{"id":90358,"date":"2018-07-09T17:53:39","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:53:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-705\/"},"modified":"2021-03-29T16:10:58","modified_gmt":"2021-03-29T13:10:58","slug":"wall-705","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-705\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Writings-Psalms-138"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"705","date":"20280511","book":"Psalms","chapter":"138","chapter_main_number":"705","books_group":"Writings","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"90397","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"JPS Audio Bible Psalms Chapter 138 ","post_title":"JPS Audio Bible Psalms Chapter 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Pesach Reader ","post_title":"2021\/5781 Pesach 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to you by the 929 community","post_main_content_content":"

Click here<\/a> to see the rich collection of readings and reflections we've brought to you for Pesach<\/p>\r\n

A selection of essays and short posts on the Torah and Haftarah selections from the holiday, from your favorite 929 authors<\/p>\r\n

Chag sameach - happy holiday!<\/a><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":90953,"alt":"","title":"pesach 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Essence Of Prayer ","post_title":"The Essence Of Prayer","slug":"the-essence-of-prayer","old_id":"90955","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36535,"post_title":"Ezra Butler","slug":"ezra-butler","old_id":"36535","first_name":"Ezra ","last_name":"Butler","description":"Ezra Butler used to study third century texts, but is currently an artist and independent researcher living in Chicago.","short_description":"Ezra Butler used to study third century texts, but is currently an artist and independent researcher living in Chicago.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36536,"alt":"","title":"EzraButler","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/EzraButler-e1533041370819.jpg","width":597,"height":761,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/EzraButler-e1533041370819-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/EzraButler-e1533041370819-235x300.jpg","medium-width":235,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/EzraButler-681x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":681,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/EzraButler-681x1024.jpg","large-width":681,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/EzraButler-e1533041370819.jpg","1536x1536-width":597,"1536x1536-height":761,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/EzraButler-e1533041370819.jpg","2048x2048-width":597,"2048x2048-height":761,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/EzraButler-e1533041370819.jpg","post_full_size-width":597,"post_full_size-height":761,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/EzraButler-e1533041370819-329x420.jpg","home_baner-width":329,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"705","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"An anthology of allusions in one psalm\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Maybe it is just because we are nearing the end of Psalms, but it feels as if Psalm 138 is an anthology of allusions to earlier psalms. And with that, its conceptual cadence is distinctive.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It is easy to obsess over the seemingly internal contradictions of Psalms, and the mental or linguistic acrobatics some commentaries need to do to find coherence.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Sometimes we know the exact location of His temple (138:2), and sometimes, we need directions (43:3-4). Sometimes we have a personal God (138:3, Psalm 118), and sometimes we celebrate God\u2019s universality (138:4, Psalm 113). Sometimes God answers (138:3), and sometimes God ignores (13:2).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Sometimes we pray for the kings of the earth to praise God and all His glory (138:5), and sometimes we pray for God to destroy all the kings (105:10, 68:13-15, among others). Sometimes God is literally \u201con high\u201d and sometimes God visits or sees the lowest of the lows, and often the two occur in the same psalm or verse, like 138:6 echoing 113:4-6.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Sometimes we walk among or through our enemies, like 138:7, or more famously, 23:4, and sometimes we are surrounded by them (3:7). Sometimes God extends His right hand to us (138:7) and sometimes we consider ourselves to be the right hand of God (Psalm 118).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And sometimes we ask for God to fight our battles for us (138:8), and sometimes, we offer to fight His battles for Him (Psalm 118, again), or decide for Him who His enemies are and question His creations, even if they are members of our own families (Psalm 58).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Psalms is a collection of the human experience: encompassing love and hate; being both heard and ignored; individualistic, but part of a greater whole; connection and loneliness; the highs and the lows; having stability, or being in dire straits; the ability to walk with your head up high, and the cowering in fear; the asking of directions and finding your own way; the considering of oneself to be righteous, and being the victim of the self-righteous.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When we lack the words to describe how we are feeling at a moment, we can find a psalmist who felt the same. It\u2019s like listening to Taylor Swift. There is hope in seeing that we weren\u2019t the first to experience a certain emotion, and finding a phrase that perfectly encapsulates a mood, that whenever we read or recite it, it transforms itself into a beautiful version of self-expression.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And that is the essence of prayer in its purest form.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image: courtesy of the author.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":90965,"alt":"","title":"ps138-ebutler","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps138-ebutler.png","width":2048,"height":2048,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps138-ebutler-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps138-ebutler-300x300.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps138-ebutler-768x768.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps138-ebutler-1024x1024.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps138-ebutler.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps138-ebutler.png","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps138-ebutler-1200x1200.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps138-ebutler-420x420.png","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The Essence Of Prayer","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"An anthology of allusions in one psalm","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":90965,"alt":"","title":"ps138-ebutler","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps138-ebutler.png","width":2048,"height":2048,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps138-ebutler-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps138-ebutler-300x300.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps138-ebutler-768x768.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps138-ebutler-1024x1024.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps138-ebutler.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps138-ebutler.png","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps138-ebutler-1200x1200.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps138-ebutler-420x420.png","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":"138","chapter_main_number":"705","date":"20280511","wall_id":"705"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":4,"id":"90918","color":"#efefef","size":"1","name":"Kingdoms ","post_title":"Kingdoms","slug":"kingdoms","old_id":"90918","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36669,"post_title":"Yakov Azriel","slug":"yakov-azriel","old_id":"36669","first_name":"Yakov ","last_name":"Azriel","description":"Yakov Azriel, who lives in Israel, has published five books of poetry in the USA and hundreds of poems in journals and magazines. His poems have won twenty-two prizes in international poetry competitions, and he has twice been awarded fellowships from the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture.","short_description":"Yakov Azriel is an English language poet who lives in Israel","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36670,"alt":"","title":"Yakov.Azriel.Photo","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","width":1099,"height":1519,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-217x300.jpg","medium-width":217,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-741x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":741,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-741x1024.jpg","large-width":741,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","1536x1536-width":1099,"1536x1536-height":1519,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","2048x2048-width":1099,"2048x2048-height":1519,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-868x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":868,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-304x420.jpg","home_baner-width":304,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"705","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Nest us in the tree of faith\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

