{"id":83603,"date":"2020-11-18T14:49:23","date_gmt":"2020-11-18T12:49:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=83603"},"modified":"2020-11-18T16:18:55","modified_gmt":"2020-11-18T14:18:55","slug":"points-to-ponder-psalm-48","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/points-to-ponder-psalm-48\/","title":{"rendered":"Points to Ponder – Psalm 48"},"content":{"rendered":"
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    \n
  1. When<\/em>? If there is some sort of historical background to this psalm – what is it? Is it connected to the defeat of Sennecharib at the gates of the city in the days of Hezekiah (701 BCE – 2 Kings 19)? Or, is it according to verse 7, during the reign of Jehoshaphat, of whom it is written: \u201cJehoshaphat constructed Tarshish ships to sail to Ophir for gold. But he did not sail because the ships were wrecked at Ezion-geber\u201d (1 Kings 22:49). Or is the \u201chistorical\u201d background one that hasn\u2019t happened yet, a vision of the end of days?<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Immunity<\/em>. Verse 9 relates that what happened in the past is the foundation for the belief – and the hope – that \u201c God preserve it forever!\u201d The idea that the city of God is somehow immune to enemy threats, was part of the people\u2019s belief during First Temple times, and especially after the miraculous rescue of the city during the siege of Sennecharib. On the eve of the actual destruction both Jeremiah and Ezekiel had to deal with this sort of popular opinion, and had difficulty convincing the people that the fate of Jerusalem was dependent on the behavior of is inhabitants.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Northern exposure.<\/em> How is it that \u201cMt. Zion\u201d is \u201cthe summit of Zaphon\u201d (literally, \u201cthe depths of the north\u201d). Perhaps because Mt Moriah is to the north of the city of David (ancient Jerusalem). And perhaps we need to reference beliefs in the ancient Near East, according to which the home of the gods was in <\/span>yarketei tzafon<\/span><\/em>. That\u2019s what we learned 267 chapters ago from the king of Babylon, who compared himself to a god, and said \u201c\u201cI will climb to the sky; Higher than the stars of God I will set my throne. I will sit in the mount of assembly, On the summit of Zaphon\u201d (Is. 14:13).<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Selah<\/em>! Look for the word <\/span>Selah<\/em> <\/span>that separates the two halves of the psalm. Not only in this psalm, but in the two previous (46, 47) and in the ones to follow.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Through one\u2019s feet<\/em>. In order to experience the beauty of the city, and understand its depth, it\u2019s not enough to listen to the psalm, you have to get out there, and walk: \u201cWalk around Zion, circle it;\u201d and notice the details: \u201ccount its towers, take note of its ramparts; go through its citadels.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","image":{"ID":53645,"id":53645,"title":"general-qs-points to ponder","filename":"general-qs-points-to-ponder.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/general-qs-points-to-ponder.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/points-to-ponder-chapter-9\/general-qs-points-to-ponder\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"general-qs-points-to-ponder","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":53644,"date":"2019-04-13 21:49:41","modified":"2019-04-13 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