{"id":84432,"date":"2020-12-02T16:02:45","date_gmt":"2020-12-02T14:02:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=84432"},"modified":"2020-12-02T16:09:01","modified_gmt":"2020-12-02T14:09:01","slug":"reward-for-the-righteous","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/reward-for-the-righteous\/","title":{"rendered":"Reward For The Righteous"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Psalm 58 is the second of three consecutive psalms (57,58,59, see also Psalms 75:1) headed by the curious superscription: \u201cFor the leader; <\/span>al tash\u1e25eth<\/span><\/em>. Of David. A <\/span>michtam<\/span><\/em>\u201d. Psalms 57 and 59 suggest that these psalms were composed by David when he was hiding from King Saul. The JPS translation to Psalms 57:1, of <\/span>al tash\u1e25eth<\/span><\/em> notes: \u201cMeaning of Heb. uncertain.\u201d These<\/span> two words may be the \u201ccatch-word\u201d of an old song<\/span><\/a> or melody to which these psalms were supposed to be sung.<\/span><\/p>\n

The apparent translation of <\/span>al tash\u1e25eth<\/em> <\/span>\u201cDo not destroy\u201d seems to fit the contents of these psalms which may be read as the prayers of David for divine deliverance from imminent death. See for example<\/span> Psalms 59:1-2<\/span><\/a>: \u201cFor the leader; al tash\u1e25eth. Of David. A michtam; when Saul sent men to watch his house in order to put him to death. Save me from my enemies, O my God. Secure me against my assailants\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Hebrew word <\/span>michtam<\/span><\/em> appears in the superscription to our psalm and five other psalms (16, 56-57,58,59,60). It seems to be related to the Hebrew root <\/span>k-t-m<\/span><\/em> referring both to \u201cstain\u201d and to \u201cgold\u201d. The early Jewish Greek translation of Scripture translates <\/span>michtam<\/span><\/em> by <\/span>stelographia<\/span><\/em> meaning an inscription written on stone. This is followed by the 4<\/span>th<\/span> century CE Vulgate which employs the Latin term <\/span>inscriptionem<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/i> These early \u201cwitnesses\u201d suggest that such psalms may have been inscribed on the inside walls of caves used as hideouts by those being pursued.<\/span><\/p>\n

Indeed, the <\/span>Michtam<\/em> <\/span>Psalms 56-59 seem to have been composed by David when he was fleeing from his enemies. Our psalm concludes with David\u2019s assurance of God\u2019s righteous judgement: \u201cMen will say, \u2018There is, then, a reward for the righteous. There is, indeed, a God who judges on earth\u2019\u201d (<\/span>58:12<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

This verse is interpreted as referring to the reward for studying Torah in<\/span> Avot de-Rabbi Natan (Version A) Chapter 29<\/span><\/a>. Anyone who commits himself to studying words of Torah will be surrounded by a circle of similarly committed students of Torah [<\/span>shaqdanim<\/span><\/em>]. But, anyone who neglects studying words of Torah will be surrounded by a circle of those, who like him, indolently disregard the study of Torah [<\/span>batlanim<\/span><\/em>]. Moreover, one who neglects the study of Torah will fall prey to a lion, a wolf, a tiger, a leopard or a snake. And then soldiers or thieves will come and surround him and they will do away with him [<\/span>ve-nifra\u2019im mimeno<\/span><\/em>], as it says: \u201cThere is, indeed, a God who judges on earth\u2019\u201d (58:12).<\/span><\/p>\n

In discoursing on Divine Justice, Maimonides states in<\/span> Guide_for_the_Perplexed 3:50 (3)<\/span><\/a> that the Biblical narratives of the Flood (Genesis Chapters 6-8) and of the Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis Chapter 19), serve as an illustration of the doctrine that: \u201cThere is, then, a reward for the righteous. There is, indeed, a God who judges on earth\u201d (<\/span>58:12<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

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