\"For all the kings of the earth will give You thanks \u2026\" (Psalm 138:4)<\/p>\r\n

In the kingdom of the deaf, those who hear
\r\nAre branded mad. In the kingdom of the blind,
\r\nThe few who see are punished and will find
\r\nThemselves inside a dungeon if they dare
\r\nGaze up at stars. In the kingdom of despair,
\r\nAll dreams of hope are banished from the mind,
\r\nForbidden to return, while every kind
\r\nOf prayer is frozen in the frigid air.<\/p>\r\n

Where is the kingdom of heaven, Lord? Nest
\r\nUs in the tree of faith, for otherwise
\r\nHow will we tell Your glory, God? We crawl
\r\nBeneath a royal throne like ants in quest
\r\nOf crumbs and never know the King. Grant size
\r\nAnd height, Lord, in the kingdom of the small.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":51350,"alt":"","title":"dt22-nest","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt22-nest.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt22-nest-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt22-nest-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt22-nest-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt22-nest-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt22-nest.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt22-nest.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt22-nest-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt22-nest-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"929 Poetry Corner","tile_main_caption":"Kingdoms","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Nest us in the tree of faith","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":51350,"alt":"","title":"dt22-nest","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt22-nest.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt22-nest-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt22-nest-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt22-nest-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt22-nest-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt22-nest.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt22-nest.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt22-nest-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt22-nest-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":"138","chapter_main_number":"705","date":"20280511","wall_id":"705"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":5,"id":"91233","color":"#f7f7f5","size":"1","name":"Answered? 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With his encouragement, she published Psalmsongs, A Gathering of Psalms (An Arthur Kurzweil Book, New York\/Jerusalem, 2013), and translated The Steinsaltz Tehillim, Commentary by Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz (Koren Publishers Jerusalem Ltd, 2018). She is a professor of pediatric endocrinology on the faculty of Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City.\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Gaya Aranoff Bernstein is the author of Psalmsongs: A Gathering of Psalms.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":80011,"alt":"","title":"gaya bernstein","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gaya-bernstein.jpg","width":332,"height":492,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gaya-bernstein-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gaya-bernstein-202x300.jpg","medium-width":202,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gaya-bernstein.jpg","medium_large-width":332,"medium_large-height":492,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gaya-bernstein.jpg","large-width":332,"large-height":492,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gaya-bernstein.jpg","1536x1536-width":332,"1536x1536-height":492,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gaya-bernstein.jpg","2048x2048-width":332,"2048x2048-height":492,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gaya-bernstein.jpg","post_full_size-width":332,"post_full_size-height":492,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gaya-bernstein-283x420.jpg","home_baner-width":283,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"705","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

