Psalm 79

The 79th psalm (according to Greek counting the 78th) is a psalm of Asaf and belongs to the series of folk lamentations.

structure

One possible structure of the psalm is as follows:

1. Verses 2–4: Lament over the desecration of the sanctuary, the destruction of Jerusalem, the blood bath that was caused and the mockery of the neighboring peoples
2. Verses 5–12: Request for YHWH intervention
3. Verse 13:
   1. 13a: Confident assurance
   2. 13b: Vows

Dating

The psalm is usually dated to the time of the Maccabean distress under Antiochus IV . The description of the events in Book 1 of the Maccabees fits very closely with the description in the Psalm. There is talk of that Antiochus ( 1 Makk 1.20  EU ). He profaned the sanctuary , as described in the first verse of the Psalm. 1 Makk 1.36  EU :

“ They ambushed the sanctuary; they have always been a bad enemy to Israel. "

He sets up a bloodbath , as described in the third verse of the Psalm. 1 Makk 1.24  EU :

“ He caused a bloodbath and made very presumptuous speeches. "

He made sure that Israel's faith was mocked , as described in the fourth verse of the Psalm. 1 Makk 1.39  EU :

“ Their Sabbaths were mocked; instead of being honored, she was despised. "

Web links

Commons : Psalm 79  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Psalm 79 in the standard translation , the Luther Bible and other translations from bibleserver.com
• Psalm 79 in the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (BHS) on bibelwissenschaft.de
• Public domain sheet music of settings for Psalm 79 in the Choral Public Domain Library - ChoralWiki (English)

Individual evidence

1. ^ Hermann Gunkel, Die Psalmen ( ⁶ 1986), 348f.
2. ↑ Ferdinand Hitzig: The Psalms historically-critically examined (1835), 132f.