Egyptian hallel

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Haggada books on the Seder table.

The Egyptian Hallel or Pessach-Hallel , also often just called Hallel , is an important prayer or song of praise for Judaism , which consists of the six Psalms 113 EU –118 EU of the Tanach . The hallel is sung in families on the Jewish pilgrimage festivals of Pesach , Shavuot and Sukkot , for example on Seder evening . It is called "Egyptian" because it reminds of the first Passover festival of the Israelites in Egypt , when God freed the people of Israel from the slavery of the Egyptians (cf. 2 Mos 12  EU ).

The Egyptian Hallel consists of hymns and thanksgiving songs and is framed by the acrostic wisdom psalms Ps 111  EU , Ps 112  EU and Ps 119  EU .

It is believed that the “hymn of praise” that Jesus and his disciples sang (in Mt 26.30  EU and Mk 14.26  EU ) refers to this hallel.

The Egyptian hallel is not to be confused with the great hallel ( Ps 136  EU ) or the small hallel (final hallel) of the book of psalms ( ps 146  EU –150 EU ).

composition

The psalm composition 113-118 is embedded in the fifth part of the book of psalms in the psalm sequence Ps 107-136, in which the program and the realization of the post-exilic restoration of Israel is drawn. 113–118 is framed by the two twins Ps 111/112 and Ps 119. Two groups of three (Ps 113–115 and Ps 116–118) each form a composition sheet. The hymnic Ps 113-115 are accentuated theocentrically and monotheistically. Ps 116-118 (thanks-praise-thanks) emphasize the divine salvation of the poor and oppressed as well as the constitution of a community of justice through which the divinity of YHWH becomes manifest. In their program, Ps 113-118 are reminiscent of Psalms 93-100, with which there are numerous similarities. Theologically, Ps 113-118 is influenced by 2 Mos 15  EU and by Isa 12, Isa 24-27 and Isa 40-55.

Dating

The composition of the Hallel is based on the literary references (Isa 12 and 40-55) of post-exilic dating (around 400 BC). Psalms 114 and 117 were specially created for the composition of the Hallel.

place in life

Because of the liturgical character of the composition, Ps 113-118 is based on a cantata created by temple singers , which was sung in the choir at the great pilgrimage festivals ( Tabernacles , Hanukkah , Passover ) . Today the Egyptian hallel is sung at the family Passover celebration, which is why it is also referred to as the Passover hallel.

literature

  • Matthias Millard: The composition of the Psalter: a formal historical approach (= FAT 9). Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen 1994, ISBN 3-16-146214-9 .
  • Erich Zenger : Hallel . In: Walter Kasper (Ed.): Lexicon for Theology and Church . 3. Edition. tape 4 . Herder, Freiburg im Breisgau 1995, Sp. 1158-1159 .
  • Frank Lothar Hossfeld: The gracious God and the poor just. Anthropological accents in psalm group 111-118 . In: Christoph Böttigheimer, Hubert Filser (Hrsg.): Church unity and global responsibility. RV Peter Neuner. Regensburg 2006, pp. 51-63.
  • Erich Zenger: The composition of the Egyptian Hallel or Pessach-Hallel Ps 113-118. (Excursus). In: Frank-Lothar Hossfeld, Erich Zenger: Psalms 101–150 (= HThKAT ). Herder, Freiburg / Basel / Vienna 2008, ISBN 978-3-451-26827-4 , pp. 245–248.

See also

Web links