I\u2019ve come to search my soul and pray
\r\nand all that I feel
\r\nin my heart and my gut
\r\nis overwhelming gratitude
\r\nI need to bow
\r\nI need to kneel before You
\r\nprostrate myself on the ground
\r\nand weep
\r\nin thanks
\r\nI cried to You
\r\nYou heard me
\r\nand You showered me with miracles
\r\nthat drenched my world
\r\nand left me breathless
\r\nbut alive
\r\nwith newfound strength
\r\nearthly kings should sing to You
\r\nand listen for Your voice
\r\nhow great to be able to hear the truth
\r\nand be deaf to the noise
\r\nof lies
\r\nI know if I seek You
\r\nYou\u2019ll hear me You\u2019re there
\r\neven when I am lost
\r\nI know there is nowhere
\r\nno battle no front
\r\nno place
\r\nwhere You
\r\nare not<\/p>\r\n

Excerpted from: Gaya Aranoff Bernstein,\u00a0Psalmsongs: A Gathering of Psalms<\/em>, (An Arthur Kurzweil Book, New York\/Jerusalem, 2013)<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":80037,"alt":"","title":"psalmsongs4","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4.jpg","width":2894,"height":1928,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-1024x682.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":682,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1023,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1364,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-1200x799.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":799,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"929 Poetry Corner","tile_main_caption":"Psalmsongs 138","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"You drenched my world and left me breathless but alive with newfound strength","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":80037,"alt":"","title":"psalmsongs4","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4.jpg","width":2894,"height":1928,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-1024x682.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":682,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1023,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1364,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-1200x799.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":799,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":"138","chapter_main_number":"705","date":"20280511","wall_id":"705"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":7,"id":"90974","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Singing \u201cAgainst God\u201d?! ","post_title":"Singing \u201cAgainst God\u201d?!","slug":"singing-against-god","old_id":"90974","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33877,"post_title":"Marc Bregman","slug":"marc-bregman","old_id":"33877","first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Bregman","description":"Marc Bregman received his Ph.D. from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1991. He taught at the Hebrew Union College (Jerusalem), The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Schechter Institute for Judaic Studies in Jerusalem, and at the Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheba, Israel. During 1993 he was Visiting Associate Professor at Yale University, and during 1996 he was the Stroum Professor of Jewish Studies and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Washington in Seattle. During 2005, Bregman served as the Harry Starr Fellow in Judaica at Harvard University and was awarded a Teaching Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has served as Forchheimer Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Humanities at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is the author of The Tanhuma-Yelammedenu Literature: Studies in the Evolution of the Versions (Gorgias Press, 2003). In 2006, Bregman was appointed the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, where he also headed the program in Jewish Studies, until 2013. Bregman retired from UNCG as of July 31, 2017. He has now returned to Jerusalem where he is continuing his research and teaching activities.","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Marc Bregman is the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies emeritus, at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33878,"alt":"Marc Bregman","title":"Marc Bregman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","width":361,"height":488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-222x300.jpg","medium-width":222,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","medium_large-width":361,"medium_large-height":488,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","large-width":361,"large-height":488,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","1536x1536-width":361,"1536x1536-height":488,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","2048x2048-width":361,"2048x2048-height":488,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","post_full_size-width":361,"post_full_size-height":488,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-311x420.jpg","home_baner-width":311,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"705","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Or in His presence. Or in someone\u2019s presence.\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The opening verse of our<\/span> psalm<\/span><\/a> might seem in modern Israeli Hebrew to include a shocking statement: \u201c\u2026against God I will sing, <\/span>neged Elohim azammrekhah<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/i>\u201d Nevertheless, our psalm is<\/span> sung<\/span><\/a> to this day to different melodies in various Jewish communities. Fortunately for English speakers, the problematic phrase is not normally translated in what would be a misleadingly hyper-literal way. For example, the 1917 JPS Tanakh translates \u201cIn the presence of the mighty will I sing praises unto Thee.\u201d While the<\/span> 1985 JPS Tanakh translation<\/span><\/a> has David singing \u201cbefore the divine beings.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Indeed, this controversial phrase has been rendered in a<\/span> wide variety of translations<\/span><\/a>. For example: \u201c\u2026before the gods will I sing praise unto thee\u201d (King James Version, 1611 CE) or \u201cI will sing praise to thee in the sight of his angels (Catholic versions based on the mid-3<\/span>rd<\/span> century BCE Jewish translation, the Septuagint). The Christian Syriac (i.e. Aramaic) Peshitta offers \u201cin front of Kings I shall sing praise to you,\u201d while the Jewish Aramaic<\/span> Targum<\/span><\/a> has \u201cbefore the judges.\u201d All of these broadly different translations clearly avoid suggesting that the psalmist, King David, was somehow about to \u201csing against God.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The different ways of construing this possibly puzzling phrase are due to the various meanings of two of its words.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

