psalms, 111-12.

23 Weiser, The Psalms, 472.

 

296                 CALVIN THEOLOGICAL JOURNAL

 

[7] Hans-Joachim Kraus (German edition)24

2:         'Jahwe' sei uns gnadig und segne uns,

er lasse sein Antlitz leuchten bei uns. . .

. . .

7:         Das Land gab seinen Ertrag. Es segnete uns 'Jahwe,’

unser Gott!                                                                                         past -past

8:         Es segnete uns 'Jahwe';                                                                              past

und es sollen ihn furchten alle Enden der Erde!                 modal (obligation)

[8] Hans-Joachim Kraus (German Fifth Edition; English translation)25

2:         May 'Yahweh' be gracious to us and bless us,

may he let his countenance shine among us. . .

. . .

7:         May the land yield its increase! May 'Yahweh,' our God,

bless us!                                                                                 modal- modal

8:         May 'Yahweh' bless us; Let all the ends of the earth

fear him!26                                                                                  modal- modal

[9] Jan Ridderbos27

2:         God zij ons genadig en zegene ons,

Hij doe zijn aanschijn bij ons lichten. . .

. . .

7:         Het land zal zijn opbrengst geven,                  perfect of confidence

God, onze God, zal ons zegenen,                                                     future

8:         God zal ons zegenen, en alle einden der aarde

zullen Hem vrezen!                                                               future - future(?)

[10] N. A. van Uchelen28

2:         God zij ons genadig en zegene ons,

            . . .

7:         het land geeft zijn opbrengst, God,onze God,

zegent ons.                                                                             present - present

8:         God zegene ons, opdat de einden der aarde

Hem vrezen.                                                                           modal (wish)

 

24 Hans-Joachim Kraus, Psalmen, L Teilband, BKAT, XV/I (Neukirchen:

Neukirchener Verlag, 1960), 461.          

25 Hans-Joachim Kraus, Psalms 60-150: A Continental Commentary, trans. Hilton

C. Oswald (Minneapolis: Fortress, 1993), 39.

26 Beyerlin, Im Licht der Traditionen, 10, n 29, critiques Kraus' failure to justify

grammatically the jussive reading of v. 7a.

27 J. Ridderbos, De Psalmen, 2: 177.

28 N.A. van Ucbelen, Psalmen, deel II, POT (Nijkerk: Callenbach, 1977), 182.

 

 

                        PSALM 67: BLESSING, HARVEST, AND HISTORY      297

 

[11] J. P. M. van der Ploeg29

2:         God zij ons barmhartigen zegene ons,

Hij late zijn Aangezicht over ons lichten. . .

. . .

7:         Het land heeft zijn oogst gegeven: God, onze God,

schonk ons zegen                                                                              past -past

8:         God zegene ons; 0 mogen alle einden der aarde

Hem vrezen!                                                                    modal - modal (wish)

[12] Walter Beyerlin30

2:         Jahwe segnet uns gnadiglich,

ist uns wohlgesinnt, was unsere Pflugscharen betrifft. . .

. . .

7:         Das Land hat seinen Ertrag gegeben.                                               perfect

Es segnet uns Jahwe, unser Gott.                                                     present

8:         Es segnet uns Jahwe.                                                                         present

Also mussen ihn furchten alle Enden der Erde.                  modal (obligation)

[13] Diethelm Michel31

2:         Gott ist uns gnadig und segnet uns;

er laBt sein Angesicht bei uns leuchten. . .

. . .

7:         Das Land hat seinen Ertrag gegeben,                                               perfect

es segnet uns Gott, unser Gott.                                                        present

8:         Es segnet uns Gott,                                                                           present

furchten mussen ihn alle Enden der Erde.               modal (obligation)

[14] Mitchell Dahood32

2:         May God have pity on us and bless us;

may he cause his face to shine

may he come to us.

. . .

7:         May the earth yield her produce,33 may God, our

God, bless us.                                                            precative perfect -modal

8:         May God bless us, all the ends of the earth revere him.                modal (wish)

 

29 van der Ploeg, Psalmen, 1:385.

30 Beyerlin, Im Licht der Traditionen, 40.

31 Diethelm Michel, Tempora und Satzstellung in den Psalmen, Abhandlungen zur

Evangelischen Theologie, 1 (Bonn: H. Bouvier u. CO Verlag, 1960), 115-16. Cf. Crusemann,

Studien zur Formgeschimte von Hymnus und Danklied in Israel, 201.

32 Mitchell Dahood, Psalms II, 51-100: A New Translation with Introduction and

Commentary, AB, 17 (Garden City: Doubleday, 1973), 126.

33 Dahood, Psalms II; 129, reads the qatol verb hnAt;nA as a precative perfect. cf., NJPS;

Moses Buttenwieser, The Psalms: Chronologically Treated with a New Translation (New

York: KTAV Publishing House, 1969),787; Anderson, The Book of Psalms, 1:480-81.

 

298                 CALVIN THEOLOGICAL JOURNAL

 

 

[15] Marvin E. Tate34

2:         May God be gracious and bless us;

may he make his face to shine among us. . .

. . .

7:         The earth yields its harvest!                          perfect of experience

Continue to bless us, a God, our God.                     progressive jussive

8:         May God bless us-And all the ends of the earth

will fear him!                                                             modal - future

Bible Translations

[16] RSV

2:         May God be gracious to us

and make his face to shine upon us. . .

. . .

7:         The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God

has blessed us.                                                           perfect - perfect

8:         God has blessed us; let all the ends of the

earth fear him!                                                           perfect - modal (wish)

[17] NEB

2:         God be gracious to us and bless us,

God make his face shine upon us. . .

. . .

7:         The earth has given its increase and God, our God,