While <\/span>neged <\/span><\/em>normally means \u201cagainst\u201d in Modern Hebrew, in Biblical and later pre-modern Hebrew, this word normally means \u201cin the presence of.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Elohim <\/span><\/em>occurs over 2,600 times in the Hebrew Bible, more than 2,300 of which refer to God (i.e. the God of Israel). Other uses of this word refer to human judges, \u201cdivine ones\u201d, angels and other gods. Though grammatically <\/span>Elohim<\/span><\/i> is a masculine plural noun, it is usually construed as singular and less frequently as plural, even when it refers to the One God, as in the expression <\/span>Elohim Hayyim <\/span><\/em>\u2013 \u201c<\/span><\/i>Living God<\/span><\/em>\u201d <\/span><\/i>(<\/span>Deuteronomy 5:23<\/span><\/a> and elsewhere). It has been suggested that the curious use of the grammatically plural <\/span>Elohim<\/span><\/i> to refer to the One God of Israel (i.e. \u201cDivinity\u201d) goes back to Canaanite usage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rashi<\/span><\/a> (France, died 1105 CE) understands<\/span> the controversial phrase in our psalm<\/span><\/a> to depict David singing \u201cin the presence of the Princes [<\/span>sarim<\/span><\/em>, <\/span><\/i>i.e. human royalty or angels]\u201d.<\/span> Ibn-Ezra<\/span><\/a> [Spain, died between 1164 \u2013 1167) comments that <\/span>Elohim<\/span><\/em> at the beginning of our psalm refers to \u201cthe judges who execute the judgments of God.\u201d Indeed,<\/span> Maimonides<\/span><\/a> (Spain-Egypt, died 1204) asserted that \u201cevery Hebrew knows that the term <\/span>Elohim<\/em> <\/span>is a homonym [i.e. the same word with various meanings], and denotes God, angels, judges, and the rulers of countries.\u201d<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":85249,"alt":"","title":"ps73-singers","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps73-singers.jpg","width":359,"height":535,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps73-singers-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps73-singers-201x300.jpg","medium-width":201,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps73-singers.jpg","medium_large-width":359,"medium_large-height":535,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps73-singers.jpg","large-width":359,"large-height":535,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps73-singers.jpg","1536x1536-width":359,"1536x1536-height":535,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps73-singers.jpg","2048x2048-width":359,"2048x2048-height":535,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps73-singers.jpg","post_full_size-width":359,"post_full_size-height":535,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps73-singers-282x420.jpg","home_baner-width":282,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Singing \u201cAgainst God\u201d?!","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Or in His presence. Or in someone\u2019s presence.","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":85249,"alt":"","title":"ps73-singers","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps73-singers.jpg","width":359,"height":535,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps73-singers-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps73-singers-201x300.jpg","medium-width":201,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps73-singers.jpg","medium_large-width":359,"medium_large-height":535,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps73-singers.jpg","large-width":359,"large-height":535,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps73-singers.jpg","1536x1536-width":359,"1536x1536-height":535,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps73-singers.jpg","2048x2048-width":359,"2048x2048-height":535,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps73-singers.jpg","post_full_size-width":359,"post_full_size-height":535,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps73-singers-282x420.jpg","home_baner-width":282,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":"138","chapter_main_number":"705","date":"20280511","wall_id":"705"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":8,"id":"90967","color":"#e0e9ef","size":"1","name":"Presence Of God ","post_title":"Presence Of God","slug":"presence-of-god","old_id":"90967","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":78133,"post_title":"Josh Blechner","slug":"josh-blechner","old_id":"78133","first_name":"Josh ","last_name":"Blechner ","description":"Josh first finished the Tanach during Yeshiva in Mevaseret Zion. He and his daughter studied the Tanach again for her bat mitzvah. Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group. When not studying for 929, Josh works as an in-house lawyer in New Jersey.","short_description":"Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group, and is an in-house attorney in New Jersey. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":78134,"alt":"","title":"josh blechner","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","width":276,"height":351,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-236x300.jpg","medium-width":236,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","medium_large-width":276,"medium_large-height":351,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","large-width":276,"large-height":351,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","1536x1536-width":276,"1536x1536-height":351,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","2048x2048-width":276,"2048x2048-height":351,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","post_full_size-width":276,"post_full_size-height":351,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","home_baner-width":276,"home_baner-height":351}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"705","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Addressed from the throngs\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The opening verse uses the Hebrew word <\/span>neged<\/span><\/em>, \u201cacross from\u201d or \u201cin the presence of.\u201d In this verse, the word is used to position King David across from God when he praises Him.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This parallels a verse in the Torah in Deuteronomy 31:11: \"when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God in the place that He will choose, you shall read this Teaching aloud in the presence of all Israel.\" This is referring to the Torah reading that is done on the sabbatical year cycle. This occurs during the festivals when all of Israel is instructed to travel to Jerusalem. In this instance you would have the greatest show of unity in order to glorify God's name in public.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It's possible that this chapter is meant to be the other side of this <\/span>neged<\/span><\/i>.\u00a0 King David addresses God from the throngs of the people standing there. This show of force for worship inspires visiting kings to also call out in God's name (verse 4).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":69453,"alt":"","title":"jer7-crowd","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Presence Of God","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Addressed from the throngs","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":69453,"alt":"","title":"jer7-crowd","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":"138","chapter_main_number":"705","date":"20280511","wall_id":"705"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":9,"id":"90971","color":"#faeed8","size":"1","name":"Know Before Whom You Are Praising ","post_title":"Know Before Whom You Are Praising","slug":"know-before-whom-you-are-praising","old_id":"90971","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34243,"post_title":"Moshe Sokolow","slug":"moshe-sokolow","old_id":"34243","first_name":"Moshe","last_name":"Sokolow","description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University, and teaches a weekly class in parashat hashavu`a at Lincoln Square Synagogue. He is the author of TANAKH: An Owner\u2019s Manual (Jerusalem: Urim\/Ktav, 2015).\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34244,"alt":"","title":"sokolow","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","width":302,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-300x298.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":298,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","medium_large-width":302,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","large-width":302,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","1536x1536-width":302,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","2048x2048-width":302,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","post_full_size-width":302,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","home_baner-width":302,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"705","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Holy homonyms! More possibilities than you might think\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

David started this psalm of praise by saying to God: \u201cI praise You with all my heart, sing a hymn to You before the divine beings (<\/span>elohim<\/span><\/em>)\u201d (1). However, the Old JPS translation reads \u201cin the presence of the mighty,\u201d and both the King James Version and Robert Alter have \u201cbefore the gods.\u201d To broaden the philological tapestry even further, the venerable Aramaic Targum rendered it as judges (<\/span>dayyanaya<\/span><\/em>)<\/em> and Rashi interpreted it as princes (<\/span>sarim<\/span><\/em>)<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The truth is that <\/span>elohim<\/span><\/em> is a homonymous word with a range of meanings. First and foremost, it can refer to God, as in: \u201cIn the beginning, God (<\/span>elohim<\/span><\/em>) created heaven and earth\u201d (Gen. 1:1); second, it can refer to anything that is regarded as a deity, as in: \u201cYou shall have no other gods (<\/span>elohim<\/span><\/em>) before Me\u201d (Exodus 20: 2); third, it designates judges, as in: \u201cWhomever the judges (<\/span>elohim<\/span><\/em>) convict, shall pay his neighbor twofold\u201d (Exodus 22:8); and fourth, it is a euphemism for nobility, as in: \u201cThe sons of the nobility (<\/span>b\u2019nei<\/span> ha\u2019<\/span>elohim<\/span><\/em>) saw how comely the daughters of the common folk were\u201d (Gen. 6:2). All of these definitions might be represented here.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

However, there is yet a fifth biblical usage of <\/span>elohim<\/span><\/em>, one that we have taken note of on previous occasions, namely, it can be used as an adjective to indicate hyperbole or exaggeration, much in the same way that English uses the word divine. Arguably, then, when Moses raised his \u201cgodly staff\u201d (<\/span>mateh ha\u2019elohim<\/span><\/em>, Exodus 4:20) to perform the plagues over Egypt, he was not borrowing one from God, but using a marvelous one. Nineveh\u2019s description as \u201ca great city unto God\u201d (Jonah 3:3), cannot mean its inhabitants were pious - for then why would He be threatening it with destruction -\u00a0 but indicates its vast size.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And, finally, since God has no shape or form (cf. Maimonides\u2019s third article of faith), the \u201cimage of God\u201d in which man was created (Gen. 1:27) can only mean a divine, or noble, image\u2014which is exactly how Se`adyah Gaon translated it in his Arabic <\/span>Tafsir<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79590,"alt":"","title":"zech11-praise","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-praise.png","width":1875,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-praise-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-praise-293x300.png","medium-width":293,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-praise-768x786.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":786,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-praise-1000x1024.png","large-width":1000,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-praise.png","1536x1536-width":1500,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-praise.png","2048x2048-width":1875,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-praise-1172x1200.png","post_full_size-width":1172,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-praise-410x420.png","home_baner-width":410,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Know Before Whom You Are Praising","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Holy homonyms! More possibilities than you might think","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79590,"alt":"","title":"zech11-praise","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-praise.png","width":1875,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-praise-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-praise-293x300.png","medium-width":293,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-praise-768x786.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":786,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-praise-1000x1024.png","large-width":1000,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-praise.png","1536x1536-width":1500,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-praise.png","2048x2048-width":1875,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-praise-1172x1200.png","post_full_size-width":1172,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-praise-410x420.png","home_baner-width":410,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":"138","chapter_main_number":"705","date":"20280511","wall_id":"705"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":10,"id":"90914","color":"#e6f5f3","size":"1","name":"From Your Lips: Psalm 138 ","post_title":"From Your Lips: Psalm 138","slug":"from-your-lips-psalm-138","old_id":"90914","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":79754,"post_title":"Reuben Ebrahimoff","slug":"reuben-ebrahimoff","old_id":"79754","first_name":"Reuben ","last_name":"Ebrahimoff ","description":"Reuben Ebrahimoff is the author of a \"user's guide\" to the Book of Psalms, entitled \"From Your Lips to God\u2019s Ears, The 10 Things You Need To Know About the Book of Tehillim \u2013 Psalms.\" Affectionately known as \u201cThe Haftorahman,\u201d was the first Mashadi Jew from Persia to attend Yeshiva in the U.S.A. Over 2000 people read his weekly Haftorahman Handouts. He is President of Brilliant I.D.E.A.S. a jewelry manufacturing company, located in NYC. \r\n\r\n","short_description":"Reuben Ebrahimoff is the author of a \"user's guide\" to the Book of Psalms, entitled \"From Your Lips to God\u2019s Ears, The 10 Things You Need To Know About the Book of Tehillim \u2013 Psalms.\" ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":79755,"alt":"","title":"reuben ebrahimoff","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/reuben-ebrahimoff.jpg","width":252,"height":242,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/reuben-ebrahimoff-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/reuben-ebrahimoff.jpg","medium-width":252,"medium-height":242,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/reuben-ebrahimoff.jpg","medium_large-width":252,"medium_large-height":242,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/reuben-ebrahimoff.jpg","large-width":252,"large-height":242,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/reuben-ebrahimoff.jpg","1536x1536-width":252,"1536x1536-height":242,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/reuben-ebrahimoff.jpg","2048x2048-width":252,"2048x2048-height":242,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/reuben-ebrahimoff.jpg","post_full_size-width":252,"post_full_size-height":242,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/reuben-ebrahimoff.jpg","home_baner-width":252,"home_baner-height":242}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"705","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Psalms: A Users Guide","post_main_content_content":"

Psalm 138:<\/p>\r\n

Author:<\/em>
\r\nKing David--the second king of Israel and father of the Davidic royal and messianic dynasty. David composed over seventy of the 150 psalms of Sefer Tehillim.<\/p>\r\n

When and Why:<\/em>
\r\nDavid wrote this psalm to thank God for saving him from his enemies and establishing his kingdom.<\/p>\r\n

Genre:<\/em>
\r\nPsalm of Communal Thanksgiving--This psalm emphasizes gratitude for what God has done for the community.<\/p>\r\n

Chapter Summary:<\/em>
\r\nKing David composed this psalm to give thanks to God for all the good He has bestowed upon him. He thereby addresses God\u2019s Divine Supervision and care for mankind.<\/p>\r\n

This psalm consists of eight verses, subdivided into three parts.
\r\nIn verses 1-3, King David praises and thanks God for answering his prayers.
\r\nIn verses 4-6, he asserts that all kings of the earth will similarly praise Him.
\r\nIn verses 7 and 8, the Psalmist concludes with a prayer for salvation.<\/p>\r\n

Shimush Tehillim--When to Say:<\/em>
\r\nTo encourage love--Verse 7 states: \u201cIf I walk in the midst of distress You keep me alive, against the wrath of my enemies You stretch forth Your hand, and Your right hand delivers me.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

Excerpted from <\/span>From Your Lips To God\u2019s Ears<\/span><\/em>, by Reuben Ebrahimoff.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79908,"alt":"","title":"psalms - rebrahimoff","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff.png","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff-300x300.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff-768x768.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff.png","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff.png","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff.png","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff.png","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff-420x420.png","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Psalms: A Users Guide","tile_main_caption":"From Your Lips: Psalm 138","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"A concise survey of the psalm's structure and content","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79908,"alt":"","title":"psalms - rebrahimoff","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff.png","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff-300x300.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff-768x768.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff.png","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff.png","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff.png","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff.png","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff-420x420.png","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":"138","chapter_main_number":"705","date":"20280511","wall_id":"705"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":11,"id":"90911","color":"#f7e9e9","size":"1","name":"Don\u2019t Let Go! ","post_title":"Don\u2019t Let Go!","slug":"dont-let-go","old_id":"90911","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":54356,"post_title":"Robert Alter","slug":"robert-alter","old_id":"54356","first_name":"Robert ","last_name":"Alter","description":"Robert Alter is the Class of 1937 Professor of Hebrew and Comparative Literature at the University of California at Berkeley, where he has taught since 1967. He has written over twenty books, focusing on such topics as the European novel from the 18th century to the present, contemporary American fiction, and modern Hebrew literature. He has also written extensively on the literary aspects of the Bible. His most recent work is his monumental three volume translation of the entire Hebrew Bible - The Hebrew Bible, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019 - from which the selections in 929 are taken. 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Norton & Co., 2019.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":54357,"alt":"","title":"robert alter","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","width":184,"height":275,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","medium-width":184,"medium-height":275,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","medium_large-width":184,"medium_large-height":275,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","large-width":184,"large-height":275,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","1536x1536-width":184,"1536x1536-height":275,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","2048x2048-width":184,"2048x2048-height":275,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","post_full_size-width":184,"post_full_size-height":275,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","home_baner-width":184,"home_baner-height":275}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"705","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Hold us tight\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

138:8 \u201cThe LORD will requite me. O LORD, Your kindness is forever. Do not let go of Your handiwork.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Hebrew verb has a concreteness diluted by the conventional translation as \u201cforsake.\u201d The verb <\/span>hirpah<\/span><\/em> means to relax the muscles of the hand so that what it holds is dropped or released. The speaker, as a human creature, reminds God that he is God\u2019s own handiwork. The use of the \u201chand\u201d component in all likelihood encouraged the poet to choose this particular verb. God is thus implicitly figured as a potter (as in Genesis 2) who is implored not to loose his hand and allow what he has made to fall and shatter.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

From: Robert Alter, The Hebrew Bible<\/em>, vol. 3: Writings, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019, ad loc. By permission of the author.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":54890,"alt":"","title":"Alter-Cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"From Robert Alter's Bible Translation and Commentary","tile_main_caption":"Don\u2019t Let Go!","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Hold us tight","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":54890,"alt":"","title":"Alter-Cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":"138","chapter_main_number":"705","date":"20280511","wall_id":"705"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":12,"id":"90916","color":"#eceffa","size":"1","name":"Points to Ponder - Psalm 138 ","post_title":"Points to Ponder - Psalm 138","slug":"points-to-ponder-psalm-138","old_id":"90916","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38102,"post_title":"929-English","slug":"929-english","old_id":"38102","first_name":"","last_name":"929-English","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":38333,"alt":"","title":"\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","width":1513,"height":860,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-300x171.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":171,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-768x437.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":437,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1024x582.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":582,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","1536x1536-width":1513,"1536x1536-height":860,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","2048x2048-width":1513,"2048x2048-height":860,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1200x682.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":682,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-739x420.png","home_baner-width":739,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"705","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

    \r\n\t
  1. Neged elohim<\/span><\/em>. \u201cI praise You with all my heart, sing a hymn to You before the divine beings (<\/span>neged elohim<\/span><\/em>)\u201d (verse 1). Who are these \u201cdivine beings\u201d to whom the psalmist is singing praises? The divine retinue? The gods of other nations? Or - simply \u201cdivine-like\u201d beings, human paragons (like the kings mentioned in subsequent verses)? All these are possibilities.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. Big and small, above and below<\/em>. \u201cHigh though the LORD is, He sees the lowly; lofty, He perceives from afar\u201d (verse 6) - God\u2019s \u201csize\u201d and \u201cdistance\u201d does not prevent divine recognition of the comparatively small human. Indeed, the kings of all the earth acknowledge: \u201cGreat is the majesty of the LORD!\u201d<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>","post_main_content_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Psalm 138","tile_main_caption":"Points to Ponder","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Insights and questions for personal reflection and group discussion","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":"138","chapter_main_number":"705","date":"20280511","wall_id":"705"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":13,"id":"90417","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"Sefaria Source Sheets - Psalms 138 ","post_title":"Sefaria Source Sheets - Psalms 138","slug":"sefaria-source-sheets-psalms-138","old_id":"90417","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":42228,"post_title":"Sefaria","slug":"sefaria","old_id":"42228","first_name":"","last_name":"Sefaria","description":"Sefaria is a non-profit organization dedicated to building the future of Jewish learning in an open and participatory way. 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    \u201cAdam and Chanukkah by: Devora Steinmetz\u201d <\/a>by Adina Karp: Did the customs of Chanukah originate with Adam?<\/p>\r\n

    \u201cParashat Vayelech 2020\/5780 Courage to do Teshuvah\u201d<\/a> by Debra Robbins: Finding internal strength to repent.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Go deeper into the chapter....","tile_main_caption":"Source Sheets - Psalms 138","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Links to learning resources","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":42232,"alt":"","title":"sefaria-words-sunburst","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","width":608,"height":395,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-300x195.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":195,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","medium_large-width":608,"medium_large-height":395,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","large-width":608,"large-height":395,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","1536x1536-width":608,"1536x1536-height":395,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","2048x2048-width":608,"2048x2048-height":395,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","post_full_size-width":608,"post_full_size-height":395,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","home_baner-width":608,"home_baner-height":395}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"Sefaria word sunburst visualization","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":"138","chapter_main_number":"705","date":"20280511","wall_id":"705"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false}],"hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"static_cube_title":"","static_cube_brief":"","static_cube_color":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/90358"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/wall"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=90358"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}